Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-06-28

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

Last Update: 23:27 GMT+2

SECTIONS

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

[C] WORLD

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

[C] WORLD

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] GREECE

[01] US AMBASSADOR TO UN: SITUATION IN KOSSOVO IS EXPLOSIVE

Web Posted: 19:20 GMT+2

"The situation in Kossovo is explosive ... It is my estimate that the clashes could at any moment develop into war. It this war spreads, it could bring Greece at the doorstep of its own involvement in the crisis," he said

Mr. Holbrooke said a peaceful resolution of the crisis was the preferred option, but warned that NATO would not hesitate to take military action if the situation

deteriorated.

"Of course, no one wants a solution through military pressure. The peaceful resolution of the issue through a change in the status of the region, but within the present borders of Yugoslavia, is preferable. This has tremendous significance which every Greek

citizen understands fully well ... I should add, however, that, if necessary, NATO will not sit idle, as in the case of Bosnia early in the decade," he said.

Mr. Holbrooke also reiterated his view that Turkey was responsible for the present impasse in the Cyprus issue.

"The cause of the impasse is the significant change in Turkish policy, as it now poses two conditions for the commencement of negotiations: the recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot republic and the freezing of Cyprus' accession course to the EU. These conditions make the achievement of progress impossible," he said.

Mr. Holbrooke also reiterated his disagreement with the planned installation of Russian-made S-300 defense missiles on Cyprus.

"In my view, every move that increases tension is mistaken ... Of course, I recognize the right of every nation to self-defense, but my estimate is that the missiles will not boost the security of the people of Cyprus," he said.

[B] BALKANS

[02] GREEK PRESIDENT WISHES FOR CYPRUS' RE-UNIFICATION

Web Posted: 19:20 GMT+2

Receiving the golden key of the southern coastal town of Larnaca, Stefanopoulos said the island is "full of love, expectations and hope" and expressed the wish that Cyprus will soon be "independent and sovereign again".

He said that on his last day in Cyprus he would like to wish for "uncertainty, grief and distress, killings and mourning to cease and for freedom to prevail".

"No one can deny Cyprus its right to become once again united, independent and non-aligned", the Greek President stressed.

On his part, Larnaca Mayor, George Lykourgos, pointed out that President Stefanopoulos leads the struggle for justice, adding that he is "a capable leader of Hellenism."

[03] GREEK PRESIDENT RECEIVED FAMAGUSTA BROKEN KEY

Web Posted: 19:20 GMT+2

"The ghost of Famagusta haunts those who created it", the Greek President said, gazing at Famagusta from Dherynia situated on the demarcation line only meters away from the Turkish-occupied town.

Presenting President Stephanopoulos with the broken key, Famagusta Mayor Andreas Pouyiouros said: "we are saddened because the Turkish occupation prevents us from giving you a tour of our town, which is only a couple of steps away".

The Greek President said he was honored to receive the broken golden key of Famagusta, noting, however, that he was also saddened and angered by the fact that this was forbidden territory.

"It is forbidden as a result of injustice, military violence and occupation", he said, stressing that the occupation regime has no right to prohibit entrance.

Stephanopoulos said more people should visit Dherynia in order to understand how people feel when the see their houses but cannot enter them.

"Perhaps then even those who feel they bear no responsibility (for the Cyprus tragedy) would realize how responsible they are for bearing this injustice", he added.

Gazing at the Turkish-occupied town, described by many as a "ghost town", Stephanopoulos remarked: "Famagusta's ghost haunts those who created it".

The Greek President was also presented with the golden keys of Dherynia and Paralimni.

Speaking at Paralimni, where he also met with the young wife and child of Tassos Isaak, who was brutally murdered by Turkish "Gray Wolves" extremists two summers ago, Stefanopoulos said: "There are more Greeks here than anywhere else".

He also called for "prudence and a continuous struggle for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem, so that Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Latins and Maronites can live peacefully together".

[04] GREEK PRESIDENT VISITS NICOSIA GREEN LINE

Web Posted: 19:20 GMT+2

Shortly before departing from Nicosia on the last day of his official visit to Cyprus, Stefanopoulos visited the Green Line dividing the island's capital in two, escorted by Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades.

Asked to describe his feelings, Stefanopoulos said "we share the same feelings that Cypriots have all these years".

He also expressed the hope that the demarcation line will cease to exist and for "peaceful communication in the island".

Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, and Greek Foreign Under- Secretary, Yiannos Kranidiotis, also visited the Green line along with President Stefanopoulos.

[05] GREEK PRESIDENT FORWARDS CONDOLENCES ON ADANA QUAKE

Web Posted: 19:20 GMT+2

The quake struck late in the afternoon and had a preliminary magnitude of 6.3, Istanbul's Kandilli observatory said. Tremors were felt in the neighboring provinces of Mersin, Nigde and Kayseri.

Authorities cut power in Adana and Mersin to prevent fires and advised people to spend the night outside their homes, anticipating aftershocks. Much of Turkey sits atop the Anatolian fault and quakes are relatively frequent in the country.

[C] WORLD

[06] GREECE'S CULTURAL ATTACHE IN CAIRO DIES AFTER LENGTHY ILLNESS

Web Posted: 19:20 GMT+2

In his post in Egypt, Mr. Moskov, fought for the preservation of the Greek arts and letters in Egypt and offered great assistance to the Egyptian archaeologists in their efforts to discover the tomb of Alexander the Great.

The Thessaloniki-born diplomat was greatly loved by both countries's political and intellectual circles.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

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