Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-04-09

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, April 9, 1997

TITLES

[01] GREEK FORCES TO BE STATIONED IN TIRANA, VLORE NEXT WEEK

[02] CYPRUS' NEW GOVERNMENT SWORN IN TODAY, KASOULIDES IS NOW FM

[03] COLLEGE STUDENTS VOTE TODAY ON STUDENT BODY REPRESENTATIVES

[04] 15.000 TURKS HAVE SOUGHT POLITICAL ASYLUM IN BRITAIN IN LAST TEN YEARS

[05] TURKEY WITHDRAWS THREAT OF VETO AGAINST NATO'S EXPANSION

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK FORCES TO BE STATIONED IN TIRANA, VLORE NEXT WEEK

Athens, April 9 (MPA)

Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos said that the Greek batallion will comprise army officers only. The Greek force is trained, organized and outfitted in such way as to be able to face any situation, according to the Defense Ministry.

Tomorrow morning, the first Italian and French troops will arrive at Tirana and Durres in order to prepare the multi-national forces. Meanwhile, opposition is heard among Italian governmental circles over Rome's decision to assign Italian troops to Albania. The matter will be voted upon during Italy's Parliament session this evening. A.F.

[02] CYPRUS' NEW GOVERNMENT SWORN IN TODAY, KASOULIDES IS NOW FM

Nicosia, April 9 (MPA)

The up-to-now government spokesperson Yiannakis Kasoulides has been appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Alekos Michaelides. Appointed as government spokesperson is Manolis Christofides, who served as Minister of Health up to now.

Minister of Justice and Public Order is Nikos Kosies, Minister of Education and Culture is George Hatzinikolaou, Minister of Health is Christos Solomes, Transportation and Projects Leontios Ierodiakonou.

President Clerides stated that he is certain the newly-assigned ministers have the capability to face the problems and wished them success in their tasks. A.F.

[03] COLLEGE STUDENTS VOTE TODAY ON STUDENT BODY REPRESENTATIVES

Thessaloniki, April 9 (MPA)

The abstention rate is expected to reach a peak this year, surpassing last year's 50%. A.F.

[04] 15.000 TURKS HAVE SOUGHT POLITICAL ASYLUM IN BRITAIN IN LAST TEN YEARS

London, April 9 (MPA)

According to the British Ministry of the Interior's immigration records, this number is steadily on the rise. A.F.

[05] TURKEY WITHDRAWS THREAT OF VETO AGAINST NATO'S EXPANSION

Bonn, April 9 (MPA)

During their meetings with Mr. Kinkel, Turkish Premier Necmettin Erbakan and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller stated that their government is in favor of allowing new members into the Alliance, while they also expressed their disappointment over the European Union's handling of Turkey's accession to the Community, which, as EU officials have made clear, is not likely in the near future.

In essence, the Turkish government's reactions are provoked by the breach of certain European promises to activate economic aid programmes for Turkey.

Also, another equally troubling reason for Ankara are the repeated criticisms it receives from European organizations, such as the Council of Europe, in regards to its human rights record, which is dismal.

The West reacted from the onstart to the Turkish threats, which in a certain dimension, expressed the current government's Islamist shift and Ankara's distancing from the Western sphere of influence.

It is reminded that at that time, three scenaria had been imagined for the developments to come from Turkey, two of which mentioned involvement of the military in the form of a coup or a designed episode in the Aegean or Cyprus, and the third being Turkey's distancing from the West.

As such, Mr. Kinkel's statements that Germany will work for the strengthening of ties between EU and Turkey apparently served as a "saving grace" for the shift in Turkey's positions. A.F.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

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