Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-24

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 24 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] IN NEW PROVOCATIVE PLOY TURKEY ACCUSES GREECE OF AGGRESSIVE ACT

In an effort to divert attention from its recent provocative harassment of Greece’s C-130 which carried the Defense Minister on board, Turkey has now attempted to frame Greece as the aggressor in yesterday’s incident where a Greek minesweeper was harassed by a Turkish patrol boat south of the island of Lesvos, resulting in a slight collision.

The leader of Turkey’s General Staff Ismail Chakki Karadayi alleged yesterday that a Greek small boat rammed a Turkish submarine and that when a Turkish patrol boat came to the rescue, the Greek one intervened causing a slight collision. The Greek government refutes the existence of such submarine.

Today, General Karadayi issued a new statement, claiming that the Turkish submarine was conducting tactical maneuvers but its radar’s antenna was visible when the Greek minesweeper tried to pass above it.

Greece’s General Navy Staff responded today that a Turkish warship harassed the Greek minesweeper which was discreetly observing the Turkish Navy’s exercise in the international territorial waters, seven nautical miles away from Lesvos.

Yesterday, following the new air space violations of Greece’s FIR by Turkey’s F-16 fighter jets, the Greek Security Council held a lengthy conference at the pentagon, led by Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

The Greek Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Konstantinos Bikas stated that the unified defense doctrine fortifies Greece’s defense capacity and contributed Turkey’s aggression to this factor. Mr. Bikas stressed that the Greek state will not shift its policy on this matter. Greece has remonstrated to Ankara over these allegations. A.F.

[02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: TURKEY FABRICATED THE AEGEAN SEA EPISODE

Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that Turkey’s allegations of a Greek minesweeper having harassed one of its submarines is a fabricated incident.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that the Greek government is to react calmly to the matter and pointed out that this is Ankara’s attempt to divert the focus from the negative attention it has received after the tension it built in the region.

Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas also said that Turkey’s priority is to overturn the Aegean Sea’s legal status quo and the way it seeks to do so is through building tension. A.F.

[03] GREECE’S ALTERNATE F.M. MEETS WITH US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE

Greece’s alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with the United States Assistant Secretary of State Strobe Talbot in Washington yesterday, with whom he discussed the developments on the Cyprus issue, as well as the course of Greek-Turkish relations.

“We had an insightful review, not only of the recent incidents, but also of the overall situation in the region,” Mr. Papandreou stated.

He added that “one could say that the Americans are in favor of beginning the EU-Cyprus accession negotiations and believe that there is room for them to undertake certain actions for resolving the Cyprus issue.”

The alternate Foreign Minister also relayed to Mr. Talbot the proposals of the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides for the participation of the Turkish-Cypriots in the delegation that will take part in the negotiations with the EU, something that Turkey is refusing. A.F.

[04] THE INCIDENT IN THE AEGEAN WAS PREFABRICATED

This was a fabricated incident and the government must react calmly to the escalating tension, stated Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, commenting on Ankara’s assertion regarding the alleged harassment of a Turkish submarine by a Greek mine- sweeper.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas pointed out that Turkey’s priority is to overturn the legal status quo in the Aegean, adding that it tries to achieve that through tension.

[05] MR.PANGALOS COMMENTED ON THE NEW TURKISH PROVOCATION

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, in a press conference he gave today, commented on the new Turkish provocation and stated that it is used as a diversion to counter the extremely unfavorable impressions created internationally by Ankara’s provocative behavior in the Aegean.

Mr.Pangalos pointed out that at least 15 incidents like the latest one have taken place during the year, but this time Turkey decided to give emphasis to that specific one in an effort to overturn the negative picture that has been created.

The Greek Minister expressed concern over the fact that such an insignificant event and Turkey’s irresponsibility can put the situation out of control creating a serious problem in the relations between Greece and Turkey.

Mr.Pangalos also stressed that the Greek government hopes that Turkey will be reasonable and will not cause a hot incident in the Aegean, stating characteristically that a hot incident in the Aegean this time will open the doors of the lunatic asylum.

[06] A PASSENGER TRAIN DERAILED IN SINDOS

Two passengers were injured when the express train “Intercity”, making the trip from the Thessaloniki to Athens, derailed outside the train station of Sindos.

Seven ambulances, rescue crews, police and local residents arrived immediately at the scene of the accident to offer their help to the train passengers.

[07] MEMBERS OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT MET WITH THE FRENCH ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER

Greek Parliament deputies met with French alternate Foreign Minister responsible for European issues mr.Moskovicci within the framework of their six-day formal visit to Paris.

The meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere and among the topics for discussion were the prospects for the development of bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue and the Greek-Turkish relations.

Mr.Moskovicci clarified France’s position on Cyprus’ accession into the EU, stating that the accession negotiations must start and that no one can stop these procedures. He also pointed out that representatives of the Turkish Cypriot side will be present in the accession talks as it was agreed by Cypriot President Clerides.

