Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-04

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 4 November 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PREMIER: JOLTS ON DRACHMA HAVE SUBSIDED, ECONOMY ENDURES

The recent attacks from abroad on the national currency were unsuccessful since the government managed to support the drachma, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated after yesterday’s rates at the Athens Stock Exchange showed a sharp increase of 3.53%.

The Bank of Greece has imposed interest rates up to 157% in an effort to avert additional pressures on the drachma. In the domestic foreign exchange market there was an influx of 309 ECU, a sign that last week’s crisis has began to gradually subside. A.F.

[02] GREEK HOSPITAL DOCTORS CONTINUE STRIKE UNTIL FRIDAY

Hospital doctors are to continue their strike until Friday, which means that only emergency cases will be attended to at the country’s hospitals.

Undersecretary of Health Kostas Geitonas met with the representatives of the hospital doctors union and vowed that their priority demand, the new salary scale, will soon be submitted to parliament.

However, many think that the course of the protests and strikes will be determined after tomorrow’s meeting between the doctors’ representatives and the Undersecretary of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis. A.F.

[03] THE SUMMIT OF CRETE WILL BE A COMPASS FOR THE RELATIONS OF BALKAN COUNTRIES

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in a press conference he gave in Crete, characterized the joint communique signed by the Balkan leaders after the completion of the Summit meeting, as a compass that sets the basis for the relations among the countries in the region.

The text refers to International Law, the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the respect of national sovereignty, the refraining from the threat or the use of force, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the non intervention in the internal affairs of a country. The Greek Prime Minister pointed out that it was especially useful to underline those self-evident principles, which were not self-evident after all.

When asked to comment on the bilateral problems of the Balkan states, mr.Simitis said that they were discussed in the separate meetings of the leaders held in the margins of the Summit.

Responding to a question by MPA, mr.Simitis said that a US message was read to the participants that stressed the need for regional cooperation that can avert tensions. He also underlined that he has briefed the EU leaders on the targets of the Summit and that he will brief them again on its results.

He reiterated that the climate in his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz was positive and constructive, pointing out that mr.Yilmaz repeated the known Turkish positions for a dialogue covering all issues. Referring to mr.Yilmaz’s invitation to visit Ankara, mr.Simitis responded that his visit to Turkey will be made only if there are pre-conditions for a success.

The Greek Prime Minister stressed that in his meeting with FYROM’s President Kiro Gligorov were discussed issues of economic cooperation, tourism and investments, while the Greek side reiterated its positions on the name and on FYROM’s obligation to comply with the interim accord. Mr.Simitis said that mr.Gligorov responded that he has made all necessary moves and did not make any further comments.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman James Rubin expressed the satisfaction of the US government for the meeting of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey within the framework of the Summit meeting in Crete. He also called on Turkey and Greece to show willingness and self-restraint and avoid any action that could lead to a further deterioration of their relations.

[04] TURKISH F-16 VIOLATED THE GREEK AIR SPACE

Turkish F-16 fighter jets made new violations of the Greek air space. Fourteen Turkish fighter jets entered the Greek air space over the island of Lesvos.

The Turkish airplanes were intercepted by Greek fighter jets. In one case, a Turkish jet came very close to Lesvos, at a distance of 6 nautical miles.

[05] THE DRAFT LAW “I.KAPODISTRIAS” WILL BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT

The discussion on the draft law “I.Kapodistrias”, concerning the merger of municipalities and communities, opens in the Parliament’s plenary session this afternoon.

The point of friction between the government and the opposition continues to be the time duration of the draft law’s discussion and for this reason, the issue was brought before the plenary session.

[06] TWO EARTHQUAKES SHOOK ATHENS

Two earthquakes measuring 4,3 on the Richter scale were recorded at noon today and their epicenter was located in the region of Elefsina, near Athens.

The tremors were felt in Attica, Evia, Argolida and Korinthia and no damages or injuries were reported.

