Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-07-21

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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, July 21, 1997

TITLES

[01] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONDEMNED THE PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS MADE BY TURKISH OFFICIALS

[02] GOVERNMENT MEETING TO DISCUSS THE GUARDING OF THE GREEK BORDERS WITH ALBANIA

[03] THE GREEK POLICY TOWARD TURKEY WAS EXAMINED IN A FOREIGN MINISTRY MEETING

[04] MR.FEISEL WILL HAVE SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH CLERIDES AND DENKTASH

[05] DOUBLE PASSPORTS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THE TURKISH-CYPRIOTS AND THE SETTLERS IN THE OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS

[06] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS PRAISED THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD IN SAFEGUARDING THE NATIONAL INTERESTS

[07] THE RELATIONS OF ALBANIA WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS MUST BE IMPROVED, SAID THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE FOREIGN MINISTER

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONDEMNED THE PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS MADE BY TURKISH OFFICIALS

Athens 21 July (MPA)

Mr.Reppas stated that the policy followed by Turkey is known and characterized the visit to Cyprus by Turkish government vice- President Bulent Etsevit and other officials as inopportune.

Such a behaviour is not consistent neither with the effort Turkey has to make in order to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem nor with its european aspirations, said mr.Reppas and concluded that Greece is on Cyprus' side and any offence against it will constitute a cause of war.

[02] GOVERNMENT MEETING TO DISCUSS THE GUARDING OF THE GREEK BORDERS WITH ALBANIA

Athens 21 July (MPA)

Meanwhile, fear and rage prevail in the villages close to the borders as the Albanian armed gungs continue their attacks, while the four Greek farmers, who had been abducted near Kastoria, were released after the intervention of the Greek government

Greek government spokesman Dimitiris Reppas gave the assurance that all necessary measures have been taken for the effective guarding of the borders after the recent incidents, while he announced that the customs office in Kakkavia is open and remained closed only for a few hours due to the arrest of a drug dealer and after information on an imminent attack by armed Albanians.

[03] THE GREEK POLICY TOWARD TURKEY WAS EXAMINED IN A FOREIGN MINISTRY MEETING

Athens 21 July (MPA)

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview to an Athens newspaper spoke of a new page in the Greek-Turkish relations after the Simitis-Demirel agreement, stressing that there is a potential for direct talks between Greece and Turkey without the mediation of a foreign power.

Mr.Pangalos issued an appeal to the Turkish side to move dynamically toward the future and pointed out that Turkey can not be divided between islamism and Europe. He also said that if the problem of the Turkish claims over Imia is not resolved the Greek- Turkish relations can not be improved.

Meanwhile, alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou stressed to the Prime Minister the need for Greece to play a leading role in forming a special status between Turkey and the European Union.

[04] MR.FEISEL WILL HAVE SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH CLERIDES AND DENKTASH

Nicosia 21 July (MPA)

In statements he made, mr.Feisel stressed that the objective of those contacts is to set the date for the meeting that will take place in his residence in the neutral zone of Nicosia. The holding of the meeting had been decided in the direct talks of New York.

Mr.Feisel confirmed that President Clerides and mr.Denktash will deal with humanitarian issues and the adoption of gestures for the creation of a climate of good will.

[05] DOUBLE PASSPORTS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THE TURKISH-CYPRIOTS AND THE SETTLERS IN THE OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS

Ankara 21 July (MPA)

According to the Turkish newspaper "Gumhurriyet", the decision is placed within the framework of the Turkish government efforts aimed at the integration of northern Cyprus into Turkey after the EU report "Agenda 2000", based on which Turkey is definitely not included in the European Union enlargement.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish newspapers, Turkey's National Security Council, that is scheduled to meet on July 25 in Istanbul, is expected to discuss the issue of the integration. Also, in the meeting will be made clear if Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will go to Geneva in August for the second round of the direct talks with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.

[06] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS PRAISED THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD IN SAFEGUARDING THE NATIONAL INTERESTS

Thessaloniki 21 July (MPA)

President of the Pan-Macedonian Association of US and Canada Evangelos Michalopoulos stated that the conference is an opportunity to send the message to FYROM's President Gligorov that the history of a nation can not be stolen and that national conscience can not be imposed on people.

The World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, was represented by President of the SAE of America Christos Tomaras, who stressed the need to safeguard the unity of all Greeks living abroad which is necessary to deal effectivelly with provocations.

[07] THE RELATIONS OF ALBANIA WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS MUST BE IMPROVED, SAID THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE FOREIGN MINISTER

Tirana 21 July (MPA)

In an interview published in the newspaper "Gazeta Skiptare", the Albanian politician, who is of Greek origin and in the recent elections ran with the Socialist Party, maintained that there will be many changes in the foreign policy of his country and the main axis of those changes will be Albania's euro-atlantic orientation.

Referring to Albania's relations with Greece and Yugoslavia, he said that the relations of his country with its neighbours were not at a good level for historical and subjective reasons and stressed that the new Albanian government will make every effort to follow a new policy without prejudice taking under consideration the national interests. Mr.Milo said that this policy will be based on dialogue, the solution of problems through talks and also, on the easing of tensions and the stability of relations with Athens and Belgrade.

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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