MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (02/04/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency Brief News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki April 2, 1996

CONTENTS

[01] TURKISH PROVOCATIONS AGAINST GREEK TERRITORIAL RIGHTS CONTINUE

Referring to unnamed "experts", the article titled "Kalolimnos is turkish territory" asserts that "according to the Lauzanne Treaty, the ilets found three miles away from the (country's) shores, belong to that specific country. Greece does not have a direct right to any of the Aegean Sea islands since in 1947 with the Paris Treaty Greece was granted 14 islands by Italy and as such, Greece's rights in effect are limited to that transfer process."

[02] FOUR TONS OF PET FOOD HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED IN THESSALONIKI

According to the Center's supervisor George Tsolis, the cans were discovered in searches conducted throughout warehouses and supermarkets in Thessaloniki.

Reports state that the cans were imported to Greece prior to the ban imposed on british meat imports.

Meanwhile, amid rising consumer fear that the "mad cow disease", properly known as the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) that has been linked to the deadly Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease found in humans, can spread to chickens, Thessaloniki Aristotle University's professor Evstr. Artopios, emphasized that there have been no indications of this disease spreading to birds.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr.Artopios, Professor of Bird Pathology at the University, stated that following extensive research, no occassions of the Creutzfeldt- Jakob Disease have been found, neither does the relevant international bibliography refer to any such incident.

Aiming at reassuring the public of the unlikeliness of the disease appearing in farm birds, he stated that wild falcon birds that feed on small-size mammals such as eagles, hawks and crows, have not been linked to the disease. More so, the bigger size wild birds such as vultures and crows, which feed entirely on the carcasses and intenstines of dead animals, have not been inflicted with the disease.

"I repeat, there is no evidence pointing that the birds can be inflicted by the Spongiform Encephalopathy," the Professor stated categorically.

However, Mr. Artopios stated that the uproar created over beef is understandable, although, as he pointed out, "nothing has been proven scientifically and all the measures taken are preventive."

[03] GREECE TO LOAN $100 MILLION TO SERB REPUBLIC

Speaking to the bosnianserb television, Mr. Kafejic stated that the loan was agreed upon during his recent two-day visit to Greece.

Seventy per cent of the loan is earmarked for investment purposes, while the remaining thirty per cent will be allocated for the purchase of various goods.

In line to receive the loan are bosnianserb companies which have already signed co-operation agreements with greek businesses.

[04] PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT SENDS MESSAGE TO FYROM COUNTERPART

According to the Skopjan state radio, the message was conveyed to Mr. Petkovski by the head of the greek liaison office in FYROM, Alexandros Mallias.

The meeting between Petkovski-Mallias was marked with a mutual satisfaction stemming from the level of the up-to-date bilateral relations in the areas of economy and trade, while it was assessed that the influence in the area of political relations will be positive as well.

[05] DENKTASH REPEATS ASSERTIONS ON MISSING IN FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE AFTER HEART EPISODE

In an interview granted to turkish television, which Ankara broadcast via the Eurovision station, the self-proclaimed leader stated that "all those who claim that there are still missing persons who are alive and being kept in Turkey and Cyprus' turkish grounds, will have to account for their actions during the 1974 coup."

In another part of his interview to the turkish telelvision, Rauf Denktash embarked on a stern offensive against the European Union, accusing the Europeans of believing that Cyprus must be included in the Community, regardless of the turk-cypriot positions.