Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-22

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 22 October1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS .

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PM TO INAUGURATE STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANY’S HYDROELECTRIC STATION

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to inaugurate the State Electricity Company’s hydroelectric station, in Drama tomorrow.

Mr. Simitis will be accompanied by the Ministers of Development Vaso Papandreou, Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas and Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos. A.F.

[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL VISIT THE CITY OF DRAMA TOMORROW

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will inaugurate the hydroelectric power station of the State Electricity Company in Thisavros, near the city of Drama tomorrow, accompanied by the Ministers of Development, Argiculture and Macedonia-Thrace.

After the inauguration ceremony the Prime Minister will visit the hydroelectric power station and dam in Platanovrisi and later the town of Nevrokopi. At noon tomorrow, he is also scheduled to visit the border crossing of Exohi.

[03] GREECE IS SATISFIED WITH R. HOLBROOKE’S STATEMENTS

The Greek government is satisfied with the statements expressed by the US presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke, who has denounced the harassment conducted by Turkish military aircraft against the Greek Air force’s C-130 which was transporting Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos from Cyprus to Crete.

Mr. Holbrooke also expressed his disapproval of the statement made by the State department’s spokesperson James Rubin, which had also provoked the Greek government’s stern reaction.

Greece’s Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas, stated that Mr. Holbrooke’s point of view is a positive one, in contrast with that of Mr. Rubin’s which he characterized as unacceptable and unprecedented.” The Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos said that “Mr. Holbrooke confirmed that he really is closer to reality and to the truth, therefore, he follows the facts closely and is in a position to have an objective view and build his credibility as a mediator in the given situation.” A.F.

[04] DRAFT BILL “KAPODISTRIAS” TABLED IN PARLIAMENT TODAY

The draft bill “Kapodistrias” concerning the merger of the country’s various municipalities and communities was tabled in Parliament today.

Meanwhile, the country’s opposition parties are against the said bill, claiming that it does not secure the necessary social support. Throughout the country, residents of small communities are holding protests over the potential merger of their villages with other near-by communities. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[05] S PRESIDENT CLINTON TO MEET WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH TODAY

The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is to meet with the President of the United States Bill Clinton at the White House today.

His All Holiness was honored yesterday by the House of Representatives who bestowed upon him the Gold Medal. This is a distinction of the highest order since the gold medal has been granted only four times in the past and this is the first time it is bestowed upon an Orthodox figure.

During his stay in Washington, the Ecumenical Patriarch will also meet with the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the U.S. vice-president Al Gore. A.F.

[06] TURKEY’S PREMIER MESUT YILMAZ WILL TAKE PART IN CRETE’S SUMMIT

Turkey’s Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and the Foreign Minister Ismael Cem are to participate at the Balkan Summit conference to be held in November at the island of Crete.

Mr. Cem met with Greece’s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis in Kiev, on the sidelines of the conference of the Economic Cooperation of Black Sea Countries. The two officials discussed all aspects of the Greek-Turkish relations. A.F.

[07] R. HOLBROOKE CONDEMNS TURKISH PROVOCATION

The United States presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke has denounced the harassment conducted by Turkish military aircraft against the Greek Air force’s C-130 which was transporting Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos from Cyprus to Crete.

Mr. Holbrooke also expressed his disapproval of the statement made by the State department’s spokesperson James Rubin, which had also provoked the Greek government’s stern reaction. A.F.

[08] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO ITALY

Albania’s President Reijep Meidani embarked today on an official visit to Italy, following the invitation issued by his Italian counterpart Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.

President Meidani will be accompanied by a delegation of Albanian officials and is to meet with Pope John Paul II. A.F.

[09] TURKEY’S FERVENT SUPPORTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS SENTENCED TO JAIL

The President of the largest organization for the protection of human rights in Turkey, Akim Bidal, has been sentenced to one year in jail, along with six other members of the organization, on counts of disseminating pro-kurdish propaganda.

According to the Turkish news agency “Anadolu”, the court ruled that all seven of the defendants had underlined the national, historical and class differences between the Kurds and the Turks which, according to the court, amounts to pro-Kurdish propaganda.

Today Mr. Birdal was to present to his country’s Minister of Justice a report on the current situation in the Turkish prisons.

Meanwhile, the French news agency AFP has reported that one of Turkey’s most fervent advocates for issues concerning human rights, the 52-year-old attorney Esber Yamourdereli, was arrested in Istanbul and faces a 23-year sentence.

Mr. Yamourdereli, who is blind, had filed an -unsuccessful- appeal against a 10-month sentence he had received on charges of disseminating pro-Kurdish propaganda.

The Turkish lawyer had been sentenced in 1978 to 36 years in prison. He was released in 1991 on parole and is now facing the possibility of serving the remaining time of his sentence. A.F.

[10] GREEK-TURKISH BUSINESS COOPERATION PROMOTED THROUGH FORUM

The fourth Conference of the Greek-Turkish business Forum is to be held in Athens tomorrow and is expected to breath new air in the economic cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.

Participants at the two-day conference will address the up-to- date results of bilateral cooperation in the four sectors that have been set as priorities, that is: abolishment of double taxation, creation of joint ventures for undertaking large structure projects in the Balkans and the Black Sea, presentation of mutual proposals of business interest and participation in the European Union’s programs.

