MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (01/03/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@uranus.ee.auth.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, March 1, 1996

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] INCIDENT IN IMIA BETWEEN TURKISH PATROL BOAT AND GREEK GUNBOAT

A greek gunboat that was patroling in the region approached and asked the turkish patrol boat to leave the greek territorial waters.

The turkish captain refused to comply and the greek warship came closer to the turkish patrol boat in accordance with the rules of Maritime Law. As a result of a mistake made by the turkish captain, the patrol boat collided with the greek gunboat.

The turkish ship left the greek territorial waters and the greek gunboat sailed into the port of the island of Kalymnos where it underwent repairs.

[02] GREEK PRESS MINISTER SPEAKS ON YESTERDAY'S IMIA EPISODE

According to Mr. Reppas, the government first wanted to assess the severity of the episode and added that there was no collision but instead a wrongful handling by the turk captain.

Mr. Reppas stated that a representative of Turkey's embassy in Athens was summoned to the greek Foreign Ministry in order to receive a demarche regarding the violation of greek territorial waters. However, Mr. Reppas foresaw that Turkey is likely to repeat similar events in the future.

The Press Minister blasted Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy, specifically its Vice-President and former Defense Minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis, as having shown frivolity and prematurity in announcing the event, which act resulted in confusion and magnified the incident beyond its true proportions.

Moreover, according to Mr. Reppas, the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis related the episode to NATO's Secretary-General Javier Solana, currently on an official visit to Athens, who promised to look into the matter.

As Mr. Reppas clarified, the Greek Premier made general references to the turkish agression and challlenges and added that Mr. Solana will grant the due attention to the matter, with respect to international law.

[03] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ATH ENS

Mr.Arsenis also briefed the alliance's Secretary-General on the recent Greek-Turkish crisis in the Aegean Sea and added that he hopes there will be more visits to Greece by mr.Solana in order to be able to form his own opinion on the issues.

From his part, mr.Solana stated that they had discussions on the NATO forces in Bosnia adding that is a great effort by NATO members and non-members for peace in this former Yugoslav Republic. At this point, mr.Solana thanked the greek government on behalf of NATO for its participation in the force. Mr.Solana added were analyzed the ways in which the operation is developing, its future and its prospects.

Regarding NATO's expansion mr.Solana said that is an issue which concerns and will continue to concern the alliance in the next years, while 1996 will be the year during which the alliance will enter a dialogue with the countries that want to follow this path.

On NATO's relations with Russia, mr.Solana said that the alliance shares Greece's views on this matter which is a very important one. Mr.Solana made known that in the next few weeks will visit Moscow and will brief the russian government on the thoughts exchanged today on the issue during the talks with mr.Arsenis.

On NATO's internal changes the alliance's Secretary-General stressed that the world has changed, new missions are being undertaken and NATO must adjust to those missions. At the same time, he assured that NATO will play the role expected to play which possibly will be more significant in the future than it was in the past.

Responding to the question if as former Foreign Minister accepts the existence of advice from NATO to the greek side according to which should avoid military exercises in the Aegean during the time of the turkish exercises, mr.Solana said that the constructive way is the only way to handle all the problems and on this basis he will handle all the problems as NATO Secretary- General.

Nevertheless, mr.Arsenis denied that there is advice neither from NATO nor from any other country concerning the programme of the Greek Armed Forces exercises that will be held on greek territory, underlining that the programme of the exercises is set only by Greece.

Finally, to the question why NATO did not adopt a position on the issue of the rocky islet of Imia in the south-eastern Aegean, mr.Solana said that there are differencies in certain mechanisms and that he will try to respond in the best possible way.

[04] MISSING CYPRIOTS HAVE BEEN MURDERED, REVEALS DENKTASH

In this unprecedented disclosure, given yesterday in an interview to the cypriot television station Sigma, the self- proclaimed president stated that the executions were performed in the absence of the turkish military's knowledge.

Denktash grimly said that the massacre was a result of militant overzealously and added that the paramilitary's method of operation was not in coordination with the turkish troops.

"As the turkish troops advanced through and arrested the greek-cypriots, they, unfortunately, turned them over to militants," Denktash said.

"Instead of transfering the prisoners to the local police stations or placing them in concentration camps, they killed them," he said, adding that "when the turkish military forces understood what was happening, they sent the prisoners to Turkey and, according to the Red Cross archives, all the prisoners who were transferred to Turkey have returned."

The occupied territory's intransigent leader rejected any possibility that the refugees may return to their homes, saying that this issue must be handled differently.

Denktash said that the Cyprus problem is "a psychological one" and suggested that a joint commission be created that would review all the history books taught in the schools of both communities.

[05] THE DENKTASH CLAIMS ON THE MISSING IN CYPRUS ARE BEING REJECTED

The cypriot government spokesman also mentioned that the government accepts the parallel opening of mass graves in the free territories and in the turkish occupied northern Cyprus. He characteristically said that places where, according to Denktash's allegations, turkish-cypriots are being burried should be pointed out to the Exploratory Committee.

Mr.Kasoulidis categorically rejected the claims that there are no missing greek-cypriots and greeks still alive and stressed that the greek-cypriot side insists on a procedure of gathering convincing evidence concerning the fate of each of those missing.

