MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (11/04/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thursday, April 11 1996

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS IN NEW YORK

The Premier asked the Archbishop to press on with his role as "leader" and to aid, as he has done so far, in the process of solving national issues and to promote peace and prosperity in the region.

In turn, Mr. Iakovos assured the Premier that he will always remain a "faithful soldier" in the bastions of national struggles.

Following the meeting with Mr. Iakovos, Mr. Simitis departed for New Haven Connecticut where he will speak at Yale University on "Challenges and Prospects for Greece in the Year 2000".

Tomorrow, the Premier will visit the United Nations headquarters and will meet with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali.

Mr. Simitis will celebrate Easter in New York and will return to Greece next week.

[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS STATED, SPEAKING IN FRONT OF GREEK- AMERICANS IN ASTORIA, THAT GREECE NEITHER CLAIMS NOR GIVES UP ANYTHING

Regarding Greece's policy in its relations with Turkey, mr.Simitis stressed that is easy to choose confrontation when this is what the other side seeks. He underlined that the result of such a move would had been to end up in negotiations just like Turkey wants.

The greek Prime Minister stated that "we do not want negotiations for something non negotiable". He added that Greece showed to the international community that it respects International Law and tries to solve peacefully any dispute but clarified that this does not mean the greek policy will always be the same.

Mr.Simitis said that Greece's policy will be in accordance with the circumstances adding that the country will use its armed forces when it is right for the good of the nation.

The main target of the greek government, underlined the Prime Minister, is a strong Greece with a dynamic presence in the international scene and in the role of the stabilizing factor in its region.

[03] STATEMENTS BY THE US STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

He said that Greece is a Balkan country which has very good relations with certain of the region's countries and that there are certain things that can be done in the Balkans by Greece and the United States.

Regarding today's report published by the american newspaper "Washington Post" according to which, President Clinton supports the position that the issue of the islets of Imia should be brought before the International Court of Justice in The Hague and also responding to the question on who suggested it first, the greek or the US government, mr.Burns stated that the statements made in the Oval Office by President Clinton were very clear.

To the question if mr.Simitis discussed the Cyprus problem with US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, he said that they had a very good discussion on the Cyprus problem and that the discussion was held in the presence of the special Presidential envoy to Cyprus mr.Beattie who also referred to his plans and to his decision to visit the region. Also, present was and assistant Secretary of State mr.Cornblum. Mr.Burns stated that in the future will be clear that the United States are very actively involved in the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Burns stated that mr.Cornblum will visit the region, without clarifying when the visit will take place, and added that apart from the Cyprus problem and the turkish relations, he will also deal and with the US relations with those countries.

The US State Department spokesman said is obvious that the United States hope that when the Greek and Turkish officials meet will discuss the problems between the two countries adding that this is a good outcome of the meetings held in the last two days.

Responding to the question according to which, mr.Simitis' proposal for a three point plan creates the impression that the necessary preconditions for a possible Greek-Turkish dialogue exist, something that is rejected by Turkey, he said that is up to the greek and turkish governments to determine the exact steps which will be followed in any process. He also said that both the US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser mr.Lake fully support the idea that Greece and Turkey must participate in discussions for the solution not only of the issue of Imia but of other problems in their relations as well.

[04] PREMIER'S MEETING WITH WARREN CHRISTOPHER WAS "EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD"

According to Mr. Simitis, he and Mr. Christopher discussed Greece's role in the Balkans and in Europe, the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem.

Yesterday evening, the Premier discussed Greece's economic policy at an event hosted by the Joint Hellenic-American Business Council, where he stressed Greece's emergence as a dynamic economy, one that is ready to address the development challenges in Southeastern Europe, the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

[05] GREEK OPPOSITION PARTIES COMMENT ON SIMITIS VISIT TO US

The President of the Political Spring Party (Politiki Anixi) Antonis Samaras stated that Greece is drawn into an all-issues dialogue with Turkey, "when meanwhile we have abandoned the FYROM name issue."

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) stated that the United States have been delegated as referees in the greek-turkish relations, while the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) characterized the meeting between the leaders as one that is "lacking in essential results."

[06] GREEK PARLIAMENT MEMBERS WILL VISIT CONSTANTINOPLE

In the conference will be discussed issues concerning the international policy, the economic and social situation and the protection of minorities as a world problem and as a pre-condition for stability, security and peace.

