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