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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-04-17Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, April 17 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] PREMIER MEETS WITH MINSTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSEAthens, April 17 (MPA)Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis held successive meetings with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos and alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou today wherein he discussed the outcomes of the latter's meeting in Malta yesterday.Mr. Papandreou stated that premature conclusions must not be drawn, adding that certain positive steps have been taken. The alternate Foreign Minister also expressed the hope that a positive outcome will be reached during the process of resolving the pending issues. When asked why the Dutch Foreign Minister Hans Van Mierlo, who currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, appears optimistic, Mr. Papandreou responded that his role is such that he must be optimistic. Following his meeting with the Premier, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that there is no issue of a substantive dialogue with Turkey, the Greek government is simply exercising the decision to conduct dialogues within the European Union's framework. Meanwhile, a number of reports claim that there is an American initiative for the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue in the works, which, according to State Department officials, will be activated once the three involved parties offer indications of good will. The Premier is to chair an extraordinary Cabinet meeting this afternoon. which will examine the results of the contacts recently made by alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Malta where he met with his Turkish counterpart Onur Oymen. Mr. Oymen has stated that significant developments have occurred in the relations between the two countries. A.F. [02] SECOND PART OF GREEK BATTALLION TO ARRIVE IN VLORE TOMORROWAthens, April 17 (MPA)The Greek Navy's tank-landing ship "Samos" will arrive in Vlore tomorrow with 500 more Greek troops who are participating in the multinational peacekeeping mission code-named "Operation Alba" assigned to Albania.The Greek battallion's first troops arrived safely in Tirana yesterday in six C-130 which took off from Thessaloniki's military airport "Mikra". Meanwhile, in Albania's city of Elbasan 14 persons were injured yesterday from a bomb explosion. Also, two residents of northern Epirus were discovered murdered in their car, a few miles outside of Gjirocaster. An investigation is under way for this killing. A.F. [03] OSCE'S VRANITSKI CURRENTLY IN TIRANATirana, April 17 (MPA)Austria's former chancellor and current special envoy of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in |Europe (OSCE) Franz Vranitski is currently in Tirana where he met with Premier Bashkim Fino and was received by Albanian President Sali Berisha.Mr. Vranitski's visit to Albania is within the framework of the efforts exerted to prepare the country for June's parliamentary elections. Mr. Vranitski has cancelled his visit to Skodra and Vlore which was scheduled for today, stating that it is more prudent that he continue his diplomatic efforts in Tirana. Mr. Berisha is said to have been opposed to Mr. Vranitski's visit to the southern region, by reiterating his claims that the rioters are a result of his opponents' (the Socialist Party) designs. Mr. Berisha believes that the problem will be resolved once the Socialist Party requests that the committees of the rioters be dissolved. Following his meeting wth President Berisha, Mr. Vranitski stated that in spite of the progress that has been noted, the problem of the rioters remains unsolved. A.F. [04] GREEK PARLIAMENT'S GENERAL DIRECTOR DIED IN SEOUL, KOREA THIS MORNINGSeoul, April 17 (MPA)The Greek Parliament's General Director Antonis Aggelopoulos died this monring in Seoul, Korea, after having suffered a heart attack.The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis has expressed his deep condolences over the loss of his colleague. Mr. Aggelopoulos was the Greek Parliament's youngest General Director, following the fall of the junta. He was in Seoul representing Greece in the session of the Conference of the Union of Secretary-Generals of Parliaments of member-states of the Interparliamentary Association. A.F. [05] GREECE-GEORGIA SAIL INTO NEW HORIZONS AFTER SHIPPING AGREEMENTAthens, April 17 (MPA)Greece and Georgia have signed a shipping agreement which is to open new navigation opportunities between the two countries as it allows for the unobstructed access of both countries' ships into international shipping transport.Specifically, the agreement foresees free access to both countries' ports, unimpeded loading and unloading of cargo, and abolishing duty taxes for the Greek and Georgian ships. 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/Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |