Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-06

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 6 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] GREECE WANTS TO SEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PAPOULIAS- YILMAZ MEMORANDUM

The Greek government expects to see the implementation of the Papoulias-Yilmaz memorandum by Turkey, stated Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview to the Greek state television on the results of the Inter-Balkan Summit in Crete and the Simitis- Yilmaz meeting.

Mr.Pangalos said that the only statement made by mr.Yilmaz, that it’s worth while, is the implementation of the Papoulias- Yilmaz memorandum that was signed in 1988 but it has not been implemented yet because of Turkey, adding that it remains to be seen in action if Turkey has changed its position.

Mr.Pangalos also denied the statements made by mr.Yilmaz, according to which, the Turkish Prime Minister had requested mr.Pangalos’ exclusion from the meeting with mr.Simitis.

The Greek Foreign Minister stated characteristically that he is not the reason that led the Turks to claim half of the Aegean, occupy northern Cyprus and provoke the incidents that followed.

[02] STEPHANOPOULOS: YILMAZ’S STATEMENTS ARE CLOSE TO BEING LUDICROUS

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos, who attended the ceremony for the completion of the military exercise “Parmenion ‘97”, commented on the statements made by Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on the final division of Cyprus, stating that they are close to being ludicrous.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that mr.Yilmaz virtually admitted that Turkey plays the role of the international troublemaker.

[03] HIGH LEVEL MEETING IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met in Athens today with the leadership of the Foreign Ministry.

The main subject of the discussion was the assessment of the situation created after the Inter-Balkan Summit meeting in Crete and the preparation of the government’s position that will be presented in Parliament this afternoon in the discussion that will be held at political party leaders’ level.

[04] INFLATION WAS 4,7% IN OCTOBER

Inflation was 4,7% in October, 0,2% less compared to September, according to data provided by the Greek National Statistics Agency.

The downward course of the inflation is mainly due to the fall observed in the prices of medicines and certain food items.

Meanwhile, a new drop was observed in the Athens Stock Exchange and the Bank of Greece made a new intervention by increasing again the interest rates in order to back the drachma.

[05] DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT ON FOREIGN POLICY

A discussion on the foreign policy will be held in Parliament today at political party leaders level and will take place after a request made by main opposition party of New Democracy.

During the discussion, the Prime Minister is expected to give more details and inform the members of Parliament on the meeting he had with his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz in Crete.

[06] EARTHQUAKE OF 5,4 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN ITEA

A strong earthquake measuring 5,4 on the Richter scale shook the sea region of the Korinthian Bay last night.

The tremor was felt in Athens and in southern and central Greece. Electricity was cut off in many parts of central Greece and the earthquake’s epicenter was located in the region of Itea.

Seismology professor Vasilis Papazachos stated that there is a notable increase in the seismic activity that is being recorded in central Greece.

[07] GREEK ALTERNATE F.M. SPEAKS TO M.P.A.

Greece’s alternate Foreign Minister, George Papandreou, reiterated, yesterday in Strasbourg, the country’s will to promote the peaceful cooperation in the Balkans after Crete’s Summit. As he stated to M.P.A., the Ministers’ Committee closely examined the current situation in Kosovo, while he presented the measures the Greek government has adopted in order to improve the living conditions of the Muslim minority in western Thrace. In addition, Mr. Papandreou stressed the necessity to promote minorities as a mean of cooperation between the people. E.K.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] CLINTON-YILMAZ MEETING

Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will meet with US President Bill Clinton in the White House on December 19.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash stated from Istanbul that the Cyprus issue dates back to 1964 and the position adopted by the Greek Cypriots, who want their accession into the European Union, will lead the island to the final division.

[09] YILMAZ THREATENS WITH THE DIVISION OF CYPRUS

Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz threatened from Austria that the opening of negotiations for Cyprus’ accession into the European Union will lead to the final division of the island.

Meanwhile, US special envoy Richard Halbrooke will be in Cyprus next week for a series of contacts with Greek-Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek responding to a question made by Greek Euro-Deputy Alekos Alavanos, on whether Ankara’s participation in a future European conference would be without pre- conditions, stated that Turkey must meet the same terms with all the other countries and should improve its human rights record.

[10] NORWAY CRITICIZED TURKEY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND ITS PRESENCE IN IRAQ

The Foreign Minister of Norway, during his talks yesterday with Turkish government vice-president Bulent Ecevit, criticized Turkey for its military presence in northern Iraq and also for its human rights record.

According to the statements made by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Turkey’s permanent presence in Iraq is unacceptable, constitutes a violation of international agreements and will not be tolerated.

Mr,Ecevit backed his government’s stance saying that the measures it took were necessary and said characteristically that for as long as Iraq plays an active role in the region Turkey has to take measures for its security.

[11] SERB ARMY VOLUNTEER GIVES CHILLING CONFESSION TO MURDERS

“One morning, during the Bosnia-Herzegovina war, I took two Moslems hostage and turned them over to the operations center in the city of Bratunac. When the officers told me what they were going to do with them I said ‘give them to me.’ I led them to the Drina river, killed them and shoved them in the water, letting the current carry them away.”

This is how the 50-year-old Serb army volunteer Slobodan Misic begins his description of the 70 to 80 murders he committed during the war, to the Serb daily “Vranskje”.

In the summer of 1991, Misic, who is from south Serbia’s city of Vranje, enlisted as a volunteer with Vukovar’s army front, in Craisna. What prompted him to volunteer in the military was, in his own words, “the fact that I could no longer tolerate hearing accounts of how the Croats slaughtered the area’s Serbs.” He stayed at Croatia’s front for 15 months, during which time, as he admitted, he killed an unspecified number of Croats, most of whom were secret service agents. After a brief return to his hometown, he moved on to Bosnia where he fought as a volunteer on the Bosnian-Serb side.

Does he feel regret? “ I don’t even think about that, I would do the same again if episodes broke out in Kossovo,” he responded undauntedly. The only remorse he does feel is for the two Moslem girls he killed by mistake. Misic said that the majority of his victims were simple people, not soldiers.

Would he be willing to appear before the International War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague? “Why not? It would be good for the truth to get out, although I don’t think that my people would let them catch me alive,” he said.

Police arrested Misic today at the paper. A.F.

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