MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (10/05/1996)

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 10, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] BOSNIAN SERB LEADER KARADJIC SPEAKS TO MPA IN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

"We do not recognize the International Court for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, because it is a court of political manipulation," stated the Bosnianserb President Radovan Karadjic in an exclusive interview with the Macedonian Press Agency, adding that "we are ready to be tried for any allegation if they submit any evidence against us."

Mr. Karadjic also stated that certain offices of the US State Department bear the full responsibility for the Bosnia-Herzegovina situation.

The Serbbosnian leader expressed his gratitude to the Greek people for their help to the people of the former Yugoslavia, and emphasized that he is ready at any given moment to send Bosnianserb volunteers to Greece if needed, while proposing the creation of an "orthodox axis" between Athens-Belgrade and Skopje.

Mr. Karadjic also stated that the Bosnianserbs will recognize FYROM only after the name issue is resolved in a way that is satisfactory for Greece.

Moreover, the Bosnianserb President stated that his people are not completely satisfied by the Dayton Agreement, although they accepted it and are determined to apply its rules in order to establish peace and stability in the region.

"Unfortunately, the Federation is not stable," Mr. Karadjic stated and claimed that many Muslim leaders threaten with a new war, aiming at changing the Dayton Agreement in order for the Sprska Republic to lose its autonomy and sovereignty.

"The situation in the Sprska Republic is very stable," Mr. Karadjic stated.

"People are recovering from war, both economically as well as psychologically, and there is political stablility despite the fact that they are not receiving economic assistance from anywhere, while at the same time the Muslims and Croats are enjoying almost the total amount of the approximately $300 million that was allocated after the Dayton Agreement," said the Bosnianserb President.

[02] GREEK PRESIDENT: IF ANKARA DOES NOT WITHDRAW THREATS OF WAR, GREECE CAN DEFEND ITSELF

No dialogue can succeed if Ankara does not agree to resolve the differences over the Imia islets and the continental shelf issue through the International Court of Justice at The Hague, stated the President of Greece Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday in Washington.

Speaking at a joint press conference with United States President Bill Clinton, the Greek President stated that if Ankara does not withdraw its threats of war, Greece has the capability of defending itself.

Following their White House meeting, President Clinton appeared optimistic on the prospects of smoothing out greek-turkish relations and expressed that he is in favor of resorting to The Hague.

As he emphasized, President Clinton has made it clear to Turkey that he does not accept the use of force or the threat of using force as a means of resolving differences. He did, however, deny that there was any "Camp-David" meeting being planned for Greece and Turkey.

Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and the US Defense Department Secretary Wiliam Perry met yesterday in Washington and discussed the trust building measures n the Aegean Sea.

[03] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS' VISIT TO WASHINGTON ENDS WITH FESTIVITIES

President Kostis Stephanopoulos concluded his visit to the American capital yesterday evening with a dinner hosted in his honor by United States President Bill Clinton at the White House.

Both Presidents gave brief speeches during the formal dinner, making references to the friendship ties that bind the two countries and to the common struggles the US and Greece faced during the 20th centrury.

Following the dinner, a dance performance was given by young members of the Institute of Ethnic Dances, who appeared in front of a large audience, made up of mostly American and Greek government officials and distinguished members of the greek-american community.

President Stephanopoulos, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, visited the US Congress where he met with majority leader Rep. Bob Dole and the Congress' Committee of international Relations president Ben Gilman.

In addition, President Stephanopoulos met with members of the Congress' newly-formed Hellenic Caucus, composed of Greek-Americans and philhellenes who are members of the US Congress and Senate.

[04] BILL CLINTON: THE CYPRIOT ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED

United States President Bill Clinton stated yesterday that any substantial improvement on the Cupriot issue will pave the way for further progress amd will serve as an example to other peace-seeking nations.

Following his meeting with Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday in Washington, President Clinton reiterated his country's interest in solving the Cyprus issue, noting that he personally has dedicated a lot of time during the past three and a half years on the issue.

"I am saddened that it has not produced more positive results. But, at this time, we are looking into the possibility of what else there is we can do," President Cinton stated, adding that "I do have the hope that the US can play a constructive role on this issue and I hope that it can be solved. But that is something which we have to discuss."

[05] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS TRAVELS TO ATLANTA TODAY

President of Greece Kostis Stephanopoulos will be in Atlanta today, the second stop of his nine-day official visit to the United States folowing Washington.

In Atlanta, the city-host of this year's Olympic Games, the President will meet with former US president Jimmy Carter and will attend a banquet given in his honor by the US Olympic Games Committee. President Stephanopoulos will also visit and tour the city's Olympic Stadium and in the afternoon will attend a series of events held at Atlanta's "Greek Center." In the evening, the city's greek-american community will host a reception in honor of the President.

Tomorrow, the President will fly to California where he will visit San Francisco, May 11, Los Angeles, May 12, and Sacramento, May 13.

Mr. Stephanopoulos will visit Chicago on May 14 and 15 and will return to Athens the following day.

[06] NORTHERN GREECE TO FILL SHORTAGES IN SUPPLIES TO SPRSKA REPUBLIC

Determined to fulfil their promise, the members of the coordinating body of Macedonia and Thrace left Pale after delivering 400 tons of humanitarian aid to the Bosnianserbs.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, the head of the "Train of Peace" that brought 270 million drachmas worth of food, clothing and medical supplies to the Sprska Republic, Miltos Karakepelis stated that the greek effort will now focus on collecting supplies that are desperately needed by the Bosnianserbs, such as cement for reconstructing towns and villages destroyed during the four-year war.

Also needed are artificial limbs necessary for the thousands who became disabled during the war.

Bosnianserb President Radovan Karadjic stated to the greek delegates, whom he met in Pale, that if Greece were to ever need help, he himself will ask his people to voluntarily come to Greece's aid.

Also, General Ratko Mladic expressed his gratitude for Greece's support during his meeting with the Greek volunteers.

Mr. Mladic thanked the Greek people for their support, both material and moral, as well as the political leadership which often stood by the Bosnianserbs at an international level, at times even facing the opposition of its allies, as he characteristically stated.

The "train of peace" is the first train that entered the country during the last four years and was enthusiastically welcomed both by the people and the Bosnianserb armed forces to whom the goods were given for distribution.

[07] MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TO GIVE TAPE ON ANCIENT GREECE TO US SCHOOLS

Greek Minister of Education George Papandreou and his American counterpart Richard Reilly have agreed on the production of an educational videotape regarding Ancient Greece which will be distributed throughout the United States schools.

Mr. Papandreou, who is accompanying President Kostis Stephanopoulos on his official visit to the US, met with the head of the US Department of Education in Washington and discussed education-related issues.

[08] CONFERENCE ON MISSING PERSONS ISSUE TO BE HELD ON MONDAY IN CYPRUS

The leaders of the Missing Persons' Relatives Committees examined the content of the letters sent by the United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali, in light of Monday's conference that will be held at the Presidential Mansion.

The two Committees examined the pre-conditions set forth in the letter by the UN Secretary-General regarding the appointment of his replacement Paul Wourth at the Investigation Committee for the Missing.

Mr. Ghali asks that all the files are ranked, the cases to be investigated are set in an agreed-upon order, and that the testimony in those cases lacking evidence be promoted.

In his letter, the UN Secretary-General emphasized that the investigation process must be completed in 18 months. The relatives of the missing persons demand the investigation of all cases.

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