Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-02-05

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] ECEVIT: ON THE ROAD TO FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION

[02] A CARTOON EXHIBITION WAS INAUGURATED BY PAPANDREOU AND CEM

[03] THE STEPS OF RAPPROCHEMENT WILL CONTINUE, STATED CEM AND PAPANDREOU

[04] TURKISH MAYORS WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI

[05] SIMITIS: PASOK WILL BE THE WINNER IN THE ELECTIONS

[06] CEM: THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE

[07] MEETING OF GREEK AND TURKISH EXPERTS IN ANKARA

[08] THE KLEEMAN-AMETAL JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED SOON

[01] ECEVIT: ON THE ROAD TO FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION

The certainty that the road opened lately will lead to the consolidation of friendship and cooperation between the people of Greece and Turkey was expressed by Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit in his message read in the opening of the two-day Journalist Symposium that is taking place in Zappion Megaron building in Athens.

Mr. Ecevit mentioned in his message that himself was a journalists too and therefore he knows that the press and the mass media can contribute constructively to the improvement of relations between Greece and Turkey.

Mr. Ecevit also reminded in his message that a Journalist Conference was held in the island of Rhodes, south-eastern Aegean in the early 60s and it was decided then that journalists should contribute with their articles to the promotion of bilateral relations. Unfortunately, mentions Mr. Ecevit, this remained just a wish but now the countries are on a promising road that could lead to the consolidation of peace and cooperation between them.

Finally, the Turkish prime minister stated that it is very important for all to contribute to the dynamic picture of bilateral relations.

[02] A CARTOON EXHIBITION WAS INAUGURATED BY PAPANDREOU AND CEM

The Aidin Dovar Institute International Cartoon Exhibition was inaugurated by foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem.

In the inauguration ceremony Mr. Cem offered to Mr. Papandreou a painting with the symbols of peace, a olive tree branch and a white dove. Mr. Papandreou receiving the painting stated that he will be inspired by this symbol of peace.

The exhibition is being placed within the framework of the Greek-Turkish Conference of Mass Media Journalists and Executives.

[03] THE STEPS OF RAPPROCHEMENT WILL CONTINUE, STATED CEM AND PAPANDREOU

The optimism that the steps of rapprochement and cooperation by Greece and Turkey will continue with the help of the governments and the mass media was expressed by Greek and Turkish foreign ministers Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem speaking in the opening of the two-day Greek-Turkish Journalist Conference that is being held in Zappion Megaron building in Athens with the participation of 110 Greek and Turkish journalists most of whom are directors and executive staff of mass media.

Mr. Cem referring to the Greek prime minister underlined that the policy followed by Mr. Simitis is to the benefit of both peoples.

Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou congratulated the committee of journalists from both countries for its work. He said that there are problems and fundamental differences on certain issues between him and Mr. Cem as well as prejudices and stereotypes that can be overcome, adding that no one could imagine 6 months earlier that such a progress could be achieved in the Greek-Turkish relations.

Responding to an earlier observation by Mr. Cem on the Cyprus issue, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that there are different views but the prospects for Turkey and Cyprus to become part of the same family can move ahead within the framework of the Geneva talks, while at the same time new preconditions and approaches are being created. Problems can be dealt with within a new framework especially within the framework of the European Union, said Mr. Papandreou. Commenting of an earlier reference by Mr. Cem to the Muslim minority in Thrace, north-eastern Greece, Mr. Papandreou said that he is very happy because Mr. Cem in the meetings he had in Athens yesterday with members of the minority confirmed that they feel more and more as citizens of Greece.

Earlier, the Turkish foreign minister made a special reference to the late deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis and his contribution to the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations, while he had observed that the press in both countries has contributed greatly to the improvement of bilateral relations.

In conclusion, the Turkish foreign minister stated that the rapprochement can take place by taking under consideration the sensitivity of the two countries on certain issues and stressed that if there is a will then bilateral problems can be solved.

Turkish press council chairman Oktai Eksi speaking in the opening of the conference stated that the Turkish delegation is in Athens because friendship is more important than hostility, adding that friendship between the two countries will have beneficial results for the region and the whole world.

General director of Greek Radio and Television, ERA, Yiannis Tzanetakos pointed out that the role of the journalists is positive, and mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos stressed while welcoming the Turkish delegation the rapprochement achieved after the recent earthquakes in both countries. He also congratulated Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou for the big step that was made with determination for the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations.

[04] TURKISH MAYORS WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI

Three Turkish mayors from eastern Thrace will be in Greece tomorrow as guests of the municipality of Thermaikos in Thessaloniki. The invited mayors are of Silibria, Selim Basha (former Epivates) and Kum Burgas (former Economio).

The visit follows an earlier visit to Turkey by a delegation of the municipality of Thermaikos headed by mayor Antonis Matzaris.

In the talks the mayors will have they will discuss the prospects for the closer cooperation of municipalities in the sectors of culture and economy and also the hosting of Turkish students during the summer in order to learn the Greek language.

[05] SIMITIS: PASOK WILL BE THE WINNER IN THE ELECTIONS

Prime minister Kostas Simitis in his speech delivered within the framework of the governing socialist party of PASOK conference referred to the imminent elections stressing that PASOK will be the winner again.

He criticized the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy for its stance in the issue of the election of the president of the republic and stressed that it is characterized by ignorance and vagueness in its positions. Mr. Simitis was also critical of the parties of the left by saying that many times had adopted an opposite stance.

Regarding the international position of Greece, he stated that the country is a responsible European force and its positions are respected by its partners. Mr. Simitis said that Greece is a basis of peace, security and cooperation in the Balkans, while referring to the Greek-Turkish relations he reiterated that Greece wants peace in the region and that a fair and viable solution must be found to the Cyprus problem, based on the UN resolutions, adding that Turkey is called to contribute toward this direction.

Mr. Simitis stated that the opposition party of New Democracy has no positions and no proposals on the country's foreign policy.

[06] CEM: THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE

Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem in an exclusive statement to MPA expressed the hope that the Greek-Turkish relations will continue to develop in a satisfactory way in the future, while responding to the question on whether the early elections scheduled to take place in Greece on April 9 will make the road to the normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations harder, stated that he did not want to talk politics now that elections have been declared to be held in the country.

The Turkish foreign minister referring to the International Cartoon Exhibition stated that this type of journalism sees things with a more critical eye, adding that newspaper cartoons contribute to the preservation of world peace and make those in power think more and pay greater attention to events.

He also stated that the journalists from both countries with their criticism and praises offer great assistance for a better understanding between the two peoples.

[07] MEETING OF GREEK AND TURKISH EXPERTS IN ANKARA

The next move within the framework of the rapprochement between Greece and Turkey will be the meeting of experts in Ankara to discuss the exploitation process of European Union know-how. The above were announced yesterday by foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey Giorgos Papandreou and Ismail Cem.

Also, it is expected that there will be cooperation between the ministries of agriculture, culture and sports.

[08] THE KLEEMAN-AMETAL JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED SOON

The final agreement for the KLEEMAN Hellas and the Turkish AMETAL joint venture is expected to be signed soon. A delegation of the Greek company will visit Istanbul in the next 15 days to finalize the last details on the Greek-Turkish joint venture, that will take the name KLEEMAN-AMETAL.

The strategic alliance of the two companies initially will focus on trade cooperation with the prospect to expand to production cooperation in the future. A KLEEMAN management delegation is already looking for the right area to build a plant in Turkey for the construction of elevators.

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