He also rejected Denktash's allegations that all the greek- cypriot war prisoners who had been taken to Turkey have returned by saying that there is a number of them who have not been registered with the International Red Cross. Also, he said that there are testimonies on war prisoners who had been registered with the international organization but have not returned yet.

[06] CRISIS IS GREECE'S FAULT, SAYS TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY

Mr.Akbel accused Greece of maintaining a belligerent stance against Turkey and defended his government's foreign policy as one that "has always been a policy of good neighboring, friendship and cooperation."

Moreover, the Turk Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that Turkey always extended "an arm of frienship and aid" to its neighbor, while Greece has "chosen to waive our gesture of friendship and to instead adopt a hostile policy."

Mr. Akbel also said that the lack of dialogue between the two countries is "a choice made by the greek government."

Regarding Greece's status as a European Union country-member and its intention to impede Turkey's EU funding, which stems from the Customs Union Accord, Mr. Akbel stated that this issue should not be entangled in the exisiting greek-turkish differences.

"We are asking the EU to fulfil its obligations to Turkey as provided for by the Customs Union.

"The Customs Union concerns us and the EU," stated Mr. Akbel. "On the other hand, the actions that Greece is engaging in (attempts to block the funding) is a problem that concerns the EU members and we know that Greece did not gain the support of its allies during the Foreign Ministers Council in Brussels."

[07] US AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS: AMERICAN INITIATIVE IS ALWAYS HERE

In his address to the Rotary Club, Mr. Bowcher stated that"we are now addressing issues such as power portioning into various governing levels, how these powers will be allocated, as well as creating a representative system which will cater to both communities."

The Ambassador added that the american initiative is always present and in active in many different forms and various time plans.

Lastly, he confirmed the upcoming US meeting between cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and US President Bill Clinton.

[08] EU COMMISSIONER TO FORMALLY VISIT CYPRUS ON MARCH 4 AND 5

Mr.Hans Van den Broek will discuss with the Cypriot government the possibility of an agreement for specific measures aiming at the solution of the Cyprus problem with the assistance of the European Union.

Within the framework of this effort he will also have contacts and with political personalities of the turkish-cypriot side which must realize that it too will benefit both from the pre- accession procedure and from the membership of Cyprus in the European Union.

Mr.Van den Broek will meet in Cyprus with President Glafkos Kliridis, Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis, turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and with the UN Secretary-General special envoy to Cyprus mr.Feisel.

[09] PASOK LEADER'S HEALTH GOOD, SLIGHT FEVER TODAY

According to today's medical bulletin issued by the Onasion Cardiosurgery Center where Mr. Papandreou is hospitalized, the fever is most likely due to minor infections caused by the dialysis catheter permanently placed in his hand.

Meanwhile, Mr. Papandreou continues to undergo a daily intensive program of thoracic physiotherapy while his overall mood is cheerful and he continues to walk unaided for extended periods of time.

[10] MODERN GREEK STUDIES ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED IN GRANADA

In an interview to M.P.E., professor of byzantine and modern greek history at the University of Granada, Mr. Moschos Morfakides, who is also president of the congress' organizing committee, stated that the Association aims to be a member of the infamous European Association of Modern Greek Studies and, thus far, more than 300 hundred people registered for the congress, among them the Queen of Spain, Sofia.

"We didn't expect such interest," Mr. Morfakides said, adding that "he congresses that we organized up to now were of a more general nature, they referred to Greece from ancient times up to now. This congress is more focused since its theme concerns the teaching of modern greek at the university level."

[11] GREEK EXPORTERS' UPCOMING MISSION TO FYROM HAS MANY PARTICIPANTS

The mission, scheduled for March 18-19, is considered to be the largest one, following the lift of sanctions imposed on FYROM by Greece.

[12] THREE GREEKS ATTAIN FIRST TITLES IN WORLD SAILING

Specifically, Nikos Kaklamanakis achieved the first title in the "Mistral" sailboards with 3.405 points, against 3.367 points held by New Zealander Mac Intosh.

In the "470" race Andreas Kosmatopoulos and Kostas Trigonis won first place with 3.315 points, against the Brits who achieved 3.233 points.

Meanwhile, feverish preparations are underway for next Monday's Athens Sailing Week "Eurolib '96."

Participating in the athletic event will be sailing athletes, women included, from Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Russia and other countries.

[13] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY          FIXING      BUY         SELL
ECU              303.4400   302.5300    304.3500
U.S. Dollar      242.3800   241.6530    243.1070
Deutsche Mark    163.9000   163.4080    164.3920
UK Sterling      370.1900   369.0790    371.3010
French Franc     47.8500    47.7060     47.9940
Swedish Crown    35.8400    35.7320     35.9480
Danish Kroner    42.4330    42.3060     42.5600
Norwegian Crown  37.6800    37.5670     37.7930
Italian Lira     15.5225    15.4760     15.5690
Swiss Franc      200.8660   200.2630    201.4690
Spanish Peseta   1.9490     1.9432      1.9548
Finnish Mark     53.1900    53.0300     53.3500
Yen              229.2800   228.5920    229.9680