MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (02/05/1996)

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 May 2, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PREMIER EMBARKS TODAY ON TOUR OF EASTERN MACEDONIA, THRACE

Greek Prime Minster Kostas Simitis embarks today on a three-day tour of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, accompanied by a 12-member ministerial delegation.

Mr. Simitis will expound on the development of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, emphasizing that it is an issue of utmost national priority for the government and will underline that the region's present and future, its viability and progress, cannot only be addressed with a defensive armouring. We must realize, the Premier will state, that the region's future will depend on its economic, social and cultural development.

Specifically, the Premier will refer to the new model of development for the region which is "not based on the traditional logic of provisions and promises that serve as compensation for their incompletion, but rather on the creation of structures, the improvement of living conditions and the training of the human factor, in order to attract investments."

Moreover, Mr. Simitis is expected to speak on the issue of minorities, as "the government believes that the inclusion of minorities in the process of economic and social development constitutes the most reliable path for the achievement of the economic, social and cultural cohesion in the region."

Tomorrow, the Premier will visit the municipalities of Xanthi and Kavala, and will participate in meetings with the local administration's representatives.

On Saturday morning, Mr. Simitis will visit Drama and in the afternoon will travel by helicopter to the greek-bulgarian borders region in Evros, where he will give a speech on the trade opportunities that exist in the Balkan and Black Sea countries.

Mr. Simitis will be accompanied by the Ministers of: National Economy, Gerasimos Arsenis; Development, Vasso Papandreou; Environment, Planning and Public Works, Kostas Laliotis; Health and Welfare, Anastasios Peponis; Public Order, Kostas Geitonas; Macedonia-Thrace, Philippos Petsalnikos; and the Under-Ministers of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Labros Papadimas; National Economy, Christos Pachtas; Education George Pashalides; Athletics Andreas Fouras; and Agriculture Apostolos Fotiades.

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN CYPRUS FOR TWO-DAY VISIT

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos arrived in Nicosia this morning, embarking on a two-day official visit on the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart Alekos Mihaelides.

Upon his arrival, Mr. Pangalos stated that "as long as the turkish occupation and the presence of turkish armed forces on Cyprus continue, there cannot be a climate of trust between Greece and Turkey."

Responding to questions, Mr. Pangalos referred to his recent meeting in Bucharest with his Turk counterpart Emre Gionensay and stated that the Cypriot issue was not part of their discussion since they held an "acquaintance meeting" during which negotiations or a dialogue did not take place.

"The discussion specifically addressed Turkey's territorial claims over the Imia islets," Mr. Pangalos stated.

However, The Foreign Minister stated that when the issue of demilitarizing the islands was brought up, he mentioned to Mr. Gionensay that "the establishment of Greek military forces on the islands is a result of the crisis that was created in 1974. Therefore, their withdrawal means the resolution, or the start of a resolution of all the greek-turkish issues, and the resolution of the Cypriot issue."

Mr. Pangalos also referred to his meeting with the United States Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum, whom he asked to which turkish proposal or ideas he attributes his optimism.

According to Mr. Pangalos, Mr. Kornblum answered that he has the impression of an overall positive climate and the Greek Foreign Minister countered that Turkey quite often creates a fabricated climate of optimism and good impressions and pointed out to Mr. Kornblum that he should look for substance, specific steps and suggestions.

Mr. Pangalos added that Greece and Cyprus welcome every effort to internationalize the cypriot issue and any attempt to solve it.

"If President Clinton, as he states in his letter, intends to do this, it is something which we will view positively. However, we'll wait to see what the initiative includes in order to take a position on its content," Mr. Pangalos stated.

Mr. Pangalos will meet with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides at Cyprus' Foreign Ministry where they will discuss the developments on the cypriot issue in light of Mr. Kornblum's recent tour, as well as the progress of Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

Tomorrow, Mr. Pangalos will meet with Cypriot political leaders and with Archbishop Chrysostomos.

[03] US PRESIDENT TO DRAW INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS ISSUE THIS YEAR

United States President Bill Clinton has reiterated his intention to undertake an initiative for the cypriot issue before the end of the year.

In a letter sent to Congress along with his bi- monthly report on Cyprus, the US President states that if both communities have the political will to proceed to the mutual concessions necessary for reaching an agreement, then a fair and balanced solution may be achieved.

President Clinton states that in order to achieve this goal, Greece's and Turkey's active involvement is necessary and adds that although "certain unforeseen events have obstructed the american initiative for Cyprus, preparations are already under way."

Despite the problems, the US President expresses the hope that "the initiative to solve the cypriot problem will start within this year" and adds that his meeting with the Turk President Suleiman Demirel, held in March, was "useful" as Mr. Demirel "expresses his government's intention to help find a solution."

[04] GREECE PARTICIPATES IN EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE IN BOSNIA

"Greece participates in all the efforts to restore peace and stability in Bosnia, both through the OECD (Organization for Cooperation and Development) processes and through the collection of capital for the reconstruction of the region," stated the alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos during his meeting with the European mediator for the Bosnian issue Carl Bildt.

During their meeting, Mr. Bildt and Mr. Romeos examined the course of the Dayton Agreement's enforcement in Bosnia and the Greek alternate Minister stated that the Agreement's enforcement in Bosnia is currently undergoing its most difficult phase due to Yugoslavia's imminent elections.

Mr. Bildt, having thanked Greece for its contribution, stated that after four months following the signing of the Dayton Agreement, the materialization phase is starting now.

The European Union's mediator also characterized the issue of rehabilitating the refugees as extremely difficult and expressed his worry for the developments in Kossovo.

[05] UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CYPRUS TO TOUR ATHENS, ANKARA, NICOSIA

The new Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the cypriot issue Han Sung Ju, will conduct his first tour in Athens, Ankara and Nicosia after the parliamentary elections in Cyprus.

Mr. Ju, who is the Former Foreign Minister of South Korea, met yesterday in New York with the alternate Secretary-General Marik Goulding and, according to reports, the decision to delay his tour was based on the american intention to maintain a wait and see stance until the greek-turkish relations improve.

Nevertheless, Mr. Ju will proceed this month with his contacts in european capitals and the European Union headquarters.

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