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MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (05/03/1996)From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@uranus.ee.auth.gr>Macedonian Press Agency News in English DirectoryBRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIA PRESS AGENCYMarch 5, 1996TITLES[01] TURKEY TO THREATEN GREECE WITH SHIPPING BOYCOTT[02] UN ENVOY CONFIRMS DENKTASH'S STATEMENTS ON MISSING[03] IMIA ISSUE SHOULD BE HEARD IN COURT, SAYS BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER[04] ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS MET WITH NEW DEMOCRACY LEADER[05] TALKS FOR CYPRUS' ACCESSION INTO THE EU WILL BEGIN IN 1997[06] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS MEETS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER[07] EU SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVE IN THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, STATED FERARIS[08] PAPANDREOU'S RECUPERATION PROGRESSING NORMALLY[09] GREEK FILM MAKER EXHIBITED IN NEW YORK[10] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORTNEWS IN DETAIL[01] TURKEY TO THREATEN GREECE WITH SHIPPING BOYCOTTAnkara's Foreign Ministry appears about to threaten Athens with a shipping boycott in an attempt to retaliate against the recent veto exercised by Greece over the European Union's economic funding to Turkey.Numerous reports in the turkish press refer to an imminent boycott that will impede Greece's shipping to and from Turkey's ports, if Greece carries on with the veto. Turkey had resorted to similar measures in the past during former crises between the two countries. However, such measures had quickly been lifted as they proved to cause more harm to the turkish economy. According to diplomatic circles, the row is part of a "psychological war" aimed at exerting pressure on Athens. Last week Greece vetoed a proposal by the European Investment Bank to grant Turkey approximately 750 million ECU. Sources in Brussels estimate that the veto issue will most likely be raised during the next Council of Economy and Finance Ministers, scheduled to take place on March 13. [02] UN ENVOY CONFIRMS DENKTASH'S STATEMENTS ON MISSINGAlternate UN Special Representative to Cyprus Gustav Feisel confirmed the statements made by turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that all the missing in Cyprus since the turkish invasion of the island are dead.Speaking to journalists after the meeting he had today with EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek, mr.Feisel said that only a few were surprised by the content of the statements made by mr.Denktash, according to which, all the missing in Cyprus are dead. Mr. Feisel said that the statements are referring to a very sad chapter in the history of Cyprus. To the question if he has any evidence or if he shares the view that all those missing are dead, mr.Feisel replied that none has given to the UN Fact-Finding Committee any information or evidence that could imply there is anyone still alive. [03] IMIA ISSUE SHOULD BE HEARD IN COURT, SAYS BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTERBritish Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind in a letter to his greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos that was published today by the greek newspaper "Kathimerini", expresses his country's position according to which the issue of Imia should be brought before an international court of arbitration.Also, Britain expresses its opposition to the threats launched by Turkey against Greece and according to the newspaper this opposition has been made known to Ankara. Mr.Rifkind stresses in his letter that he does not agree with the association of the Aegean issues or the Greek-Turkish disputes with the EU-Turkey customs union. [04] ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS MET WITH NEW DEMOCRACY LEADERLeader of New Democracy Miltiadis Evert met today with israeli ambassador to Athens David Sason. Mr.Evert requested the meeting in order to be briefed on the latest developments after the recent terrorist attacks in Israel launched by "Hamas".Mr.Sason in his statements accused Iran and Sudan of being behind the terrorist activities of "Hamas" and stressed that already there is enough information to prove that those two countries finance, support and train the terrorists. The israeli ambassador to Athens expressed the hope that the friendly countries to Israel and Palestine will use their connections and influence in order to persuade Arafat to fight against the palestinian terrorism. Mr.Sason stressed that peace and stability in the region are in danger and assured mr.Evert that the majority of Israelis want peace and that the leadership of Israel is devoted to it. He also underlined that the people of Israel must be safe in their own country. [05] TALKS