[07] SIMITIS: INTER-BALKAN SUMMIT CONFERENCE WAS A SUCCESS

The Inter-Balkan Summit Conference has been absolutely successful, as the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated during a press conference held at Heraklion, following the session’s closure. This was the first time that the Balkan leaders gathered together in order to discover common ways to address the region’s problems, Mr. Simitis noted. Responding to an M.P.A. question, the Premier stated that the United States have issued a salutation for the Conference wherein they stated the American position for the need of peripheral cooperation that could avert the tensions. Mr. Simitis underlined that he has informed the leaders of European Union about the goals of the Conference and that he will keep them posted on its results. A common announcement was released at the end of the Conference which listed the principles that are to govern the relations among the various states.

[08] MAIN OPPOSITION HON. PRESIDENT: SIMITIS-YILMAZ TALKS IMPROVED CLIMATE

The honorary President of Greece’s main opposition party , New Democracy’s Konstantinos Mitsotakis, has expressed his favorable view of the meeting held between The Greek Premier Kostas Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz yesterday evening at the Crete-held Inter-Balkan Summit Conference.

Speaking from the city of Chania in Crete, Mr. Mitsotakis stated that the Simitis-Yilmaz meeting has improved the climate between the two neighbors, albeit he added that the Cyprus issue should have also been brought up by the Premier.

Nevertheless, he stressed that he is positive over the meeting. “I believe that it imp[roved the climate. The government is absolutely right in seeking a step-by-step approach,” N.D.’s honorary president said.

Mr. Mitsotakis hosted the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic in Crete today.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] GREEK PM MEETS WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART, TALKS WERE “BENEFICIAL”

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met with his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz at the Crete-held Balkan Summit Conference yesterday evening.

The Greek Premier, who accepted Mr. Yilmaz’s invitation to visit Ankara, stated that his talks with Mr. Yilmaz were “beneficial”, albeit stressing that conclusions which could change the present-day situation between the two neighbors were not drawn.

Mr. Yilmaz, who congratulated Mr. Simitis on having taken the initiative to hold the Summit, reiterated his government’s will to resort to an international mediator in order to resolve pending differences between Greece and Turkey, but he stated that his could only be done under the condition of a dialogue.

The Greek Premier met yesterday with all of the foreign leaders, while the sideline meeting between the Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the Albanian Premier Fatos Nano was deemed as highly significant, as well as that held between FYROM’s President Kiro Gligorov and Bulgaria’s Premier Ivan Kostov.

The Balkan Summit will round up this afternoon when a common statement will be issued. The Foreign delegations are reviewing the statement proposed by Greece’s Foreign Ministry and are to submit their views as well.

Meanwhile, the overall impression is that the Summit has successfully accomplished its task since this is the first time after World War II the leaders of Balkan states meet and carve a new course towards the 21st century.

The evident climate of trust resulting from the Conference is expected to boost the efforts to overcome even the most minute hurdle in regards to establishing a political secretariat.

According to political analysts, the first sign that attests to the success of the Summit is the decision to establish the Summit Conference as an institution and to grant it with a rotating leadership. As was agreed upon yesterday, the following Balkan Summit is to be held at Turkey’s Antalya in October of 1998, while four months earlier, in June, the Balkan Foreign Ministers are to meet at Istanbul. A.F.

[10] PRESIDENT OF F.R.Y. MILOSEVIC MEETS WITH ALBANIAN PM NANO AT CRETE

The President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic met with the Prime Minister of Albania Fatos Nano on the sidelines of the Crete-held Balkan Summit conference yesterday, holding the first talks between the two sides in fifty years.

The discussion, which was reportedly held in a positive climate, concerned the issue of Kossovo.

The Albanian daily “Koha Jon” featured the headline “Nano- Milosevic - 90 minutes can’t melt the fifty-year-old ice”, while in the article it did assess that the meeting could pave the way for smoothing out bilateral relations. Nevertheless, the paper opines that a long time is needed to settle the issues that concern security and nationalities. A.F.

[11] THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS ON THE INTER-BALKAN SUMMIT

Most of the US and European dailies referred extensively to the Inter-Balkan Summit that was completed in Crete today. The Americans and the Europeans have recognized its significance and made positive comments on the Greek government’s initiative to be the first to organize a Balkan leaders’ meeting after the end of the war in former Yugoslavia.

