MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (18/04/1996)

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 18, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] EIGHTEEN PEOPLE ASSASSINATED IN CAIRO, MOSTLY GREEK TOURISTS

Eighteen people have been killed, most of whom greek tourists, and 13 are injured, when four individuals armed with automatic rifles opened fire on a group of tourists outside the "Europa" hotel, near the Cairo pyramids this morning.

According to eyewitness reports, the assassins, three men and one woman dressed in white robes, got off a small truck and walked to the hotel's entrance where they opened fire against the tourists at random shouting "God is great." They were able to get away with their vehicle, amidst the chaos that followed after the attack.

According to reports by the Associated Press and the French Press Agency, the group of greek tourists was getting ready to travel to Alexandria by a tourist bus.

A spokesperson from the Greek Embassy in Cairo stated that at this time no additional information is known about the attack, although, according to reports, the massacre appears to be the work of extremist muslims who are active in Egypt.

In a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Affairs Ministry, "terrorists" are considered responsible for the massacre, a term used by the egyptian authorities when referring to the extremist muslims who are attempting to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak.

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced that the tourists were Greeks, while, according to the hotel's staff, there were many Poles among them.

A spokesperson from the Thessaloniki-based travel agency "Philoxenia" which organized the tour in Egypt, stated that approximately 50 people were participating in this tour, mostly elderlies from Thessaloniki and Athens.

The "Europa" hotel is often frequented by Israeli tourists, although it hasn't been ascertained if they were the terrorists' target.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack, although egyptian authorities believe that the islamist organization Jamaa al Islamiyia, which since1992 has targeted tourist sites, is behind this attack.

[02] GREECE DENOUNCES TERRORIST ACTS, TO SEND AID TO VICTIMS

The greek government denounces terrorist acts and considers terrorism to be an unacceptable method for the resolution of any issue, stated today the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Konstantinos Bikas referring to the massacre that took place in Cairo this morning, where 18 greek tourists were killed and 13 others have been critically wounded.

Confirmed information regarding the identities of the massacre victims has not been issued yet, stated Mr. Bikas adding that the Ministry is in close contact with the charge d'affaires of the Greek Embassy in Cairo and with the Egyptian Ambassador in Athens.

The spokesperson also added that a plan to provide emergency aid to the victims may be issued by the greek government. Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos is currently communicating with the Defense Ministry to see that a greek military aircraft type C-130 departs for Cairo. When asked if there is a travel advisory issued by the greek government for Egypt, Mr. Bikas stated that there isn't one.

[03] GREECE-FYROM TALKS TO BE CONTINUED IN JUNE

Greece and FYROM have agreed to continue their direct discussions on the name issue in early June, announced Cyrus Vance, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, today.

Mr.Vance also expressed his satisfaction for the political willingness shown by both Greece and FYROM during the talks held in New York yesterday regarding the skopjan name issue.

Following the meeting, the UN Envoy stated that he will not submit the mandate to the Security Council and said that "we exchanged views in the context of article 5 of the Interim Accord and both parties agreed to continue their direct discussions under my auspices at a mutually convenient date in early June".

Representing Greece in the talks is the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations Christos Zacharakis and representing FYROM is Ambassador Ivan Tosevski.

[04] SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS TO DISCUSS CYPRIOT ISSUE

The unacceptability of the cypriot status quo was re-affirmed during yesterday's meeting of the five permanent member-states of the Security Council.

The members agreed that a conclusive solution to the issue must be found, based on the United Nations resolutions, the high level agreements and the efforts put forth by the Secretary-General and his representatives.

A statement issued by the United States, which acts as this month's co-ordinator for the permanent members' activities, mentioned that views were exchanged on ways to accomplish the above targets and underlines the total support of the "Five" to the Secretary-General's services.

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/