Within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference will also be held and a meeting of National Parliaments' General Secretaries which will be attended by the greek Parliament General Director, Antonis Angelopoulos.

[07] THESSALONIKI TO GET A NEW ROYAL THEATER, ONE OF A KIND IN EUROPE

The Theater is a 5.280 billion drachma project which will take up 11,200 square meters. It will feature an Italian stage and will have a housing capacity of 825 seats.

According to the president of the General Construction Company, which has undertaken the project on behalf of the Organization for the Cultural Capital (OPPE), the theater will be one of a kind in Europe, while only two others of comparable standards are found in the United States.

[08] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN MEDIA TO RAISE MONEY FOR ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN ALBANIA

A spokesperson of the Argyrokastro Metropolis stated that the Annunciation Church in the area is not operating because the Hodga regime had turned it into a warehouse of chemical soil.

The fundraising is organized by the Australian Pan-Epirotic Federation and the Commission of Support to North Epirus residents.

[09] PROBLEMS OF THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA WERE DISCUSSED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNSIL OF EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

Local administration officials accompaning ms.Fisher intervened stressing that the opening of those schools was never blocked and that they will open when there is enough number of students.

This intervention, according to the representatives of the greek minority, puts under dispute the promise made by Tirana to the Greek President, during his visit to the albanian capital, regarding the opening of the greek schools.

Ms.Fisher also stated that the greek minority enjoys its rights and has the right to ask for even more but regarding the issue of Kosovo she said that this is another case stressing that the rights there, have been forgotten. Ms.Fisher added that herself in the Council of Europe and the german Parliament will make every effort for the solution of the problem in Kosovo and for the opening of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

[10] UNDERMINISTER FOR SPORTS TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON VIOLENCE IN SPORTS HELD IN AMSTERDAM

With representatives from 25 countries attending, the meeting foresees the signing of an international action plan that will promote tolerance and fair play in sports, while putting forward efforts to eliminate violence and racism at an international and national level.

The meeting is taking place as a result of last May's 8th meeting of European Sports Ministers, held in Lisbon.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[11] NO HASTY SOUTION TO THE NAME ISSUE, SAYS GLIGOROV

In the interview, Mr. Gligorov expressed his disagreement with the idea of FYROM joining a union or community of a political or economical character, in whichn the former Yugoslav Republics or balkan countries would participate, since, as he stated, this would have no potential.

Tomorrow, Mr. Gligorov will travel to Zagreb, make this his first visit outside Skopje since the aassassination attempt made against him on October 3 1995.

[12] STATEMENTS BY THE SKOPJAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON THE ISSUE OF THE NAME

In a press conference in Stochholm after the talks he had with his swedish counterpart the skopjan Foreign Minister referring to the mutual recognition agreement between Belgrade and Skopje underlined that with the recognition a big issue for the Republic of "Macedonia" was closed and that from now on, the road is open for the country's economic development and the improvement of its relations with the European Union.

[13] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT VETOES THE NESTOS RIVER AGREEMENT WITH GREECE

Mr. Zhelev asked the Bulgarian Parliament to reconsider the agreement which allocated to Greece 29% of the river's annual water capacity for a time period of 35 years.

Although the agreement had already been ratified by the Bulgarian Parliament in March, Mr. Zhelev vetoed the agreement by noting that "the problem with the Nestos River waters is thirty- years-old and even the communist governments did not dare to show irresponsibility on this issue. Even in January of 1990, the Parliament had decided that Bulgaria must make use of at least 75% of Nestos' annual water quantity."

An agreement regarding the opening of three border crossings and highways linking the two countries, tabled to the Bulgarian Parliament along with the Nestos River waters agreement, has been approved by the Bulgarian President.

If the agreement receives majority votes again by the Parliament, the presidential veto will be nullified.

[14] FYROM CANNOT GIVE UP ITS CONSTITUTIONAL NAME

Gligorov said that it was impossible to wipe out 50 years of the existence of the country without provoking severe consequences to the stability of FYROM and the whole region.

"The name cannot be changed, no matter who rules the country," Gligorov stressed, adding that "the name dispute with Greece is without precedent in the international practice."