The US newspaper “Washington Times” refers to the meeting of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey and points out that an effort has been made to ease the tensions in the region.

The British newspapers referred to the Summit with extensive reports. The “Independent” mentions the difficulties the Greek initiative faced, while the “Financial Times” referred to the important meetings of Simitis-Yilmaz and Nano-Milosevic that were held within the framework of the Summit, while it also pointed out the Greek Prime Minister’s call for the freeing of trade in southern Europe and the closer cooperation in the sectors of energy, transportation and tele-communications.

The Austrian press points out that Greece is ahead of the other countries in the region due to its economic development and its political stability, stressing that the Greek government can boast that it has achieved a triumph.

The Spanish press also referred to the Summit and the newspaper “El Pais” mentions characteristically that the main targets of the meeting were the restoration of dialogue between irreconcilable rivals and the building of economic cooperation in a region where hostility dominates in the relations of certain countries.

[12] THE TURKISH JUSTICE SYSTEM IS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The Turkish justice system is now under the microscope of the Council of Europe, only a few days after the European Human Rights Committee decision to accept the appeal made by jailed former Kurdish deputies, who maintained that the Turkish State Security Court is dependent on the country’s military establishment.

Meanwhile, Turkey chose not to attend the International Conference that was held in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the US Center for Democracy. In the conference participated representatives of European organizations and members of the judiciary leadership from over 40 European countries. The main subject of the meeting was the issue of the courts’ independence in view of the institutional reforms in the central and eastern Europe.

[13] SEZGIN: WAR HAS NO PLACE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Turkish Minister of Defense Ismet Sezgin is in the occupied northern Cyprus to watch the military exercises “Toros ‘97” and “Determination ‘97”.

According to the Turkish Cypriot press, mr.Sezgin stressed that war has no place in the 21st century and that disputes from now on should be resolved not with the use of the armed forces but peacefully, through dialogue.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Assistant spokesman Sehmet Atadsianli expressed the wish that there will be no hot incident during the exercises.

Meanwhile, Turkish F-16 and F-4 are expected to land at the illegal airport of Lefkonikou in Cyprus.

[14] FYROM’S PRESIDENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE SUMMIT

FYROM’s President Kiro Gligorov in a press conference he gave in Crete, expressed satisfaction regarding the way the informal meeting of the Balkan states was held.

He also expressed satisfaction for the bilateral meetings he and the other Balkan leaders had, underlining the meeting he had with mr.Simitis and the meeting of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic with Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

Commenting on his meeting with mr.Simitis, FYROM’s President characterized it as a significant step ahead and stated that a dialogue of good intentions and arguments is necessary to open the closed doors. He made very positive comments for the Greek Prime Minister, stating that he is a true politician with a sense of reality.

On the issue of the name that will be used by his country, he said that they agreed that the negotiations in New York should continue, while he announced that he invited mr.Simitis to Skopje. He said that he will be warmly received because he is man who tries to find a way out of the labyrinth the two countries are in.

Mr.Gligorov welcomed the improvement of bilateral relations citing an earlier information he received from mr.Mallias, head of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje, according to which, 1 million visas for FYROM citizens who want to visit Greece have already been issued, while he spoke of a change at the level of human relations.

He also reiterated the position he had expressed since 1991 regarding the name of his country, according to which, FYROM is a state that can exist only within its current borders. He also announced that he has invited Yugoslav President Milosevic to visit Skopje, while he appeared especially pleased with the developments in the issue of Kosovo which he described as a laborious issue. Mr.Gligorov stated that his country's position is that borders are inviolable and stressed that based on this point of view the problem of Kosovo can be resolved only within the framework of Yugoslavia and Serbia, rejecting the secessionist tendencies in Kosovo.

[15] ISMAIL CEM: TENSIONS IN THE AEGEAN SHOULD BE EASED OFF

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, in a press conference after the end of the Inter-Balkan Summit in Crete, stated in response to a question by MPA, that the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey characterized the talks as positive and that this fact eases off the tension.

