[01] FYROM MUST ABANDON CLAIMING RECOGNITION AS "MACEDONIA"

[02] FREE TRANSPORTATION OF PEOPLE AND GOODS TO AND FROM FYROM

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT SOFIA NEXT WEEK

[04] GREEK PRESIDENT HAILS THE UN 50TH ANNIVERSARY

[05] INFORMAL SESSION OF EU MINISTERS OF CULTURE AND AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA

[06] EU COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE MINISTERS TO MEET IN LUXEMBOURG

[07] THE GREEK LANGUAGE WILL BE TAUGHT IN MOSCOW'S PUSKIN INSTITUTE

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] FYROM MUST ABANDON CLAIMING RECOGNITION AS "MACEDONIA"

Greek President mr Constantinos Stephanopoulos speaking today in Harvard University on issues of greek foreign policy stated that FYROM must abandon its position concerning the use of the name "Macedonia" stressing that Greece does not claim anything from Skopje and the only thing that has asked was that FYROM abandon its authoritative and aggressive policy.

In his speech the greek President made extensive references to Greece's relations with Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey.

Mr. Stephanopoulos also made a special reference to the problem of Cyrpus and stressed that Cyprus is the only country in Europe with a division line imposed by military force in violation of International Law.

[02] FREE TRANSPORTATION OF PEOPLE AND GOODS TO AND FROM FYROM

Third round of negotiations between Athens and Scopje for the full impilication fo the interim agreement signed in New York, on September 13th and the memorandum for the poractical measures on its implication, signed in Scopje on October 13th, was completed today in Athens.

No official communique was publicised yet but diplomatic circles in the greek capital chatracterised the climate of the talks as positive.

Earlier today the Greek Press and Media MInister and governmental spokesman mr Tilemahos Hytiris had characterized the atmosphere in which the talks between the greek and FYROM delegations were taking place in Athens as constructive.

Also earlier the Greek transport and communications minister mr Evangelos Venizelos had announced thta there will be no more problems in the future in the transportation of goods and people between the two countries although, as he admitted, there are still some problems remaining unsolved.

This was the third day of the talks.

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT SOFIA NEXT WEEK

Greek Foreign Minister mr Carolos Papoulias will visit Bulgaria on October 24th as the Press and Media Minister mt Tilemahos Hytiris announced today in Athens.

According to mr Hytiris the Greek minister will have consultations concerning the issue of the natural gas pipe-line.

[04] GREEK PRESIDENT HAILS THE UN 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Greek President mr Constantinos Stephanopoulos sent a congratulatory message to United Nations Secretary General Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Organization.

Mr Stephanopoulos stresses in his message that the international organization's mission acquires greater value every day by taking into account the international instability and economic problems which hit many parts of our planet.

The greek President underscores that Greece supports mr. Ghali's choices in the framework of preventive diplomacy and also his initiatives concerning the United Nations' peacekeeping missions to which Greece contributes as much as possible.

Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the Organization aiming at the solution of the Cyprus problem and expressed the belief that the Unuted Nations will continue to work towards a just and viable solution for the benefit of peace and stability in this sensitive part of the world.

[05] INFORMAL SESSION OF EU MINISTERS OF CULTURE AND AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA

Greece's position in favour of the establishment of a financing mechanism by the European Commission for the support of the european audio-visual industry was presented by greek Minister of Press and Media mr. Tilemahos Hytiris in the informal session of the European Council of Ministers of Culture and Audio-Visual Media that was held in Madrid, Spain.

In the two-day meeting that was completed today issues concerning the european policy in the audio-visual sector were also discussed.

In the sidelines of the meeting, mr. Hytiris met with the spansih Commissioner responsible for audio- visual media, mr. Marcelino Oreja who assured him that the financing mechanism for the support of the european audio-visual production soon will become a reality.

Mr.Oreja also stated that in the next month the European Commission will be ready to make proposals and to discuss the positions of the member states, adding that the Commission sees in a positive way the support of smaller states and also the support of smaller productions without restrictions.

[06] EU COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE MINISTERS TO MEET IN LUXEMBOURG

The EU Council of Agriculture will meet at ministerial level in Luxembourg next week and Greece will be represented by Agriculture Minister mr Theodoros Stathis.

The Council will discuss for the first time the new decisions concerning the fruit and vegetable production, an issue of special interest for Greece.

The Ministers will also examine issues concerning the rice, banana and mushroom markets and ways for the better distribution of food to the poor in the European Union.

[07] THE GREEK LANGUAGE WILL BE TAUGHT IN MOSCOW'S PUSKIN INSTITUTE

Hundreds of russians in Moscow will be able to learn the greek language starting this November after an initiative by the Institute of Greek-Russian Cooperation and by Moscow's Puskin Institute.

President of Puskin Institute in Athens, Stathis Yiannikos stated to MPA that the initiative had begun in Moscow in 1993 but its financing by the greek Ministry of Education was not possible stressing that about 140 russians had expressed interest in learning greek in a period of 4 months.

A similar effort concerning the teaching of the russian language had begun in Athens in 1991, in the framework of the Puskin Institute that was established the same year in the greek capital. In the 4 years since the opening of the Puskin Institute in Athens about 1.000 people got the russian language certificate while at this moment the classes attend about 230 students.