MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (18/06/1996)

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 18, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] US TAKE POSITION ON GAVDOS ISSUE, RECOGNIZE THAT ISLAND IS GREEK

The US State Department adopted -for the first time- a clear position on the Gavdos island issue yesterday when White House spokesperson Nicholas Burns stated that the island is Greek and is inhabited by Greeks.

However, Mr. Burns added that the tension stemming from Ankara was in regards to technical matters, and not the island's sovereignty.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos characterized the State Department's stance as positive and undoubtedly useful.

However, following his meeting with his counterpart from Armenia Bahan Papazian, Mr. Pangalos expressed his reservations regarding Mr. Burns' statements, and said that the issue is not resolved by a mere statement from the US, which is a third party and which statement arrives after a long waiting period on behalf of the State Department, which apparently awaited to see a turkish stance on the Gavdos issue and the return of things to order.

Turkey, Mr. Pangalos stated, must return the issues to their proper positions and to state unequivocally that there is no issue regarding the greek sovereignty of Gavdos.

[02] FORMER US PRESIDENT BUSH VISITS GAVDOS ISLAND

United States Former President George Bush, currently vacationing in the Greek isles, visited Gavdos island today, off the coast of Crete.

Mr. Bush, who was accompanied by former chief of US Armed Forces Colin Powell, arrived at the island with the greek shipowner Yiannis Latsis' yacht, and a few hours later returned to Heraclion, Crete from where he will depart for Germany.

[03] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES MET WITH US PRESIDENT CLINTON

Following yesterday's meeting held between United States President Bill Clinton and Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, it became apparent that the governmental instability noted in Ankara does not bode well for greek-turkish relations, or for resolving the Cyprus problem according to the American President, who expressed anew his concern over the tension in the region.

Mr. Clinton re-affirmed his conviction to promote the conditions that will pave the way for a peaceful solution to the Cypriot problem. According to a White House announcement, President Clinton told Mr. Clerides that the US intend to continue their efforts for further negotiations in order to reduce the differences that divide the two communities on the island, something that would lead to a cohesive solution.

In July Mr. Clinton's special envoy to Cyprus Richard Beattie will begin contacts for talks on key issues, granting special attention to security, an effort that, according to the White House press release, has been saluted by President Clerides.

[04] GREECE TO INSIST ON ITS VETO TO MEDA FUNDING FOR TURKEY

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos reiterated Greece's position to uphold its veto on the European Union's MEDA funding program for Turkey, speaking at yesterday's Conference of EU Foreign Ministers in Rome.

Mr. Romeos added that Greece will consider lifting its veto for the other countries, but not for Turkey.

It has not been announced whether or not the MEDA funding issue will be brought up for discussion at the upcoming EU Summit, to be held in Florence on June 21- 22.

[05] TURKISH WARSHIPS ARRIVE AT FAMAGUSTA'S OCCUPIED PORT DURING EXERCISE

Two turkish warships arrived today at the occupied port of Famagusta, taking part in the aeronautical exercise "Thalassolykos '96", marking with their presence in the occupied territory the increasing provocations issued by Turkey.

Yesterday evening turkish fighter jets violated Nicosia's FIR twice, flying over Cyprus' northeastern region.

[06] UN SECURITY COUNCIL AMENDS REPORT ON KILLED CYPRIOT GUARDSMAN

A new, amended version of the UN Security Council's report was issued today with a change in UN Secretary-General Butros Ghali's report regarding the extension of the peacekeeping forces' stay in Cyprus.

The paragraph that referred to the murder of the 19-year-old Greek-Cypriot National Guardsman Stellios Panagis has been omitted, following pressures exerted by Turkey, although the amended report mentions that men of the peacekeeping forces were obstructed for about 25 minutes from approaching the wounded guardsman by Turk-Cypriot soldiers who kept firing at them.

[07] MISSING PERSONS REPORT PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY, FILING PROCESS BEGAN

The process of filing the cases on the missing persons and their classification in various categories is proceeding smoothly, per the condition issued by the United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali, in order to proceed to the appointment of a third party to the Investigative Committee.

According to reports, this condition will be met by the end of the month, when Mr. Ghali's deadline expires. The state agencies are said to have filed the cases in five categories, according to the place, date and conditions under which the persons disappeared.

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