Mr.Cem stated that in the meeting of the two Prime Ministers were not discussed specific measures but the climate was positive.

To a question of MPA on the jailed journalists in Turkey and if the Turkish government will free them, mr.Cem responded that those who are in jail are not real reporters and they are not in prison for journalistic activities but for other issues, stressing that it would have been a serious problem if even one reporter was jailed because of what he or she has written.

He characterized the Inter-Balkan Summit as very important and pointed out that the Turkish proposals have been accepted in a positive way, adding that there are differences among the Balkan states but there is a determination to be overcome in a peaceful way in order for the Balkans to stop being regarded as a problematic region.

On the role of Turkey in the Balkans, the Turkish Foreign Minister stressed that no country should try and play a major leading role in the region and that Turkey does not want to play such a role.

Responding to a question by a Kurdish reporter on the rights of the Kurds in Turkey, mr.Cem stated that “the Kurds in Turkey enjoy the same cultural rights”. On the issue of human rights, he said that Turkey should not be constantly the target because a lot of xenophobia and racism exist in many EU countries.

Speaking on the Greek-Turkish relations, he said that to his opinion, the institution of specialists that was established by the two countries in April of 1997 should move ahead. Mr.Cem, responding to the question on whether the Turkish armed forces will annul everything agreed in Crete by the country’s political leadership, stated that he does not agree with this position and said that there is cooperation between the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the armed forces only on very sensitive issues, using as an example the issue of “terrorism” in northern Iraq.

On the issue of the Imia islets, mr.Cem underlined that there is a difference of approach between Greece and Turkey. He stated that the Turkish side has made its proposals and that the Greek side wants to refer to the problem as if it concerns only one case.

The Turkish Foreign Minister said that he is not too pessimistic on bilateral issues but expressed pessimism regarding the Cyprus problem saying that it is a very sensitive issue, while he referred to the upcoming elections in Cyprus and to the issue of the S-300 missiles.

[16] STATE DEPARTMENT PLEASED WITH SIMITIS-YILMAZ MEETING AT CRETE

The US State Department has expressed its satisfaction over the talks held yesterday between Greek Premier Kostas Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz during the Balkan Summit conference held at the island of Crete.

State Department spokesperson James Rubin stated that “we are very pleased over this meeting and we hope that it will lead to an improvement in Greek-Turkish relations.”

Moreover, Mr. Rubin called upon the two neighbors to display their good will and self-restrain and to avoid any action that could further worsen their relations. He also called on both the Greek and Turkey governments to meet jointly with NATO’s secretary- general Javier Solana and discuss the ways through which they can restore communication which would diffuse the tension created by the military exercises conducted by the armed forces of both countries.

In closing, Mr. Rubin congratulated the Greek government for undertaking the initiative for the Summit which, he said, “we hope will contribute to the strengthening of relations among the Balkan states and their cooperation in the sectors of security and economy.” A.F.

[17] DENKTASH MEETS WITH HOLBROOKE IN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING

The United States Presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke held an extraordinary session with the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash in New York yesterday.

The meeting took place after Mr. Denktash refused to accept the United Nations Secretary-general Kofi Annan’s proposal to repeat talks for the Cyprus issue after the island’s presidential elections are held.

According to Cyprus’s press, UN diplomats characterized Mr. Denktash’s refusal as simply “crude” and made no effort to hide their indignation.

Moreover, Mr. Denktash turned down the possibility of holding a meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides prior to December 13, the day when the European Council is to discuss its “Agenda 2000” at Luxembourg.

Following the meeting , Mr. Holbrooke stated that Mr. Denktash’s stance remains unshifted. A.F.

[18] TURKISH PRESS: SIMITIS-YILMAZ MEETING WILL REDUCE THE TENSION

The meeting between Greek Premier Kostas Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz on the sidelines of the Balkan Summit conference held yesterday in Crete was featured as a top story in the Turkish media, which have reported that the Greek leader has accepted Mr. Yilmaz’s invitation to visit Ankara.

The Ankara daily “Sabah” reported that the two Premiers held a 75-minute discussion during which they talked about the issues that strain relations between the two neighbors.

