MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (24/04/1996)

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 24, 1996

NEWS IN BRIEF

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] TURK ARRESTED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON A GREEK ISLAND

A turkish speedboat captain was arrested by men of a greek patrol vessel while attempting to land 13 illegal immigrants on the shores of the greek island Samos last night.

According to reports, it was shortly after midnight when the greek patrol boat, while making its rounds, detected a speedboat approaching the shore with its navigation lights off.

Upon realizing that he had been discovered, the Turk captain increased his speed and attempted to get away with dangerous manoeuvres.

A chase followed and, after approximately half an hour, the speedboat was immobilized and the captain was arrested along with the 13 Iraqi refugees.

According to their statements following the arrest, the Iraqis paid a bounty of $1500 each to the Turk captain for their transport to Samos from Turkey.

[02] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH IRISH COUNTERPART TODAY

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is currently in Dublin, Ireland, where he will meet with the Irish Premier John Bruton today.

Mr. Simitis met with the British Premier John Major in London yesterday where, following the meeting, it was reported that Mr. Major favored the referral of the Imia islets issue to The Hague, and concurrently proposed a direct dialogue between Athens-Ankara.

The British Premier also suggested that the greek reservations regarding the Community funding to Turkey be lifted, an option the Greek Premier rejected.

[03] ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE ROMEOS SPEAKS TO BBC

In an interview granted to the greek services of BBC, Greek alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos stated that, should Turkey accept the referral of the continental shelf issue to the International Justice Court at The Hague, the Court's decision will simultanuously resolve the issue of the greek territorial waters extension from six to 12 miles.

Mr. Romeos, who is accompanying the Premier Kostas Simitis on his visits to London and Dublin, participated in the discussions held yesterday with the British Premier John Major and British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind.

"If Turkey agrees to resort to The Hague for the continental shelf issue, then the decision issued will solve the 12 miles issue," the Minister stated.

"What is sought by the turkish side is that Greece will not exercise the right to extent its territorial waters to 12 miles, precisely because Turkey claims more continental shelf than it is entitled to. Therefore, if such an arrangement takes place, somehow the manner in which this right is exercised is also solved."

When asked if there is a risk that the International Court's decision will not be favorable for Greece, the Minister answered that "one cannot expect to win everything in Court."

"We expect (to win) and that is why we insist, because we believe that based on international regulations and the Sea Treaty, what belongs to us will be secured. This pendency must come to an end and the only way it can be solved is for an international court to address the issue."

Mr. Romeos was also asked about the Intergovernmental Conference, which began last month, and the abolition of the unanimity principle within the European Union.

"The issue of limiting unanimity," Mr. Romeos stated, "is composed by two basic parts: issues of social policy and issues of foreign policy and security. In the area of foreign policy there is a tendency to limit unanimity, except for issues regarding national rights. However, on this point, we are willing to accept the majority principle, if our request to legislate the European Union's external borders and to secure the clause of a mutual community assistance is accepted.

"If we secure protection of our borders, we might be more accommodating on the unanimity principle," Mr. Romeos stated.

However, he added that the hopes for achieving the mutual community assistance clause are few.

"That is because most countries appear unwilling and also because there is a practicality issue. The EU does not have military forces and it does not appear likely that the request to include the Western European Union or the creation of a united european military force will be accepted."

[04] BONN, ANKARA DISAGREE ON WAYS TO RESOLVE GREEK-TURKISH DIFFERENCES

Differences in points of view were noted between the german and turkish governments, regarding the resolving of greek-turkish differences, during the Turk Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay's recent visit to Bonn.

The German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel stated that his country is in favor of the direct referral of the Imia islets issue to the International Justice Court at The Hague, while his Turk counterpart emphasized that his country favors a "unconditional dialogue" with Greece and if there is no result achieved, then a resort to a "third party."

According to a BBC broadcast, German Foreign Ministry officials pointed out that "there is a different approach" to the greek-turkish differences.

Germany believes that there must be a resort to The Hague for a variety of issues, led by the islets and followed by all the other issues that concern the two countries, such as the continental shelf and the territorial waters.

However, Turkey clearly appears to want to avoid The Hague venue, since various law experts of other countries, whose advice the turkish government has sought, have reported that Ankara's legal arguments are weak.

Concurrently, the same German diplomats stated that Mr. Kinkel asked his Turk counterpart to show "more flexibility on the cypriot issue and to exert pressure upon Rauf Denktash on accepting Cyprus' accession to the European Union."

[05] ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS SENDS PROTEST LETTER TO ANTHONY LAKE

His disappointment and chagrin for the recent decision taken by the United States Congress to discuss the issue of the Muslim minority living in Western Thrace, was expressed by Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos in a letter sent to the US President's National Security Advisor, Anthony Lake.

In his letter, the Archbishop states that "the United States Congress should not give in to pressures exerted by "friends" who cause additional problems in the american policy of good neighboring and peace, something that should constitute a steady objective."

Mr. Iakovos also referred to the so-called violations of human rights of a minority that enjoys the same rights and privileges as the Greek citizens.

[06] UNITED STATES WANT UN TO REMAIN IN FYROM

United States Assistant Secretary of State Timothy Wirth conveyed his government's wish to extent the United Nations peacekeeping forces stay in Skopje.

Mr. Wirth met yesterday with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski and, following the meetings, referred to the stay of the UN peacekeeping forces by stating that the US have voiced "an exceptionally weighed opinion, through the Secretary of Defense William Perry, who recently visited FYROM."

The Assistant Secretary of State also reminded that a similar suggestion had been made by the US representative to the UN Madeleine Allbright.

FYROM authorities have formally requested that the UN mandate be extended beyond its expiration date of May 31.

[07] CYPRUS SPECIAL ENVOY WAS APPOINTED BY UN SECRETARY- GENERAL

The United States Ambassador to Cyprus Richard Bowcher denied reports which claim that the United States has imposed upon the United Nations Secretary-General the appointment of the former Foreign Minister of South Korea Han Sung Ju (replacing Joe Clark) as a Special Envoy on the Cyprus issue.

In statements given to the cypriot state-owned radio station RIK, Mr. Bowcher said that the choice was made by the UN Secretary-General himself.

[08] KOZLODUI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ON EARTH, SAYS GREENPEACE

The Bulgarian nuclear power plant in Kozlodui is considered to be one of the three most dangerous nuclear plants on earth, next to Chernobyl's and Armenia's, according to a study presented yesterday by the interational ecological organization Greenpeace.

Greenpeace members stated that four of the six plant's reactors are of outdated technology and similar to those used in Chernobyl.

According to the report, should a nuclear accident occur at Kozlodui, the repercussions for Greece will be one hundred times fold.

"In the case of a nuclear accident, 132,000 persons may die from cancer in Greece, while the total cost for taking emergency measures will rise to 36 trillion drachmas," Greenpeace stated.

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/