[08] GREEK PREMIER: TURKEY IS ESCALATING TENSION TO ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, addressing the members of the Ministerial Council today, stated that Turkey is escalating the tension in order to escape responsibility.

Mr. Simitis stressed that the Greek government must face Turkey’s provocative behavior in a calm manner, albeit decisively.

“Greece wants peace and security in the region,” the Premier said and announced that Theodoros Pangalos, Greece’s Foreign Minister, told his colleagues at the EU’s Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg that Greece will not agree to releasing EU funds to Turkey.

[09] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT IN TRIESTE ON WEDNESDAY

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis said that it is an honor for the Greek House to be invited to participate at the Conference of the Parliament President of the Central European Initiative, to be held in Trieste, Italy on Wednesday

Departing for Italy today, Mr. Kaklamanis stated that this invitation was prompted by the intense activity the Greek parliament is developing in the sector of Regional cooperation among the national Assemblies.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] GREEK-TURKISH BUSINESS COOPERATION PROMOTED THROUGH FORUM

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

According to the President of the Turkish Businessmen’s Association Rahmi Koc, $15 billion can be invested by both Greeks and Turks in the following years for the developments on the Aegean region’s tourism structures.

Participants at the two-day conference are addressing 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 is to 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] MEDA FUNDS TO TURKEY WILL BE FROZEN, SAYS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The European Parliament has decided unanimously to freeze European Union funds for Turkey, amounting to over 17 billion drachmas, which were earmarked for 1998 from the MEDA funding program.

The House’s plenary session adopted the modifications tabled by Greek Euro-deputy Efthymios Christodoulou, one of which concerns the withholding of ECU 53 million since “Turkey has not displayed respect for the democratic principles of the European association for human rights as well as for international law.. The other modification provides that 10% of the MEDA program’s funds, amounting to GRD 29.2 million, will be kept in reserve until the European Commission reviews Turkey’s funding plans. A.F.

[12] MILUTINOVIC TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN F.R.Y.

Milan Milutinovic, the Federal Yugoslav Republic’s Foreign Minister, announced yesterday that he will be the Socialist Party’s candidate in Serbia’s presidential elections of December 7.

Mr. Milutinovic was appointed to the foreign ministry in 1995. Prior to that, he was his country’s ambassador in Greece, a seat he continues to hold. A.F.

[13] THE NUMBER OF SFOR SOLDIERS IN BOSNIA WILL BE INCREASED

The NATO stabilization force in Bosnia will be reinforced with 1.000 soldiers to safeguard fair voting procedures on November 23, when the Bosnian Serb Parliamentary elections will be held.

According to the alliance, this force will have a mixed composition with soldiers coming from countries that participate in the “Partnership for Peace” program.

Before this announcement, it was made known that the number of US soldiers stationed in Skopje had been reduced from 500 to 350, after an order given by the US Secretary of Defense.

[14] THE TURKISH MINISTER OF DEFENSE WILL VISIT FYROM

Turkish Minister of Defense Ismail Cem will make a two-day visit to FYROM and Albania early this week, according to diplomatic circles in Ankara.

The visit’s aim is to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on issues of regional and international security.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Minister of Defense signed agreements of cooperation in the sectors of defense industry and military training during his earlier visits to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

[15] THE PARTICIPATION OF TURKEY IN THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE IS GROUNDLESS

The Euro-Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee president mr.Tom Spenser regards as groundless the likelihood of Turkey’s participation in the European Conference that is being suggested by the European Commission.

According to mr.Spenser, such a participation would have been discussed in the case of a multilateral meeting.

He also called on the EU Foreign Ministers, who will meet next Saturday, to clarify their positions on the EU Commission’s proposal for the holding of a European Conference, pointing out that there are still many unanswered questions regarding issues of participation and the conference’s exact subject.

[16] THE US SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR CYPRUS TESTIFIED IN THE SENATE

US special coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller testified yesterday before the US Senate International Relations Committee and presented his views on the situation in Cyprus.

He underlined that the priority for the US foreign policy is to find a fair and permanent solution for the Cyprus problem in the form of a two-zone, two-community federation.

After pointing out that he sees new opportunities opened for the end of the conflict in Cyprus, he mentioned that the immediate target of the United States is to ease the tension and expressed his satisfaction over the recent talks held between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on security issues in Cyprus.

[17] THE GREEK-TURKISH CRISIS IS UNJUSTIFIED

Businessmen from Greece and Turkey, who attend the business conference that is being held in Athens, stated that there is room for cooperation between the two countries.

Turkish businessman S.Tara stressed that he regards the Greek- Turkish crisis as unjustified and added that he will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to present to him the outcome of the conference.

[18] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN KOSSOVO

The European Parliament voted a resolution today condemning the Serb policemen’s violent acts against the peaceful demonstrations in Kossovo,

The European Assembly called on the Serb authorities to refrain from such acts in the future and encourages both sides to embark on negotiations.

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