The Forum is organized by the Businessmen’s Association of Greece in cooperation with Turkey’s Council of International Economic Relations. Thirty Turkish businessmen are to participate, led by Mr. Rahmi Koc, one of Turkey’s business conglomerates, along with over 40 Greeks.

The previous three forums have resulted in 15 Greek businesses extending their activities in Turkey. The Forum will also examine the opportunities to further strengthen ties between the two sides, part of an effort to resolve the problems that strain the two neighbors’ relations. A.F.

[11] EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO ASK FOR TESTS ON GREECE’S DRINKING WATER

The European Commission is to conduct research for the protection of public health from Greece’s drinking water, especially for carcinogens that may be detected in certain cases, according to the Commissioner for the Environment, who responded to relevant questions tabled by Greek Eurodeputies Michalis Papayiannakis and Vasilis Efraimides.

In a recent study conducted by public health officials and the University of Crete, over half of the water supply networks were found to contain lead or asbestos, while in at least eight brands of bottled water bromic ions were detected in amounts four-to-ten times greater than the maximum allowed.

The two Greek eurodeputies asked the Commission to take apply directives that bind all of the EU-members to regularly examine the quality of drinking water. A.F.

[12] OUTBREAK OF TURKISH EXPANSIONISM

Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos reiterated Greece’s intention to raise the issue of the Turkish provocation in the next NATO Summit.

The Greek government minister spoke of an increase in the Turkish expansionism targeting the Aegean islands. Referring to the individual, who would have to mediate on the issue, mr.Tsochatzopoulos characterized US mediator Richard Halbrooke as very reliable.

[13] KOSTOV CALLS FOR INVESTMENTS IN BULGARIA

Bulgaria calls on the international business community to make investments in the country.

A special event is being held in Sofia today during which Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov will present the investment opportunities in the country in the presence of 1.000 foreign businessmen, among them representatives of the Greek business community.

[14] BULGARIA’S PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER WILL ATTEND THE SUMMIT OF CRETE

Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov and Foreign Minister ms.Michailova will attend the Summit meeting of south-eastern European states that will be held in Crete on November 3-4.

Tomorrow, ms.Michailova will be in Romania to meet with her counterparts from Greece and Romania.

[15] VAN DEN BROEK: THE TURKISH PROVOCATION IS UNACCEPTABLE

EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek characterized as “unacceptable” and “unnecessary” the recent situation that culminated in a show of Turkish provocation targeting the transport plane on board which was Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

Responding to a question made by Greek Euro-deputy Alekos Alavanos, during the discussion in the Euro-Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee meeting held in Strasbourg yesterday, mr.van den Broek agreed with all those who called for “self-restraint”, like NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana and expressed his regret for the unresolved problems in the Greek-Turkish relations.

He also reconfirmed that Turkey does not fulfill the pre- conditions for EU accession and referred to the “Agenda 2000” regarding the problems which need to be overcome, including the Cyprus problem and the improvement of good neighborly relations between Greece and Turkey.

[16] ROMANIA’S APPLICATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP IS REGARDED AS SERIOUS

Romania’s application for EU membership is regarded as a serious one, stated European Commissioner for foreign affairs mr.Hans van den Broek upon his arrival in Bucharest.

Mr.Van Den Broek stressed that during his stay in Romania he will attempt, in cooperation with the Romanian officials, to determine the country’s priorities.

He also underlined that in order for Romania to be able to become an EU member as soon as possible, first it should complete its reform programme, take the necessary steps to harmonize its legislation with the legislation of the EU and implement essential reforms in the sector of public administration.

[17] 14 BULGARIAN MPs ARE ACCUSED OF BEING AGENTS OF ZIVKOV’S SECRET POLICE

Fourteen members of the Bulgarian Parliament are included in a list given to publicity by Bulgarian Minister of Interior Bogomil Bonev. The list includes the names of 23 high-ranking officials who are accused of collaboration with Zivkov’s communist regime secret police.

In the list, with the characteristic name “the list of agents”, are not included members of the present government but names of Parliament deputies, high-ranking judges and heads of government agencies.

[18] THE US WELCOMED THE ELECTION OF JUGANOVIC IN MONTENEGRO

The United States welcomed the election of Milo Juganovic to the presidency of Montenegro.

US government spokesman James Rubin called on the new president to promote the democratic procedures and support the Dayton peace agreement.

Commenting on the allegations for irregularities during the voting, the US press spokesman stressed that the foreign observers confirmed the elections were held “without any particular problems”.

[19] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVED BY ITALIAN COUTNERPART IN ROME TODAY

Albania’s President Reijep Meidani embarked today on an official visit to Italy, following the invitation issued by his Italian counterpart Oscar Luigi Scalfaro with whom he met this afternoon.

President Meidani thanked the neighboring country for the sensitivity it displayed to Albania’s problems and for the leading role it carried in his country’s efforts to recover from the problems. Accompanied by a delegation of Albanian officials, the Albanian president is to meet with Pope John Paul II tomorrow. A.F.

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