MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (10/04/1996)

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 10 April 1996,

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK PREMIER CONSIDERS SUCCESSFUL HIS MEETING WITH US PRESIDENT

"Mr. Clinton accepted the basic principle that we base our policy upon, that is that in bilateral relations and in relations regarding the Aegean Sea region there must be no use of force. The use of force or the threat of the use of force, must not be allowed," Mr. Simitis said.

Moreover, Mr. Simitis said that Mr. Clinton accepted the greek view that the solution in the greek-turkish relations cannot stem from a "global conversation" bilateral dialogue, as the Turk Premier Mesut Yilmaz has suggested, but, rather, must be approached step by step.

"First step," Mr. Simitis stated, "which we proposed and will seek, will be the address of the turkish claim for the Imia issue or the Dodekanese issue. We have stated that Turkey must resort to the International Court of Justice at The Hague."

The Greek Premier added that once this happens, Greece would not object to the development of the customs union agreement between Turkey and the European Union.

According to Mr. Simitis, the U.S. President agreed that the issue must be resolved through the International Court.

Furthermore, the Greek Premier referred to greek-american relations and stated that he mentioned the need for their further development.

Mr. Simitis stated that he and Mr. Clinton did not discuss confidence building issues or issues of defense co-operation.

"I made clear to Mr. Clinton that our proposal is to solve a problem which has been exisiting for a long time and that is the problem of the continental shelf. There must be a discussion held with Turkey, within a pre-determined time frame, in order to bring this issue to the International Court of Justice at The Hague," the Greek Premier said.

The cypriot issue was also raised during the two leaders' meeting, and President Clinton stated that he intends to undertake initiatives on the matter.

Regarding the FYROM name issue, the Greek Premier stated that Greece intends to implement the interim accord.

[02] GREEK PREMIER MET WITH U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY

The Premier asked for U.S. guarrantees of support for the greek positions and also asked for military aid, while Mr. Perry stated that this issue will be discussed during the forthcoming Joint Hellenic-American Commission meeting, scheduled to take place in Washington during May.

[03] PREMIER AND NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER MEET WITH US FINANCE SECRETARY

The three men discussed the potential of common greek- american investment efforts in the balkan region, as well as the creation of a electricity production plant near the greek- bulgarian borders. This, according to U.S. estimates, could potentially replace the Kozlodui nuclear plant.

Moreover, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline was discussed, as well as the extention of the natural gas pipeline to other Balkan countries.

[04] ARCHBISHOP REACTS TO MILOSEVIC

"Your hasty action to recognize Skopje as 'Macedonia' constitutes an exhibit of ingratitude and an injury to the alliance of the two peoples of Greece and Serbia. No one else has supported your people, as much as Greece and the Orthodox Church of America," Mr. Iakovos states in his telegram to the Serb leader.

[05] WHITE HOUSE STATEMENTS ON SIMITIS-CLINTON MEETING

"The two leaders examined bilateral relations. They discussed briefly the dispute between Greece and Turkey regarding the Imia-Kardak islet, and the President told the Prime Minister that the United States are strongly anxious about the situation in the Aegean in general and they want to help in finding a solution.

"The President said, as he has publicly stated, that the U.S. support a referral of the issue of the sovereignty of the islet to the International Court, or to some other procedural forum. He also clarified that the U.S. believes that the differences between Greece and Turkey must be solved without violence or the threat of violence and that the two sides must apply to the relevant international agreement and must respect each other's territorial integrity.

"The Prime Minister made a presentation which the President found especially encouraging. We offered, as we have done in the past, to be useful if there is some way we can help," McCurry stated.

[06] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS ON CYPRIOT ISSUE

Speaking to the state-owned cypriot radio station RIK, Mr. Pangalos stated that the settling of the Imia islet issue through the International Court of Justice at The Hague constitutes the first step.

According to information given by the Minister, the United States Under-secretary of State John Cornbloom is expected to visit Athens, Ankara and Nicosia towards the end of this month.

[07] UNITED NATIONS WILL NOT ACCEPT MAPS PRODUCED BY THE PSEUDO-STATE

In his statements made to the Cyprus radio, Mr. Feischel stated that the UN are guided by the decisions drawn by the Security Council, which, he stated, are very clear in regards to such issues. He also assessed that the turkish action will not affect the initiatives taken on the Cypriot issue.

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