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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-07-26

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 26, 1999

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] DIALOGUE BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY BEGINS TODAY
  • [02] SIMITIS MEETS WITH KARAMANLIS-TSOVOLAS
  • [03] THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE CONVENES TODAY
  • [04] REPPAS ON THE EXPECTATIONS FROM THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE
  • [05] THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE IS UNDERWAY
  • [06] THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE MET TODAY
  • [07] THE EFFORT FOR THE CREATION ON NON-EXISTENT MINORITY PROBLEMS WAS INEFFECTIVE
  • [08] PAPANDREOU-MILLER MEETING
  • [09] KARAMANLIS: THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE IS BEING HELD UNCONDITIONALLY
  • [10] FOUR RUSSIAN NAVY SHIPS WILL SAIL INTO THE PORT OF THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
  • [11] THE ISSUE OF THE US STANCE TOWARD GREECE WAS RAISED BY A GREEK EURO-DEPUTY
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [12] STEPASIN VISITS WASHINGTON
  • [13] ANOTHER GREEK CYPRIOT HAS BEEN ABDUCTED IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] DIALOGUE BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY BEGINS TODAY

    The dialogue between Greece and Turkey begins today in Ankara, in a level of governmental officials. The premier phase of the process will examine matters of tourism, trade, economic and cultural cooperation. Ambassadors Skopelitis and Gerokostopoulos will head the greek delegation, while the general Secretary of the Greek Foreign Ministry, will coordinate talks from Athens.

    Talks will continue in Athens, on Thursday, on the subjects of regional cooperation, public security, battling terrorism, illegal immigration and narcotics. Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Papandreou expressed the hope that Greece will enjoy long-term positive results from the dialogue process.

    On Friday, Mr. Papandreou will meet with his Turkish counterpart, Ismael Cem, in Sarajevo in the sideline of the Summit on the Balkan Stability Pact.

    [02] SIMITIS MEETS WITH KARAMANLIS-TSOVOLAS

    Premier Kostas Simitis will meet this afternoon with presidents of New Democracy and DIKKI, Kostas Karamanlis and Dimitris Tsovolas. These meetings conclude the premier's round of contacts with the political leaders on the governments immigration policy and the measures for confronting crime.

    [03] THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE CONVENES TODAY

    The armament plan for the military navy will be the centre of today's meeting of the Governmental Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense, chaired by the prime minister, Kostas Simitis. During this meeting, the new scale of wages of the military officers is expected to be discussed.

    [04] REPPAS ON THE EXPECTATIONS FROM THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commented on the expectations from the Greek-Turkish dialogue that has opened in Ankara today.

    Mr. Reppas stated to reporters that the goal is to improve the Greek-Turkish relations and spoke of a difficult process that will last a considerable amount of time, adding that its success will not depend only on Greece but on the Turkish reactions as well.

    When asked to comment on the likelihood of provocation on behalf of Ankara, the Greek government spokesman pointed out that Greece plans its policy based on its own interests but at the same time it considers all the possible moves of the other side.

    [05] THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE IS UNDERWAY

    A new chapter is likely to open in the Greek-Turkish relations after the messages received by the Balkan governments as a result of the crisis in Kosovo, because the Balkan states now are being called on to find ways to achieve peaceful co-existence in order to limit the interventions by third parties in the region of south- eastern Europe, stated foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in his interview with the newspaper "Thessaloniki".

    Meanwhile, the Greek-Turkish dialogue is underway in Ankara at a specialists' level. In the first phase will be examined issues of tourism, trade, economic and cultural cooperation. On Thursday and Friday, the dialogue will continue in Athens on issues of regional cooperation, security, terrorism, illegal immigration and drug- trafficking.

    Mr. Papandreou stated on the meetings of Greek and Turkish officials which are underway in Ankara, that this will not be an easy cooperation, adding that the Turkish side has stated that in this dialogue is willing to cooperate clarifying, however, that he does not mean issues such as the Aegean, Cyprus etc.

    Mr. Papandreou stated that the round of talks that has opened in Ankara today will be used to record the climate existing in the Greek-Turkish relations even though the meetings are not expected to give immediate results. Mr. Papandreou stated that it should be displayed patience and perseverance in order to test the process for a considerable amount of time.

    Greece and Turkey are willing to join their forces in the process for the reconstruction of the Balkan economies and already Greece and Turkey have reached a decision to cooperate on this, pointed out Mr. Papandreou.

    Meanwhile, in an interview with the Athens radio station "FLASH", Mr. Papandreou stressed that issues of national sovereignty will not be discussed in Ankara under no circumstances. He clarified that even if the Turkish side attempts to put on the negotiating table such issues Greece will not agree to discuss them. Mr. Papandreou stated that an effort will be made to look for joint initiatives on issues of tourism, economy, illegal immigration and terrorism.

    On the foreign policy of Turkey, Mr. Papandreou stated that things are changing as already we have lived through a shocking experience of several months as a result of the crisis in Kosovo. He said that everything that took place caused concern in Turkey, while at the same time, new facts are being created with the peace process in the Middle East and the reinforcement of the European identity in the sectors of security and defense.

    [06] THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE MET TODAY

    The selection of foreign firms with which the Elefsina shipyards will cooperate for the construction of three Greek Navy missile-boats and one fuel tanker was discussed in Athens today in the Governmental Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense meeting. An initial discussion was also held on the salaries of the members of the armed forces.

