Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-07

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 7 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] THE INTER-BALKAN SUMMIT IS A MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS IN THE BALKANS

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis speaking in Parliament on issues concerning Greece’s foreign policy characterized the Inter- Balkan Summit meeting in Crete as the most significant event of the recent decades in the development of relations in the Balkans.

Mr.Simitis, referring to the positive results achieved by Greece in the Summit of Crete, mentioned among others, that the common belief for the necessity of regional cooperation was confirmed, while it was also confirmed that the UN resolutions and International Law must be respected.

[02] THE DRAFT LAW “I.KAPODISRIAS” WAS VOTED THROUGH IN PARLIAMENT

The draft law “I.Kapodistrias”, on the compulsory mergers of municipalities and communities, was in principle voted through in Parliament. One hundred and fifty nine deputies voted for the draft law and 120 voted against.

The deputies of the main opposition party of New Democracy left the Parliament in protest because they believe that more time is needed for the discussion of the draft law. In support of the bill have voted the governing Socialist party of PASOK and the party Coalition of the Left.

[03] THE POLICY OF THE HARD DRACHMA WILL CONTINUE

The Bank of Greece will continue the policy of the hard drachma, according to its governor mr.Papadimos.

The loan interest rate was 60% in the Greek money market today and as a result no pressure is being exerted on the drachma.

The Ministry of Finance will issue state bonds on Monday but their interest rate has not been set yet.

[04] 1998’ s BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED

The objective of the government’s economic policy is to secure the Greek economy, to defend the Greek currency towards the opportunistic pressures and to proceed the economic and monetary unification, stated the Government spokesperson, Dimitris Reppas, prompted by the conference of the Governmental Committee. Minister of National Economy, Giannos Papantoniou stressed, through his statements after the that 1998’s economic policy will be primarily in accordance with the goals of convergence and he underlined that the deficit and inflation objectives are to be accomplished.

[05] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TO EMBARK ON VISIT TO GERMANY

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis is to embark on an official five-day visit to Germany on Sunday, following an invitation issued by his German counterpart Rita Suessmuth, President of the German Federal Parliament.

Mr. Kaklamanis is to meet with leading members of the German government, both at a federal and at a state level, with whom he will discuss matters of bilateral interest.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] TURKISH OCEANOGRAPHIC SHIP IS IN THE AEGEAN

A Turkish oceanographic ship is in the Aegean since yesterday afternoon, conducting underwater studies in the sea region south of Mount Athos and inside the international waters.

The Turkish ship is being watched by Greek warships.

[07] MEETING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND CYPRUS

The developments in the Cyprus issue will be discussed today in Athens in the meeting of Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos with his Cypriot counterpart Yiannakis Kasoulides.

The meeting has a special interest in view of the visit of US presidential envoy Richard Halbrooke to Cyprus on Monday.

Mr.Halbrooke will have separate meetings with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[08] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES WILL RUN IN THE 1998 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides announced that he will be a candidate in the 1998 presidential elections.

In a statement he has issued, he underlines the historical obligation and political responsibility he has, as the conditions created both for the solution of the Cyprus problem and for Cyprus’ accession into the EU have to be exploited in the best possible way.

[09] THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN TURKEY NEEDS DRASTIC IMPROVEMENT

Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz admitted in Vienna that the human rights situation in Turkey needs drastic improvement. Nevertheless, regarding the armed conflict with the Kurds, he said that the battle against terrorism remains a priority.

Meanwhile, in a speech in the OASE headquarters in Vienna, mr.Yilmaz stated that his government hopes that by the end of the year will be able to lift the emergency situation which is in effect for over a decade in the regions with a Kurdish population.

The Austrian Chancellor stated that Turkey has to adopt many reforms before becoming an EU member, while he also stated that Ankara must improve its human rights record and put an end to the conflict with the Kurds.

[10] THE GREEK ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER

Greek alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou met in Strasbourg with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, within the framework of the 101th ministerial meeting.

According to information, their talks focused on Council of Europe issues and on issues concerning the relations of Turkey with the European Union.

Mr.Papandreou also had contacts with the Italian and the French Ministers of European Affairs and with the Romanian Foreign Minister.

[11] ONE-FIFTH OF THE BALKAN VLACHS LIVE IN GREECE

Twenty thousand Vlachs live in Greece today, out of a total of 100 thousand, who live in different Balkan countries, according to British professor in the University of Warwick, Tom Winnifrith.

Speaking to MPA, on the occasion of his presentation on the Vlachs in northern Greece made in the two-day conference organized by the Balkan Studies Institute, prof.Winnifrith pointed out that the 20.000 Vlachs in Greece have a Greek national conscience but they speak the Vlach language, that comes from the Latin.

