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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-06-25Macedonian 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 THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, June 25, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ARRIVES IN CYPRUS, WARMLY SALUTEDNicosia, June 25 (MPA)The arrival of the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos to the island of Cyprus, the first official visit conducted by a Greek president since the founding of the republic of Cyprus in 1960, has been characterized by the locals as a ?historic, rare, magnificent and singular event?.President Stephanopoulos arrived at the airport of Larnaca this morning at 11 and received a jubilant and warm welcome by church, government and state officials as well as simple folk. One hour later, Mr./ Stephanopoulos was bestowed with the golden key of the capital city, Nicosia by its mayor Lelos Demitriades. The Cypriot government spokesperson characterized the visit as an ?exceptional event? and stressed that it contains multiple symbolisms.? At President Stephanopoulos welcoming ceremony held at the airport, the president of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides stated in his address: ?Your presence in Cyprus, our friend, Mr. President, I believe forwards a very significant message to various directions. The message is that Greece, a guarantor power of the Republic of Cyprus, is here, with us in the same entrenchment. This is the first time the Cypriot Hellenism has the honor to welcome Greece?s head of state. And your visit is taking place during the most critical, perhaps, period for the Cyprus issue, after the Turkish invasion.? In his reply address, the President of the Hellenic Republic stated: ?Cyprus is for Greece a matter of foremost significance, Greece identifies with Cyprus in its effort to support the Cypriot people?s struggle for the restoration of freedom, for the attainment of independence and the national integrity of the Cypriot Republic. ?All of the country?s political forces, the Greek people throughout, have the unisom, the unshakable, the unyielding fervency to support this struggle. I am not a messenger of aggressive or hostile messages. I shall leave this task to others, who, devoid of support from international law, who by continuously violating the lawful world order from 1974 to date, want to mask these shortcomings of theirs by expressing, at every opportunity, by expressing this kind of threats, this kind of slogans. ?I?ve come here as a messenger of peaceful, friendly sentiments of cooperation and brotherhood. Cyprus must become a place of prosperity for all, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish- Cypriots, and this can be achieved in one way only: When the decisions and resolutions of the United Nations Security Council are accepted. When lawfulness operates again in Cyprus When a unified state will be able to exist, a bi-communal, bi- zonal federated state, which will accede - and this is completely certain- the European Union.? [02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE EMBARKS ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUSAthens, June 25 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is embarking on an unprecedented visit to Cyprus today, and the island?s authorities are preparing a magnificent welcome reception for the Greek head of state. President Stephanopoulos is scheduled to arrive at 11 am, for a four day official visit, the first of a Greek head of state since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, in 1960. He will be received at the Larnaca airport by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides. An hour later, President Stephanopoulos will be receive the ?golden key? of Nicosia, given to him by the city?s mayor. The Greek President is escorted by Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, Finance Under- Secretary Alexandros Baltas and other officials.[03] US AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS: GREECE PLAYS LEADING ROLE IN BALKANSThessaloniki, June 25 (MPA)United States Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns stated that Greece holds a leading part in the Balkan region. During the commencement ceremony address he delivered before the graduates of the city?s Greek-American four-year college ?Anatolia?, Ambassador Burns stressed that Greece is the only country in the region that is both a member of the European Union and NATO, a country which features stability, a developed democracy and a free economy.The American diplomat also called on the Greek and Turkish governments to be careful so that the next generations will not continue to suffer by the same fate. [04] HOLBROOKE TO HOLD TALKS WITH MILOSEVIC AGAIN TODAYBelgrade, June 25 (MPA)Newly appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke is to arrive in Belgrade today for talks with Serb president Slobodan Milosevic. During his visit to Prihstina yesterday, where he met with the leader of the ethnic Albanians Ibrahim Rugova, Mr. Holbrooke also met with two members of the Kossovo Liberation Army. State Department spokesperson James Rubin commented on Mr. Holbrooke?s visit to the Balkans and stated that the US are cooperating closely with the Contact Group countries on the diplomatic monitoring efforts.?We'll get together and develop a diplomatic monitoring mission so that experts can get access to the region, make independent judgments as to what's going on there, and be in a position to report to us what's going on there,? Mr. Rubin said. ?The Contact Group has laid out a series of requirements for a serious discussion,? he said, adding that ?Ambassador Holbrooke is trying to advance that goal.? [05] BSEC PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE IN BUCHARESTBucharest, June 25 (MPA)A Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) pact parliamentary representatives' two-day conference began yesterday in Bucharest with the signing of a common declaration, including an account of BSEC?s accomplishments over the last five years. The three-member Greek delegation, comprising PASOK parliamentarians Maria Arseni and Apostolos Foteiades, as well as main opposition party deputy Athanasios Nakos, stressed that the main target of the BSEC parliamentary assembly is to expand and further the cooperation among the member-countries.Ms. Arseni told the Macedonian Press Agency that Greece submitted a number of modifications regarding the combat of cross-border crimes, arms and drugs smuggling, and illegal immigrants traffic and exploitation. These amendments were widely accepted by the BSEC members. BSEC members include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and the Ukraine. [06] TOURIST ARRIVALS SEEN RISING BY 12 PER CENTAthens, June 25 (MPA)The outlook for Greek tourism in 1998 is optimistic, according to the Institute of Tourism Studies and Forecasts (ITEP) and the Association of Tourism Studies and Forecasts (SETE). During a news conference held by the ITEP to promote the release of the fifth volume of "Greek Economy and Tourism", officials said they were expecting tourist arrivals to rise by at least 12 percent compared to last year. ITEP said it based the forecast on factors including the devaluation of the drachma last March, favorable economic conditions in the US and Europe, and a shift from other Mediterranean destinations to Greece.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 |
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