Subject: Brief Greek News Bulletin 5/6/95 Topic: mpa From: Macedonian Press Agency BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN Thessaloniki, June 5 1995 UNSCHEDULED VISIT BY PAPOULIAS-ARSENIS IN PALE AND BELGRADE. Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis left today for an unscheduled visit in Pale, the capital of the bosnian Serbs, in agreement with NATO and the European Union, to seek a peaceful settlement to the Bosnian crisis. Before their departure the two ministers stated that they had a telephone conversation with bosnian serb leader Radovan Karadjic and that they will also meet with commader of the bosnian serb forces, General Mladic. Late in the evening, mr.Papoulias and mr. Arsenis will go to Belgrade for talks with Serb President Slobodan Milosevic. The two greek ministers will also discuss the release of the rest UN peace-keepers still held as hostages by the bosnian serbs. According to information the two ministers are expected to return to Athens tomorrow. The greek government is optimistic that there will be a solution to the bosnian crisis stated greek government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos referring to the visit of mr.Papoulias and mr.Arsenis in Pale adding that for as long as this initiative is underway few statements should be made. Mr.Venizelos said that he does not know if serb President Milosevic has sent a reply to the letter by mr.Papoulias but he pointed out that there is contact between the greek government and the serb President. YUGOSLAV CONSUL IN THESSALONIKI ON US CONCERN ABOUT ACTIVITIES "I can not understand the US concern about our activites said today the Yugoslav General Consul in Thessaloniki Mr Raico Ristic commenting on the report by the US State Department according to which US express concern the activities of the consulate towards the violation of the UN Security Council sanctions against Yugoslavia. Mr Ristic stressed that such activities cannot be conducted through teh consulate in Thessaloniki since Greece and Yugoslavia do not have common borders and added that there is a wide preparation towards cooperation after the embargo ends but characterised that as absolutely normal. According to the report by the US State Department on the application of sanctions against Belgrade Greece observes the sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia despite the different estimations Athens makes on them The report stresses that the fact that Greece and Yugoslavia do not have common borders makes the bilateral trade go through the neighbouring countries, that is Albania, FYROM and Bulgaria and especially by private companies which makes the observation of the final destination of the products which go out of Greece difficult. As far as it regards the Greek position on the UN Security Council policy of the sanctions, the report says that Greece believes that it reflects a misunderstanding of the reasons that led to the conflict in Bosnia, it encourages the extemists and weakens the neighbouring countries. The report says that Greece which has adopted all necessary for the application of the sanctions laws, has not hindered the application of NATO force against the Bosnian Serbs although Athens do not agree with the alliance resolutions that allow for military action. Concerning the Greek measures against FYROM, the US officials say that they led towards the increase of the trade between Scopje and Belgrade, while they express concern about the activities of the Yugoslav Consulate and Serbian companies in Thessaloniki. Greece respects and applies the resolutions of the UN and is one of the few countreis which have had big losses from the embargo against Yugoslavia, said yesterday the Greek Press and Media Minister Mr Evangelos Venizelos commenting on the information about the report which had not been publicised yet.Mr Venizelos characterised as positive any data which confirms that Greece observes the sanctions. NEW YUGOSLAVIA WANTS JOINT INVESTMENTS WITH GREECE. Chairman of the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce, Mikailo Milojevic met in Belgrade with the delegation from the Prefecture of Kavala, in northern Greece which participates in the Balkan Exhibition held in the serb capital. Mr.Milojevic stated that New Yugoslavia is interested in joint investments with Greece in the sectors of food, textile, energy and transportation. EU:2.4 BIL.DRACHMAS FOR THE RESTORATION OF MONASTERIES IN ATHOS. The agreement which allocates 2,4 billion drachmas for the financing of the restoration of the monasteries in Mount Athos, Chalkidiki was signed today in the town of Ormilia in Chalkidiki northern Greece by deputy National Economy Minister Giorgos Romeos and by Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Panagiotis Yennimatas. The subsidies were granted by the European Investment Bank for the restoration of four monasteries in Mount Athos. Mr.Romeos stated that those monasteries received subsidies because there were