MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (12/07/1996)

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, July 12, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] MEDA FINANCING DISCUSSED BETWEEN PANGALOS AND IRELAND'S SPRING

The Irish-held European Union presidency will attempt to lift Greece's objections to the billion-dollar MEDA package for twelve non-EU Mediterranean countries, including Turkey, following the meeting held today between Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and visiting Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring.

Following their two-hour meeting, where also present was alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos, Mr. Spring stated that his country's aim is to achieve an agreement over MEDA in light of Monday's Council of EU Foreign Ministers, to be held in Brussels.

Yet, Mr. Spring did not clarify how such an agreement could be achieved as Greece says it will keep its veto until Turkey stops threatening its territorial integrity.

Mr. Pangalos characterized Mr. Spring's visit as an "exploratory" one and ephasized that the Irish ForeignMinister is too experienced a politician to make proposals before a complete discussion has taken place.

After the Foreign Minsters' meeting, Mr. Spring met briefly with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to whom he presented the Irish Presidency's priorities, among which are the issues of unemployment and the economic and monetary union.

[02] FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE TO BE DISCUSSED IN BRUSSELS TODAY

The European Union's Permanent Agricultural Committee will convene in Brussels today in order to examine the foot and mouth disease outbreak that has plagued the Balkan region.

The session, which will be attended by Greek Agriculture Ministry officials, may include the banning of livestock and animal products exportation from Greece, in light of the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease noted in the Evros region.

Undersecretary of Agriculture Apostolos Fotiades stated that very strict measures have been taken to contain the disease and added that it would be unfair if the EU draws measures against Greece when the same handling was not afforded on Germany when more than 30,000 animals had been stricken with the smallpox disease.

According to Ministry officials, no measures are necessary to be taken for the whole country, as the disease has been restricted to on e particular area.

The Agriculture Ministry spokesperson also clarified that the foot and mouth disease cases have only been noted in two small villages in Evros which lie on the Turkish borders and, so far, tens of flocks of sheep have been slaughtered.

Experts assess that the disease was brought by infected animals over the Turkish border.

Meanwhile, the Belgian government, following a recommendation of Belgium's Agriculture Ministry, has issued a travel advisory to Belgian tourists not to transport food made of meat products from Greece, Turkey, Albania, Serbia nd Skopje.

[03] SAE'S THREE-DAY CONFERENCE BEGINS TODAY IN THESSALONIKI

A plan that will aim at the coordination of efforts exerted by the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) will be presented during the next three days in Thessaloniki, where SAE's Presidium will hold its second session.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, SAE President Andrew Athens stated that the basic axis of the plan will be a concerted effort aiming at conveying Greece's national issues to US President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Athens expressed his optimism regarding the future of SAE and emphasized that "it is no longer a mere theory that hellenism throughout the world can be heard with one voice."

Participating in the session will be the alternate Foreign Minister, who is also responsible for issues regarding Greeks overseas, George Romeos and Secretary General for the Overseas Hellenism prof. Yannis Panoussis.

This evening, a dinner will be held by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos in honor of the SAE members and tomorrow the conference members are scheduled to meet with Parliament's inter-party committee.

During their stay in Thessaloniki, the conference members are scheduled to meet with the city's Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and the Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos.

[04] FOREIGN MINISTER SUPPORTS BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES TO EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Greek Foreign Mninhister Theodoros Pangalos has conveyed his expressed interest in the DIAVLOS programme that has been organized by Macedonian Press Agency, in an address sent to European Commisioner Hans Van Den Broek, through which he requests approval for the programme's financing.

In his letter, Mr. Pangalos stated that he is aware of Mr. Broek's interest in the development and stability in the Balkans and, as such, "I would kindly ask you to give your full consideration to the possibility of approving the financing of the programme DIAVLOS as worked out by the Macedonian Press Agency, with the consent and participation of the national press agencies of all the balkan countries."

"The programme aims at spreading the european idea through the balkan countries, improving relations between the European Union and the Balkans providing the productive sector with information about the possibilities of cooperation and financing by the European Union as wel as promoting and creating common business activities," Mr. Pangalos writes, adding that "naturally, these aims could be achieved if the balkan peoples come to know each other through the excchange of news, on a permanent basis, by the news agencies of the balkan countries."

[05] ALBRIGHT WILL PROPOSE THAT TALKS FOR CYPRUS BE RE-HELD

The United States permanent representative to the United Nations Madleine Albright will present the two American initiatives for solving the Cyprus issue to both sides of the divided island during her upcoming visit next week and will porpose that direct talks be re-held.

Ms. Albright will visit Greece, Cyprus and Turkey next week, accompanied by the US special emissary for Cyprus Richard Beatty.

Ms. Albright's first stop will be Athens where on Monday, July 16, she will have contacts with Greek government officials and, aside from the Cyprus issue, she intends to discuss Bosnia and other regional issues.

On July 17, the US ambassador will travel to Nicosia in order to examine the "effectiveness of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus" and discuss potential opportunities for a comprehensive agreement.

Following Nicosia, Ms. Albright will travel to Ankara on July 18 and 19 where she will meet with officials of the newly- formed Turkish government and, aside from bilateral issues, she will discuss Cyprus and Iraq.

[06] CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL LAW OF SEA TO BE HELD IN RHODES

The Rhodes Academy of International Law of the Sea will hold its first convention on Monday, embarking on this year's three-week program that will cover general subjects of maritime law.

The program is funded by the European Union and the founding institutes, which are the Aegean Institute of the Law of the Sea and of Nautical Law, the University of Virginia's Center for Ocean Law and Policy, the Max-Panck University and the Netherlands Institute of Law of the Sea.

The Rhodes Academy is largely viewed as the nautical law's equivalent to The Hague's international law.

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