MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (11/06/1996)

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, June 11, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PREMIER: GREEK ARMED FORCES ARE READY TO AVERT ANY TURKISH THREAT

Greece is the only European country that is faced with a direct threat to its national sovereingty, stated the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis today during his address to the PASOK Parliamentary Group.

Referring to turkish expanionism, Mr. Simitis stated that Turkey is increasingly making its threats clear, not only in the Aegean Sea region, but also along the greek borders that lie at the asiatic shores.

"The outrageous example of placing the island of Gavdos in a 'gray area' constitutes part of a strategy that undauntedly violates not only international law, but common sense as well," stated the Premier.

Mr. Simitis also reiterated the firm position that Greece neither claims, nor cedes anything" and added that this belief is strengthened by the government's immovable decision to defend its national rights without hesitation.

"The Armed Forces are in a position, both with their manpower and through the means they employ, to successfully avert any threat that is dared to be issued along the 'contact line' between Greece and the turkish side."

Mr. Simitis also spoke of a strong Greece, emphasizing that the government has strengthened the National Defense's business sector, taking into consideration the Imia islets experience.

"We are promoting the negotiations for cooperation in the defense sector with Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Russia and Poland. We focus our efforts in the continuous improvement of the armed forces' effectiveness and their support through the necessary outfiting programs."

Lastly, the Premier stated that Greece maintains continuous contact with the Cypriot government, pointing out that Greece is strategically addressing the greek-turkish relations, as well as the turkish provocations.

[02] LEADERS OF 16 COUNTRIES TO ATTEND SUMMIT MEETING IN CONSTANTINOPLE

Leaders and Premiers of sixteeen countries, among them the Presidents of Israel Ezer Baisman, Bulgaria Zeliu Zelev, Albania Sali Berisha and Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, will arrive in Constantinople today in order to participate at the Summit meeting being held within the framework of Habitat II.

Also participating will be United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali, making his second visit to Constantinople this month.

[03] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides will meet with United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali in Geneva this afternoon, where the two men will discuss issues concerning the disengagement agreement and the missing persons.

The Cypriot President will brief Mr. Ghali on the progress made on the missing persons issue and will point out that three out of the four conditions imposed by the Secretary-General for the appointment of a new representative to the Investigative Committee have been met.

These conditions regard an agreement concerning the order in which the cases will be investigated, giving priority status to those cases that can be settled faster, and to the collection of all data regarding those cases that lack witnesses.

The fourth condition, which concerns the order assigned to the files and their sorting according to category, is hoped to be met by the end of June, the deadline set by Mr. Ghali.

Mr. Clerides will reiterate Cyprus' firm position on discovering the fate of each missing person through convincing data.

Today's talks are being held withing an overall spirit that there does not seem to be progress made on the issues concerning the divided island, given the current governmental crisis in Turkey and Rauf Denktash's expressed intransigence during his recent meeting with Mr. Gali in Constantinople.

After his one-day stop in Switzerland, Mr. Clerides will travel to New York where he will meet with the representatives from the five permanent members of the Security Council as well as with United States special envoy to Cyprus, Richard Beatty.

The following week, on June 18, President Clerides will meet with US President Bill Clinton in Washington, a meeting that is considered to be of utmost significance given the imminent american initiative on the Cypriot issue.

Earlier, he will have successive meeetings with US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, the House of Representatives Committee on International Affairs president Ben Gilman and members of the Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee.

On Wednesday, June 19, the President of Cyprus will travel to London where he will meet with British Prime Minister John Major and British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind. On Thursday, June 20, he will move on to Florence, Italy where he will attend the European Union Summit, following an invitation issued by the Italian EU presidency.

[04] UN SEC-GEN'S REPORT ON CYPRIOT GUARD'S KILLING BLAMES TURKEY

The United Nations Secretary-General's bi-annual report, released today, holds the turk-cypriot side responsible for the murder of the 19-year-old cypriot National Guardsman, thereby provoking the ire of turkish diplomats who have asked that the accusation be omitted from the publication.

The report refers to the murder of National Guardsman Stelios Panagis who was killed on June 3 at the island's disengagement area, and also blames the turk-cypriot side for obstructing the peacekeeping forces effots to provide aid to the dying guardsman.

According to sources, the turkish diplomats were especially displeased by the fact that the report asks for legal charges to be filed against those responsible for the killing. The report states that Panagis was killed with malice by the turk-cypriot guard who fired his gun at the greek-cypriot in ambush.

The report also mentions that the turkish soldiers shot three times and obstructed the peacekeeping forces men from getting to Panagis on time in order to transport him safely to a hospital. It is reported that Panagis still had a faint pulse when he was given first aid.

In a session that lasted until late last evening, the turkish diplomats met with members of the UN Secretariat and discussed possible modifications on the document's plan. However, diplomatic circles state that the report's meaning is not expected to change significantly.

[05] ORTHODOXY'S INTER-PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN TURKEY IN RESOLUTION

Two resolutions, one which condemns Turkey's aggressive tactics and another which supports the Dayton Peace agreement, have been unanimously approved by the Interparliamentary Conference of Orthodoxy which was held in Sofia yesterday.

The resolutions were introduced by the participating greek parliamentarians, S. Papathemelis, K. Papanayiotou, O. Papastratis, H. Vizovitis, G. Katsaros, V. Korahais and S. Stephanopoulos.

In the resolution that regards the turkish behavior, the group's plenary session condemns Turkey for its "dangerous subversion of peace in the Aegean and other regions."

These provocations are continuing, thereby increasing the tension in the region, the resolution adds, which asks the european and international organizations to provide a more "direct intervention to the turkish side in order to avoid similar acts in the greater region, which do not promote the co- existence, friendship and peace among the nations."

[06] LAST OF EUROPE'S ENDANGERED BLACK VULTURES SAVED IN GREECE

A group of greek environmentalists have succeeded in creating a home for vultures and other endangered birds of prey in the forest of Dadia, near the Evros River that separates Greece form Turkey.

The reserve constitutes a sanctuary for these birds by providing them with the quiet, food and space they need. The population of these vultures has increased ten- fold since 1980, when the reserve was founded, and now numbers up to 100.

The most impressive species is the Black Vulture, whose wings measure up to three-meters each. These birds, which nest once a year and usually have only one offspring, have been extensively threatened from poisoned bait intended for wolves and foxes.

Forestry scientist Kostas Poizarides stated that the Dadia forest's reserve is an ideal home for the vultures since it is noted for its diversity of environment and species.

"Of 38 kinds of birds of prey in Europe, 35 can be found here while, altogether, more than 200 species of birds have been recorded in the forest and 40 kinds of reptiles and amphibians, the perfect food for eagles and hawks."

According to Rania Spyropoulou, an official from the Environment Ministry, the reserve is a result of the cooperated efforts between the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Greece's Environment Ministry and local authorities.

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