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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-07-20Macedonian 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, July 20, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] THEODOROS PANGALOS IS IN TIRANATirana 20 July (MPA)Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos, who is on a two-day visit to Tirana, will meet with Albanian president Redzep Meidani and prime minister Fatos Nano. Their talks will focus on bilateral relations and security issues of the wider Balkan region. Mr. Pangalos will present the Greek positions on the problem in Kosovo, which threatens the fragile balance in the Balkan peninsula, and the way the crisis can be solved. The Greek foreign minister is accompanied by 11 Greek businessmen and high executives of banks with investments in Albania.[02] YILMAZ IS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF CYPRUSNicosia 20 July (MPA)Turkish prime minister Mesut Yilmaz is on a visit to the occupied territories of Cyprus. Ten Turkish fighter jets and six warships are in the occupied territories on the day of the 24th black anniversary of the Attila forces invasion. In statements he made to the Turkish Cypriot newspaper “Kipris”, Mr. Yilmaz stressed that Turkey will take all necessary measures in case the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles are installed in Cyprus. Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides warned that Cyprus does not accept the Turkish invasion as a fait accompli and rejects the efforts made to limit its right for defense. He also called on the international community to work for a fair and viable solution of the problem. The events for the 24th black anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus will be attended by a Greek Parliament delegation headed by minister of interior, public administration and decentralization Alekos Papadopoulos. Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos has pointed out that Greece suggests the holding of a dialogue, the peaceful approach and the accession of the Cypriot Republic into the European Union as a whole.[03] MEETING OF THE WORLD INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION OF HELLENISMAthens 20 July (MPA)The proceedings of the World Inter-Parliamentary Union of Hellenism opened in Athens today and its official opening will be declared by deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou. In the meeting participate 40 members of Parliaments from Australia, the United States, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Albania, Yugoslavia, Lithuania and South Africa.[04] YIANNOS KRANIDIOTIS VISITED CHINA AND UZBEKISTANThessaloniki 20 July (MPA)Issues of economic and trade cooperation dominated in the recent talks Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis had with cabinet members of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.Mr. Kranidiotis, in the talks with the Uzbeki government, discussed issues of bilateral interest such as, the cooperation of the two countries within the framework of NATO, the UN and the European Union. Also, they discussed the situation in central Asia, the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue. The Greek undersecretary gave the assurance that Greece will open an embassy in Tashkent soon in an effort to further promote bilateral relations. Uzbek foreign minister Mr. Kamilov assured the Greek official that his government sees positively Greece’s candidature for the position of the non permanent member of the UN Security Council for the next two years. Mr. Kranidiotis is currently in China for bilateral contacts. [05] GREECE’S CLARIFICATIONS ON THE FARMERS’ CO-OPERATIVES WERE NOT FOUND SATISFACTORY BY THE EUBrussels 20 July (MPA)The European Commission will ask Greece to postpone until next fall the settlement of the farmers’ co-operatives debts estimated at 162 billion drachmas. The request is expected to be made by EU Commissioner Hans Fischler as the clarifications on the issue, which were made by the Greek government, were not found to be satisfactory.The EU Commission considers the settlement of debts to be a business operational subsidy, a practice which is in conflict with the EU regulations on state financing. The European Commission investigation on the matter is expected to be completed by next fall. [06] THE GREEK MINISTER OF INTERIOR ON THE BLACK ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUSNicosia 20 July (MPA)Greek minister of interior Alekos Papadopoulos, who is in Cyprus representing the Greek government in the events commemorating the 24th black anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, stressed in his speech delivered after the memorial service for those killed in the invasion, that this is an anniversary of shame for civilization and human rights.Mr. Papadopoulos stated that the international community today is responsible for tolerating the illegal occupation of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot regime and the Turkish provocation. He underlined that Cyprus and Greece are fighting a good fight for justice, peace and civilization and the vindication will come soon. [07] NO PROGRESS IN THE DEMOCRATIZATION AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD IN TURKEYStrasbourg 20 July (MPA)The Turkish government has made no known move yet aimed at bringing to justice all those responsible for the vandalism of the Greek Orthodox cemetery in Istanbul last April, rejecting in practice the clear demand made two months ago by the EU Council of Ministers and the European Commission.With this long-lasting inaction Turkey