Prof.Winnifrith, who studies the issue of the Vlachs since 1970 and has published two books on them, explains that their language came from the Latin, because in the eastern Roman Empire a large number of the population spoke Latin. According to the British professor, a large number of Vlachs live in Albania, about 20.000 in FYROM and 20.000-30.000 in Romania.

[12] MILOSEVIC - SOLANA MEETING

The President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, met yesterday with the General Secretary of NATO, Javier Solana and the director of North - Atlantic Alliance in Europe, General Wesley Klark. According to the announcement given by the Presidency, the focal points of the discussions were issues concerning the practice of peaceful agreement for Bosnia as well as issues on the foundation of peace and stability in the area. Furthermore, it was denoted that the problems presented in the former Yugoslavia can be solved through political dialogue and the mutual cooperation of all the sides involved.

[13] FM MINISTER OF FYROM HANJINSKI : THERE IS A NEED FOR UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE’ S PRESENCE

FYROM’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bladgoi Hanjinski, characterized the further presence of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Skopje as a necessary condition for securing peace and stability in FYROM and in the broader Balkan territory. During a press conference, Mr. Hanjinski, stressed that the causes that could lead to the instability of the territory have not been obliterated and he pointed out the necessity of extending the stay of UNPREDEP’s peacekeeping force for the next 12 months.

[14] TURKISH PM IS CONFIDENT, HIS COUNTRY WILL PARTICIPATE IN EU SUMMIT

The Prime Minister of Turkey Mesut Yilmaz stated today that his country will certainly participate at the European conference, if it should take place.

Upon his return from Austria, where he had sought support for his country’s accession tot he European Union, Mr. Yilmaz also stated that his country cou7ld be the most problematic EU- candidate member from the point of view that Turkey is quite different from the other candidates.

According to Mr. Yilmaz, this can be overcome through the application of a specified strategy which Turkey is willing to discuss with all of the EU’s member-states.

Referring to his contacts in Austria, Mr. Yilmaz stated that he found understanding and support in regards to Turkey’s expectations from the EU’s expansion.

[15] GREECE-FYROM FORM JOINT VENTURE IN THE SKIES, NEW AIRLINE IN SIGHT

A new airline titled “Goldair-Skopje” was established in FYROM, targeting the representation of foreign airlines and serving tourists from FYROM to Greece.

According to the President of Goldair Stelios Golemis, the company’s capital share amounts to DM10,000, whose majority are held by Goldair.

[16] UN: GREECE AND TURKEY DON’T RESPECT RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

A draft report issued by the United Nations mentions that both Greece and Turkey are at a disadvantageous position when it comes to respecting human rights.

Specifically, the report mentions that Greece is among those countries that discriminate against Moslems, while Turkey on the other hand discriminates against Christians. In the examples the report resorts to in order to illustrate the cases of discrimination, it mentions that Turkish authorities monitor the activities of the various religious groups and communities, while it reports on Greece’s lawsuit against a Moslem religious leader who was charged with having built a Moslem minaret illegally.

In its response, the Greek government stressed that the construction of a minaret at the village of Kimmera in Xanthi was halted because it did not meet the guidelines set forth y the builder’s permit. According to the response, the minaret can be built if a request for a new permit is filed, something that has yet to be done.

Turkey also refuted the UN’s accusations in regards to violating religious minorities’ rights. In its response, it stated that the rights of the Christian minorities are protected by the Lausanne Accord and the Turkish Constitution’s Articles 10 and 24. Moreover, in regards to reported attacks on non-Moslem places of worship, the Turkish authorities are conducting investigations/.

In regards to the Theological School of Chalke, Turkey notes that its status has been modified since 1971. That’s when the School was stripped of authority and had to be embodied in another state institution. Given that there was no other similar institution at an academic level, the School had to cease all of its activities.

[17] KOSSOVO’S ALBANIANS DIFFER WITH NANO’S POINT OF VIEW

The meeting held recently between Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano and the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic, on the sidelines of the Crete-held Inter- Balkan Summit, has provoked an array of reactions among Kossovo’s Albanians.

Their leader, Ibrahim Rugova stated today that he “advised” Mr. Nano to be more careful when he talks about Kossovo.

Mr. Rugova said that the Albanian Premier’s statements do not reflect the wishes of Kossovo’s Albanian residents and added that “the recognition of Kossovo‘s republic was voted by Albania’s pluralist parliament in 1991, when Ramiz Alia was Albania’s president.

In closing, Mr. Rugova said that Akia was the Albanian leader who did the most for Kossovo and asked the present parliamentary body to recognize his work.

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