Also, the paper reported that Mr. Yilmaz characterized the meeting as “highly productive” and wrote that both leaders agreed on their foremost priority being the reduction of tension in the region.

Moreover, the daily quoted the Turkish Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ismael Chaki Karadayi, as having said that “there should be no reference to war.”

Also, the Turkish military leader stated that in no case should the military maneuvers conducted by both countries result in war, and he pointed out that he has invited his Greek counterpart Athanasios Tzioganis to visit Ankara. A.F.

[19] US SUPPLY TURKEY WITH F-16 JETS TO FORTIFY NO-FLIGHT-ZONE IN N. IRAQ

The United States are to supply Turkey with F-16 fighter jets and KC-135 in-flight aircraft refuelers , along with approximately 200 troops, in an effort to fortify the control of the no-flight- zone in northern Iraq.

According to Turkish press reports, the State Department stated that it drew the decision after having contacts with its allies and was prompted by the violations of the no-flight zone in the region.

State Department officials stated that there is no relation between the crisis with Baghdad and the decision to supply Turkey with the aircraft. A.F.

[20] TIRANA-BELGRADE: RAPPROCHEMENT IN SIGHT AFTER 50 LONG YEARS

Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, following his meeting with the President of the Federal Yugoslav Republic Slobodan Milosevic held yesterday on the sidelines of the Crete-held Inter- Balkan Conference, told the Belgrade television station “BK” that ambassadors are to soon be appointed in the respective countries, for the first time in fifty years.

Mr. Nano proceeded to make this statement following yesterday’s bilateral agreement for complete rapprochement . In the recent years, the diplomatic relations between the two countries had been limited to a charges d’affaires level.

[21] FYROM’S PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV PLEASED WITH SUMMIT’S RESULTS

The President of FYROM Kiro Gligorov has expressed his satisfaction for the level at which the Inter-Balkan Summit Conference, which concluded today at the island of Crete, was conducted. Mr. Gligorov stated that this meeting is to aid in achieving improved understanding of the views shared by the region’s countries .

In regards to his meeting with the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis, Mr. Gligorov characterized it as a significant step ahead. President Gligorov made favorable comments for the Greek Premier who, he stated., is a realist, a man who reacts logically, who has differentiated his policy from that of his predecessors.

[22] TURKEY’S GENERAL STAFF CHIEF RULES OUT POSSIBILITY OF WAR IN AEGEAN

Turkey’s chief of General Staff, Ismael Chaki Karadayi stressed today that there is no cause of concern for a Greek- Turkish armed conflict erupting in the Aegean during the course of military maneuvers.

Referring to the recent days’ heightened tension, Gen. Karadayi stated that “no reference should be made to war. This cannot happen, the exercises cannot turn into war”, adding that there is no animosity between the two peoples and, as such, it isn’t natural to speak of war. Everything is quite normal and there is no cause for concern.”

The Turkish military chief also stated that he has invited Greece’s Chief of General Staff Athanasios Tzoganis to visit Ankara.

“I told him, ‘don’t be afraid, come and they will applaud you. That’s how our people are,’ ” Mr. Karadayi said.

[23] ALBANIAN PM ANNOUCES OPEN BORDER POLICY WITH YUGOSLAVIA, FYROM

Albania’s Prime Minister Fatos Nano expressed his satisfaction over the Crete-held Inter-Balkan Summit Conference, which concluded this afternoon.

The Albanian leader referred to his country’s relations with Greece and stated that the climate and points of view enjoyed by both countries are compatible, which bears fruit to a new reality in bilateral relations.

Mr. Nano stressed that Greece has truly aided his country and gave heightened emphasis on bilateral cooperation. Referring to relations with Serbia, Mr. Nano stated that when it comes to modern-day societies, the issue of autonomy and independence concerns the citizen’s mobility and their abilities.

He invited the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of Kossovo’s Albanians Ibrahim Rugova to cooperate in resolving all the pending issues, especially the one concerning education.

Moreover, Mr. Nano called on Mr. Milosevic to personally intervene in the stalled dialogue with Mr. Rugova, with whom talks are currently being held at an experts level.

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