Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-04-21

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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 21, 1997

TITLES

[01] CRITICAL TEN DAYS AHEAD FOR GREEK-TURKISH ISSUES

[02] MAIN PART OF GREEK BATTALLION LEAVES THESSALONIKI FOR ALBANIA

[03] THIRTY-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE THE COUP OF THE SEVEN-YEAR JUNTA

[04] GREEK PREMIER IN VIENNA TODAY ON WORKING VISIT

[05] EU COMMISSION SATISIFIED OVER COURSE OF GREECE'S ECONOMY

[06] BULGARIA: UNION OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES WINS ELECTIONS, TO FORM CABINET

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] CRITICAL TEN DAYS AHEAD FOR GREEK-TURKISH ISSUES

Athens, April 21 (MPA)

Greece is to respond this week to the European Union's Dutch- held Presidency's proposal to form a committee of wise men who will address Greek-Turkish issues.

The government is said to be sceptical in regards to the successful materialization of this proposal, while it also is concerned over the role and authority this joint commitee will have.

It has not been clarified what issues the committee will address and if any topics will be left out of the discussion, such as the extension of the territorial waters to 12 miles.

Nevertheless, reports state that the continental shelf issue will be included in these discussions and the committee is to focus on the relevant laws that interpret the accords related to the Aegean's status.

In regard to the EU-Turkey Association Council scheduled for April 28, Greece, which is subject to intense pressure to lift its veto over Ankara's funding, has stated that it does not intend to lift its veto unless its has tangible proof from Ankara that it will accept the terms it has set, such as not to use the threat of war and to respect international laws and accords.

Meanwhile, the upcoming meeting between Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and his Turkish counterpart Tansu Ciller, to be held in Istanbul at the end of the month within the framework of the Black Sea Cooperation Conferece, is awaited with great interest.

Mr. Pangalos has stated that it will be an informal meeeting, although diplomatic circles insist that it bears great significance since it will display Ankara's degree of willingness to respect and uphold international laws and accords.

Moreover, this meeting is to determine the meeting between the Greece's and Turkey's Premiers, Msgrs. Simitis and Erbakan respectively, during the NATO Summit to be held in Madrid in July. A.F.

[02] MAIN PART OF GREEK BATTALLION LEAVES THESSALONIKI FOR ALBANIA

Thessaloniki, April 21 (MPA)

The 520 troops are travelling to Durres on two tank-landing ships and will arrive at their destination in two days. They are expected to advance into Vlore this week, after having been immobilized for days in Fieri.

Greece's Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos plans to visit Albania on Monday, April 28, where he will spend the day after Easter with the Greek troops. A.F.

[03] THIRTY-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SINCE THE COUP OF THE SEVEN-YEAR JUNTA

Thessaloniki, April 21 (MPA)

Greece's President Kostis Stephanopoulos stated that "the thirty years that have passed since the imposition of the military dictatorhip provide us with opportunity to once again bestow the due honor to those who resisted the oppressive regime with bravity and high democratic ideals and, of course, to the great majority of the Greek people, who never abandoned their democratic principles."

The Macedonian Press Agency is currently featuring an extensive special edition in the Internet, dedicated to those who were tortured by the regime and lost their lives during the junta. A.F.

[04] GREEK PREMIER IN VIENNA TODAY ON WORKING VISIT

Vienna, April 21 (MPA)

This evening, Mr. Simitis will meet with the Austrian Federation's President Thomas Klestil.

The Greek Premier is accompanied by Greece's undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis. A.F.

[05] EU COMMISSION SATISIFIED OVER COURSE OF GREECE'S ECONOMY

Brussels, April 21 (MPA)

According to the report, the Commission does recognize the progress achieved by Greece in controlling inflation but it does point out that in order to address the public deficit, the Greek government must draw long-term plans, aside from reducing public expenses, such as widening the tax brackets, promoting the privatization process, improving public administration and combating tax evasion.

Moreover, the report stated that nine EU member-states will meet the criteria for EMU admission in February 1998 and the remaining states, with the exception of Greece, can meet the inflation criteria by the end of the year by adopting a more stringent anti-inflation policy. In regards to public deficit, the Commission estimates that nine out of the 15 member-states will meet this criteria. A.F.

[06] BULGARIA: UNION OF DEMOCRATIC FORCES WINS ELECTIONS, TO FORM CABINET

Sifia, April 21 (MPA)

UDF's leader Ivan Kostov stated that his party's aim is to accellerate the country's economic reform process and to combat organized crime.

The Coalition leader issued an appeal towards his political opponents to contribute in the applicatjon of the programs that will enable Bulgaria to recover from the formidable economic crisis. 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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