FOR CYPRUS' ACCESSION INTO THE EU WILL BEGIN IN 1997In the second half of 1997 will begin the negotiations for the accession of Cyprus into the European Union stated EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek.The Dutch EU Commissioner made it clear that both sides prefare a united Cyprus to be a member of the European Union because as he said none wants a new Berlin. Nevertheless, he said that the EU can not postpone indefinately a favourable response to the vision of the island's majority namely, its full membership in the European Union. The EU Commissioner also stated that in the talks he had with Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis were discussed ways through which the Turkish-Cypriot community could be informed on the benefits of the EU membership. [06] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS MEETS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSIONERThe President of the Republic of Cyprus met today with the European Commissioner on External Affairs Hans Van Den Broek and discussed the cypriot issue, as well as Cuprus' inclusion in the EU.According to cypriot government spokesperson Yiannis Kasoulides, Mr. Klerides was briefed by Mr. Van Den Broek on the EU's interest to participate in the effort to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, given that Cyprus constitutes a future EU country-member. [07] EU SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVE IN THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, STATED FERARISThe European Union must be more involved in the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem stressed Italian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs responsible on European issues, Luigi Vitorio Feraris.In statements he made after the meeting with Cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis, mr.Feraris said that they discussed the situation in Cyprus and that the message he got was that the European Union must deal more with the Cyprus problem and with the issue of the country's accession into the EU. Mr.Feraris also said that coordination of the activities of all the interested parties is necessary. He said that the Italian EU Presidency is attributing great importance to the issue and pointed out that an initiative on Cyprus has been undertaken since January. The Italian Undersecretary also expressed the hope that the initiatives will be continued and by the next EU Presidency. [08] PAPANDREOU'S RECUPERATION PROGRESSING NORMALLYPASOK leader and former premier Andreas Papandreou continues to be hospitalized, although there has been an upturn in his health condition for some time now.According to today's medical bulletin issued by the Onasion Cardiosurgery Center, various breathing tests will be performed on Mr.Papandreou this week, thereby making the first step towards the patient's release from the hospital. The treating phycisians will attempt to close the patient's tracheostomy tomorrow. The dialysis is now performed via two methods, a catheter and a fistula that is placed on Mr. Papandreou' s hand. According to the physicians, the fistula will most likely be the method used for the future dialyses. Overall, Mr. Papandreou's health is developing normally, with the patient following an intensive physiotherapy program and walking as much as possible. He was visited today by the President of Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis and the former Minister of Press and Media Tylemachos Hytiris. [09] GREEK FILM MAKER EXHIBITED IN NEW YORKThe works of greek cinematographer Grigoris Markopoulos (1928-1992) will be exhibited at the Whitney Museum of New York between March 6 and April 7.Organized in part by the New York chapter of the Institute of Hellenic Culture, the exhibition is within the auspices of the Museum's 25th dedication to american cinema and video. Considered to be one of the most accomplished filmmakers of his time, Markopoulos, son of immigrants, was born in Toledo, Ohio. A romanticist, Markopoulos revolutionized against the traditional movie-making narrative sequence and experimented with the relationship between space and time. His image remained true to tradition while supporting the collaboration of myth and modern time, as his frequent references to the greek thought attest. [10] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORTCURRENCY FIXING BUY SELL ECU 303.3700 302.4600 304.2800 U.S. Dollar 240.5400 239.8180 241.2620 Deutsche Mark 163.9000 163.4080 164.3920 UK Sterling 368.4600 367.3550 369.5650 French Franc 47.8280 47.6850 47.9710 Swedish Crown 35.7400 35.6330 35.8470 Danish Kroner 42.4190 42.2920 42.5460 Norwegian Crown 37.6600 37.5470 37.7730 Italian Lira 15.4990 15.4530 15.5450 Swiss Franc 200.7400 200.1380 201.3420 Spanish Peseta 1.9474 1.9416 1.9532 Finnish Mark 53.1360 52.9770 53.2950 Yen 229.6500 228.9610 |