    As it was made known after the meeting, the Governmental Council decided to reinforce the Navy with three submarines, a fuel tanker and three missile boats, while it was also decided that the shipyards of Skaramanga in Elefsina will cooperate with the shipyards in Kiel, Germany for the construction of three submarines in Greece. The Greek shipyards will also cooperate with an Italian shipyard for the construction of the fuel tanker and the three missile boats.

    The Governmental Council also discussed the Greek- Turkish relations and the situation that is being created in the Balkan region. Finally, the minister of defense presented his proposals on the new salaries of the officers in the Greek armed forces.

    [07] THE EFFORT FOR THE CREATION ON NON-EXISTENT MINORITY PROBLEMS WAS INEFFECTIVE

    The effort for the creation of non-existent minority problems was ineffective, while at the same time, there is skepticism in Athens over the timing that was selected for the presentation of the letter signed by the three Muslim deputies in the Greek parliament which attempted to create a minority issue in Thrace.

    Greece, in this difficult time, sets an example through its policy in the issue of the minorities and problems are being dealt with in the best possible way, stressed Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou commenting on the letter signed by the three Muslim parliament deputies with which they request the recognition of a Macedonian and a Turkish minority by the Greek state.

    Meanwhile, the three muftis in Xanthi and the managing committees of the Muslim property in Xanthi, Komotini and Didimoticho disagree with the three Muslim deputies. In the letter they have sent to the president of the Hellenic Republic, they mention that the minorities in Greece enjoy the rights and freedoms provided by the international treaties signed by Greece.

    Greek Communist Party general secretary Ms. Aleka Papariga stated from Kastoria in north-western Greece last Saturday that the Greek Communist Party backs the rights of the minorities adding however, that the leading powers in the European Union and NATO use the minorities in order to change the borders and turn them into their own pawns.

    Political Spring party president Antonis Samaras, who had suggested to the political parties in Greece not to include members of the minority in their ballots, stated that he had tried to prevent this by saying that the best defense for the country is knowledge.

    [08] PAPANDREOU-MILLER MEETING

    Outgoing US State Department special envoy to Cyprus Thomas Miller, who is expected to present the US official appointed as his replacement, will meet in Athens today with foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou.

    Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Miller will discuss the developments in the Cyprus issue and on Friday the US official is expected to meet in Sarajevo with Cypriot foreign minister Yiannakis Kasoulides on the sidelines of the international meeting for the reconstruction of the Balkans.

    [09] KARAMANLIS: THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE IS BEING HELD UNCONDITIONALLY

    Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis stated in an interview with the Athens newspaper "Eleftherotipia" that the Greek-Turkish dialogue that started in Ankara today is being held unconditionally and without setting clearly the framework within which the rapprochement with Turkey could acquire a constructive form.

    Mr. Karamanlis also reiterated his proposal for the establishment of a foreign policy council.

    [10] FOUR RUSSIAN NAVY SHIPS WILL SAIL INTO THE PORT OF THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

    Four Russian Navy ships are expected to sail into the port of Thessaloniki tomorrow. The ships will carry military vehicles and a large number of army officers and soldiers destined for the Serb province of Kosovo.

    Meanwhile, two transport ships from the United Arab Emirates carrying military vehicles and supplies are expected to sail into the port of Thessaloniki on Wednesday.

    [11] THE ISSUE OF THE US STANCE TOWARD GREECE WAS RAISED BY A GREEK EURO-DEPUTY

    With a question directed to the EU Council of Ministers, Greek Euro-deputy Alekos Alavanos from the Coalition of the Left party requests the clause of reciprocity to be in effect on the issue of the visa which the Greeks have to receive in order to travel to the United States and calls on the EU Council of Ministers to demand the immediate abolition of this practice.

    Mr. Alavanos also characterized the tactic adopted by the US embassy in Athens toward the Greek citizens, who have to have a visa in order to visit the United States, as unacceptable and humiliating.

    Mr. Alavanos stated that as if the known degrading interrogation-style questions included in the known questionnaire everybody has to answer in order to get a visa, were not enough, a printed invitation for the cooperation of the Greeks with the United States in order to tackle terrorism in Greece is now being attached to the Greek passports in a practice that has been put into effect only a few days ago.

    The US embassy attempts to present Greece as an unreliable country without a government, in effect, as a Balkan protectorate, stated Mr. Alavanos, adding that it attempts to create feelings of submission, guilt and inferiority to the Greeks visiting the United States in a method the US has used in Kenya, Lebanon, Afghanistan but in no other European Union country .

    The Euro-deputy of the Coalition of the Left party concludes that the Greek government has to remind the US ambassador that he is Athens and not in Pristina.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [12] STEPASIN VISITS WASHINGTON

    Russian prime minister Sergei Stepasin is on his first visit to the United States since he took over the post.

    Mr. Stepasin stated that he has orders from president Boris Yeltsin to restart the political and economic dialogue which had been interrupted because of the disagreements with the United States on the bombing of Yugoslavia. The Russian prime minister will have talks in Washington with US president Bill Clinton.

    [13] ANOTHER GREEK CYPRIOT HAS BEEN ABDUCTED IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED NORTHERN CYPRUS

    The United Nations force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, makes efforts to get in contact with 22yearold Spiros Kousioumis from Dali in Cyprus, who was abducted yesterday by the Turkish occupation forces. Kousioumis was with his friends in the village of Protaras and late in the afternoon he took his car to return to his village. As it was made known, Turkish soldiers abducted him in the region of Agios Nikolaos in the British bases.

    Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot Rogiros Georgiou, who has a Canadian citizenship, is expected to be brought again today before a court in the Turkish occupied part of northern Cyprus. Georgiou is being held illegally by the Turkish occupation forces since last Wednesday.


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