violates its obligations for the respect of human rights one of the pre- conditions for the strengthening of Turkey’s relations with the EU, as defined by the Luxembourg Summit meeting in December of 1997 and an essential element of Turkey’s European strategy. Sixty five years after the signing of the Treaty of Lauzanne, which provides for the obligation to respect and protect non Muslim minorities in Turkey, Ankara has made no effort to implement the treaty, according to the responses given by the Austrian EU presidency and the EU Commission to the questions made by Greek Euro-deputy Nikos Papakiriazis. [08] 300 ALBANIAN ARMY OFFICERS ARE IN KOSOVOBelgrade 20 July (MPA)The Serb radio and television, citing testimonies by arrested members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, reported that about 300 Albanian army officers are in Kosovo to offer assistance to the Albanian separatists.The Serb television report caused the immediate reaction of the authorities in Tirana. Albanian undersecretary of defense Ilir Boka denied that there is any involvement of Albanian army officers in any activity outside the Albanian borders. In statements he made to the Serb television, Yugoslav army officer Zeliko Zirojevic revealed that during the clashes that were recorded in the past few days at the Kosovo-Albanian borders, the Serb soldiers confiscated about 10 tons of weapons and military equipment as well as propaganda material which referred to the Albanian cities of Tropoje and Bairam Tsuri as training centers of Albanian separatists. The Serb officer stressed that a list with Arab names was found in the possession of an Albanian, who was arrested and was referred to as the leader of an armed group of Albanian separatists which participated in the clashes near the borders with Albania. The list confirms the unofficial information according to which, Mudjahedin rebels are fighting along the side of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Meanwhile, about 100 people were killed in the armed clashes between Albanian separatists and Serb forces in Kosovo. The new bloody incidents erupted when Albanian separatists attempted to cross into Kosovo with a large number of weapons from Albania. The Serb forces had information on their attempt and were waiting for them at the borders. The Kosovo Liberation Army has announced that its goal is to unite the Albanian territories in Kosovo, Montenegro and FYROM. [09] THE ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA SENT A LETTER TO THE US PRESIDENT ON THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVASION OF CYPRUSNew York 20 July (MPA)Archbishop Spyridon of America sent a letter to US president Bill Clinton on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the continuing occupation of the northern part of the island by the Turkish forces since July of 1974.In the letter, the Archbishop calls on the US president to make every effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem, while referring to the leading role the US president plays internationally for the protection of democracy and human rights he calls on president Clinton not to forget the Cypriot people. [10] THE EU IS READY TO EXAMINE THE REQUEST FOR THE FINANCING OF THE REFORESTATION OF GREECEStrasbourg 20 July (MPA)The European Commission is willing to examine immediately any possible requests that might be made by the Greek authorities both for the restoration of the forests destroyed by the recent fires and for the materialization of a fire prevention program.The above were stated by the responsible EU Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan responding to questions made by five Greek Euro- deputies. According to the EU Commissioner, the regions destroyed by forest fires will be financed within the framework of the structural funds for emergency assistance, while the EU has a special program for the prevention of forest fires that could be implemented. [11] GREECE AND CYPRUS ARE UNITED - MESSAGES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASIONNicosia 20 July (MPA)The time of freedom is very close, stated the head of the Greek Parliament delegation governing socialist party of PASOK deputy Anestis Saatsoglou after the meeting he had with Cypriot Parliament president Spyros Kiprianou.Mr. Saatsoglou referred to the barbaric occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkish forces underlining that Greece and Cyprus are united. Cypriot Parliament president Mr. Kiprianou, in his message for today’s anniversary stressed that Cyprus will continue its struggle and that the Cypriot people will not sell out their homeland and their ideals. He also called on the international community to stop exerting pressures on the Cypriot government and to start pressuring Ankara. [12] ONLY MEN CAN VISIT MOUNT ATHOS BASED ON A GREEK STATE COUNCIL RULINGAthens 20 July (MPA)A Greek State Council High Court decision recognizes that only men can visit the monastic community of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki, northern Greece. Based on the ruling issued, the fact that only men are allowed to visit Mount Athos is in agreement with the Constitution and the European Union.According to the judges, the exclusion of women from Mount Athos is based on its privileged status, which was consolidated by its century-long existence as the Spiritual Center of Orthodoxy protected by all the Greek Constitutions. This status had been recognized and accepted by the European Union when Greece became one of its member-states. 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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