complete studies on their restoration while he added that from the budget of the public investments will be granted the sum of 3,5 billion drachmas for the restoration of the rest monasteries that need to be repaired. GREECE ON THE US STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON CYPRUS Greek Press and Media Minister Evangelos Venizelos did not hide the greek government's discontent regarding the contents of the US State Department report on Cyprus. According to mr.Venizelos, the indirect encouragement of the turkish intransigence never helped in the past to the solution of the Cyprus problem and it is certain that it will not help now. Mr.Venizelos mentioned that any initiative or diplomatic interest is wellcomed under the pre-condition that it will be in the context of the UN Security Council resolutions and will assist the efforts made by the UN Secretary General. Meanwhile, the US coordinator on the Cyprus issue James Williams, who is expected to examine the course of the US-British initiative on the Cyprus problem is touring european capitals. Mr.Williams will visit Bonn, Brussels, Paris and possibly London. According to statements made today by cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulidis, Britain and the United States are slowing down their efforts in the framework of their initiatives for the promotion of a solution to the Cyprus issue. Mr.Kasoulidis atributed this fact to the turkish intransigence and stressed that the recent diplomatic efforts brought no result to the Cyprus problem. CHILLER AMONG THE "10 ENEMIES OF THE PRESS" The Committee for the Protection of Journalists includes turkish Prime Minister Tansou Chiller among the "10 enemies of the press" in its Spring Bulletin. In the bulletin is mentioned that according to last year's figures, there are more than 74 journalists held in turkish jails and this number is the largest recorded in any country. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists regards as enemies of the press the fundamentalist, as it calls them, leaders of Algeria, the bosnian serbs, Tadjikistan, Nigeria, Mianmar, Zair, Syria, Cuba and Singapore. Committee Chairwoman Cattie Marton, who toured the Balkans in February, wrote in her article published in the Spring Bulletin that fanaticism is the biggest threat for the journalists. Mrs.Marton also wrote about the effects of the turkish "anti- terrorist law" and mentioned the imprisonment of distinguished journalist Mehmet Ali Birad. According to mrs.Marton's article a government, like the turkish, which restricts the freedom of expression loses the right to be called democratic. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT Transportation and Communication Minister Thanassis Tsouras said that the agreement reached with the air traffic controllers will have immediate and long-term results on the national economy, tourism and passenger services. After the long-term agreement was reached the air traffic controllers suspended their "go-slow" strike putting an end to the flight delays. The minister said that agreement has been reached on a number of outstanding problems, while in addition financial resources have been found from Eurocontrol, the European Air Traffic Control Organization, which will not burden the state budget. BRITAIN:WATER SKI CHAMPION WON THE GOLD MEDAL IN TOURNAMENT Greek water ski champion Angeliki Andreopoulou won the gold medal in the figures competition of the international tournament "British Masters '95" held in Britain with the participation of the 16 best women athletes in water ski from all over the world. Andreopoulou came first in the figures competition with 6.020 points while the european record she currently holds is 6.050 points. --------------------------TECHNICAL PROBLEMS------------------------------ DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ,(DATA CONNECTION WITH THE SERVER OF UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI) WE HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY -------------------------MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY--------------------------- The Macedonian Press Agency is a non-governmental press organization which aims: - To transfer and make use of news and information about the situation in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries mostly upon matters which are of vital interest for the Greek business, scientific and cultural activities. - To become a "bridge" between the Greeks who live abroad and their home countryby contributing to a more essential connection and above all to inform them about the investment opportunities as well as the intellectual and artistic movements in Greece, the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. - To show the achievements and the abilities of the business, scientific and intellectual world of Greece all over the world. The service provides daily news in English. --------------------------------------------------------------------------