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BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (07/02/1996) 2oFrom: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@uranus.ee.auth.gr>Macedonian Press Agency News in English DirectoryBRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYFebruary 7, 1996TITLES[01] PASOK EXECUTIVE BUREAU CONVENED WITH PRIME MINISTER[02] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS REPUBLIC ARRIVES IN ATHENS[03] EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFERS VERBAL SUPPORT TO GREECE[04] IMIA WAS NOT A TURKISH VICTORY, SAYS TURKISH PARTY LEADER[05] TURKEY REJECTS GREEK DEMARCHE OVER INCIDENT IN AEGEAN[06] PASOK LEADER'S HEALTH REMAINS STABLE[07] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORTNEWS IN DETAIL[01] PASOK EXECUTIVE BUREAU CONVENED WITH PRIME MINISTERGreece's ruling socialist party PASOK held its Executive Bureau meeting today with the participation of greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.The discussion was centered around the Imia crisis, as well as the issue of appointing Mr. Theodoros Karatzas to the position of Director of the greek National Bank. Mr. Antonis Livanis, Executive Bureau member, when asked if there are any problems surrounding the appointment of Mr. Karatzas, replied thata united PASOK is proceeding to address the problems and to achieve the accomplishment of the party's aims." When asked to comment on Mr. Karatzas appointment, Mr. Pantelis Economou said that these responsibilities fall into the government's hands. "Whether or not the government is executing these responsiblities properly, that is a different issue," Mr. Economou said. Mr. Manolis Daskalakis stated that "PASOK and the government have the necessary unity for the succesful accomplishment of the governmental program." He further referred to the Central Committee's last meeting during which members expressed the need for meritocracy. [02] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS REPUBLIC ARRIVES IN ATHENSThe President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Klerides arrived in Athens today, accompanied by the Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides, the cypriot Minister of Defense Kostas Iliades, the cypriot Chief of National Guard Kolonel Vorvolakos, the under-Minister to the Presidium Pantelis Kouras and the cypriot government spokesperson, Yiannakis Kasoulides.Mr. Klerides stated that the reason for his visit to Athens is to hold discussions on the Cyprus issue and issues regarding a unified defense policy with his greek counterpart Kostis Stefanopoulos and the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, as well as with other political leaders. Regarding the cancelled visit to Cyprus by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, Mr. Klerides said that a basic prerequisite for the U.S. envoy's trip to Nicosia was the formation of a government in Ankara. When asked to comment on the armored tanks which have been brought recently to the turkish occupied region of Northern Cyprus, Mr. Klerides stated that Turkey has for long been reinforcing the occupied area, despite Cyprus' repeated protests to the United Nations. [03] EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFERS VERBAL SUPPORT TO GREECEEuropean Commissioner Hans Van Der Broek today expressed his "surprise" for the time that Ankara chose to provoke a crisis, as well as the fact that the european community did not take a position on the recent greek- turkish crisis, when it should have.The European Commission, through its President Jacques Santers, decided today to issue a statement of support and solidarity to Greece regarding the Imia issue. Also, according to sources close to the Commission, the european body is planning to forward a stern notice to Turkey, reflected in the evident climate during today's Commission session. The Imia issue was tabled by the greek Commissioner Christos Papoutsis who informed his counterparts on the international law status quo regarding Imia's greek sovereignty. Mr. Papoutsis also related to the european commissioners the disappointment that permeates Greece regarding the European Union's "inexcusable silence." The greek Commisioner emphasized that Europe must react and warn Turkey that with its stance it further moves away from Europe Mr. Papoutsis' statements were not challenged by anyone at the European Commission headquarters, while many of the members categorically judged Turkey for its provocative stance, just a few weeks following its Customs Union agreement with Europe. Specifically, italian Commissioner Emma Bonino stated that "we must not see the greek-turkish crisis in the Aegean as a problem between two countries. "It is regarding an issue that touches upon the community borders," Ms. Bonino said. Commissioner Hans Van der Broek, also favored sending a message of solidarity to Greece. According to sources, the dutch Commissioner has stated that while he is not the appropriate person to take legal sides on the greek-turkish difference, he has assigned the proper agencies to look into the matter. Moreover, Mr. Van Der Broek and the spanish Commissioner Manuel Marino commented on the cancellation of the intermediary efforts by US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Holbrooke, saying that the European community must not give the impression that it is absent. Meanwhile, Ankara today reminded the EU of its legal obligations, resulting from Turkey's recently enacted Customs Union. The turkish Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Omer Akbel stated today that Turkey expects the European Union to conform to the obligations it has undertaken in the customs union and added that these obligations are of a legally binding. Mr. Akbel's reference to the legal nature of the agreement could mean that his country could resort to the European Court if Europe imposes economic sanctions in its funding to Turkey. [04] IMIA WAS NOT A TURKISH VICTORY, SAYS TURKISH PARTY LEADER"It was not a turkish victory," stated the leader of Turkey's Motherland Party Mesut Yilmaz tonight, during a televised debate with Turkey's acting Prime Minister Tansu Ciller.Specifically, the ANAP leader addressed the acting Premier and said that "this is not a victory, as it is presented with so much fanfare, since there is not one specific indication of Turkey's sovereignty in the controversial islets." "If you can, dare to go there and erect the turkish flag!" Mr. Yilmaz daunted Ms. Ciller. [05] TURKEY REJECTS GREEK DEMARCHE OVER INCIDENT IN AEGEANTurkey's Foreign Ministry has rejected the recent demarche issued by Greece regarding the recent episode that took place Saturday near the Imia islets group, when a turkish patrol boat fired against a greek fishing boat in the greek territorial waters, 8.5 miles away from the shores of Turkey, whose territorial waters reach only six miles.Without denying that the incident took place, a spokesperson from Turkey's Foreign Ministry said that it is unfathomable that a turkish patrol boat would open fire by chance. Omer Akbel attributed the increased greek naval presence in the eastern Aegean to the recent search for the downed helicopter and noted that this search was conducted within turkish territorial waters. [06] PASOK LEADER'S HEALTH REMAINS STABLEAccording to the latest medical bulletin issued by the Onasion Cardiosurgery Center, PASOK leader Andreas Papandeou has not presented any significant changes in his health condition."Mr. Papandreou has no fever and is undergoing respiratory physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy and periodical dialysis," the medical report stated. A group of american physicians is expected to arrive within the following days at the Onasion from Minessota's Mayo Clinic. The physicians will examine Mr. Papandreou and assess whether or not it is necessary to bring him to the U.S. [07] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORTCURRENCY FIXING BUY SELL ECU 303.3300 303.4200 304.2400 U.S. Dollar 243.8700 243.1380 244.6020 Deutsche Mark 165.2500 164.7540 165.7460 UK Sterling 374.8000 373.6760 375.9240 French Franc 48.1140 47.9700 48.2580 Swedish Crown 34.8280 34.7240 34.9320 Danish Kroner 42.7180 42.5900 42.8460 Norwegian Crown 37.8700 37.7560 37.9840 Italian Lira 15.4875 15.4410 15.5340 Swiss Franc 202.2500 201.6430 202.8570 Spanish Peseta 1.9638 1.9579 1.9697 Finnish Mark 53.6300 53.4690 53.7910 Yen 230.0050 229.3150 230.6950 |