[15] FYROM AGAINST ANY KIND OF BALKAN ASSOCIATION

However, Gligorov said that his country wants to cooperate and to have good relations with all Balkan countries.

After Croatia and Slovenia, now FYROM, another former Yugoslav republic, has stated that it does not want to be part of any Balkan grouping.

[16] "NEW BYZANTIUM" - A NEW IDEA FOR A BALKAN ASSOCIATION

Athens and Belgrade were dreaming for Skopje to join the "New Byzantium" through a trade and economic integration, since the previous attempts for dividing FYROM had failed, Bulgarian newspaper "Trud" concluded.

Also, editorials in Bulgarian newspapers "Continent" and "24 Hours" stressed that the agreement between Belgrade and Skopje is a compromise and a disappointment for those politicians who are thinking that FYROM could have been included in a federation or a confederation with Serbia and Montenegro.

[17] FYROM'S ORTHODOX CHURCH WANTS TO BE RECOGNIZED

The Serbian Patriarch stated once that FYROM's Orthodox Church could be recognized only when this former Yugoslav republic becomes a sovereign country, the Metropolitan Petar reminded.

[18] GREAT BRITAIN HAS ESTABLISHED FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATION WITH YUGOSLAVIA

Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind informed in a letter his Italian counterpart, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, that the FRY-FYROM normalisation of the relations formally met the requirement for full diplomatic recognition of Yugoslavia, the spokesman said.

"This means that Great Britain has already established full diplomatic relations with Belgrade", the Foreign Office spokesman stressed.

[19] TURKISH AIRCRAFT VIOLATED THE CYPRIOT AIR SPACE

Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulidis stated that the government believes that is characteristic of the policy followed by Turkey the fact that it chose to violate the air space of Cyprus a few hours after the Simitis-Clinton meeting, adding that Turkey once again displayed its arrogance.

Mr.Kasoulidis stated that no decision has been made yet to down turkish planes adding that Cyprus is in a position to do so.

[20] THE SKOPJANS WITHDREW LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE ROBERTO MEMO INSITUTE

The legal representatives of the skopjans maintained that the Institute with this exhibition, which was organized with the cooperation of the greek Ministry of Culture, "insults the history and the origin of Macedons".

The lawsuit was withdrawn yesterday when a compromise was reached after the Institute agreed to host an exhibition of skopjan painters this Fall.

[21] YUGOSLAVIA IN SEARCH OF ALTERNATE ROUTES FROM THESSALONIKI PORT

Specifically, during the last 15 years, the main route was the port of Thessaloniki which in essence was for Yugoslavia a free-trade zone.

However, folloing the re-assessment of relations between the Greek and Yugoslav governments, regarding the free trade zone and Greece's refusal to renew its agreement with Yugoslavia, Belgrade is now in search of other avenues.

Top on the priority list is the construction of the road axis of Belgrade-Bar, the biggest Yugoslav port left to Belgrade following Croatia's and Slovenia's departures. However, the Bar port is hardly ready for use asd it lacks an efficient road and rairoad network. As such, Belgrade has approved plans for the construction of a 500- kilometer roadway connecting Belgrade and Bar, a $3,5 billion project, targeted for completion by the year 2010, provided that foreign capital is secured.

[22] OLYMPIC GAMES FLAME ARRIVES IN STOCKHOLM

Swedish gold medalist Ulrike Knappe, who won the diving competition during the Munich-held games in 1972, received the flame. Stockholm had organized the Olympic Games of 1912.

[23] BUDAPEST WILL SENT AN AMBASSADOR IN BELGRADE SOON

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was recognized de facto with the Dayton agreement - the Hungarian Foreign Minister said- while the problems arising from the succesion of former Yugoslav federation should be resolved by the new republics alone.

[24] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS CYPRUS

This visit is aiming at intensifying the bilateral political dialogue and boosting the economic relations. Also, the sub-regional cooperation will be another topic on Mr. Melescanu' agenda, as Romania promotes a ballanced policy in the Balkans, Romanian Foreign Minister spokesman said.

[25] ROMANIA ASKED FRANCE FOR HELP IN FREEING THE ROMANIAN PATRIOT

Ilie Ilascu, a Moldovan citizen, was initialy sentenced to death in 1992 and then to life imprisonment by Transdnestrian separatist authorities for having fought for defending his pro-Romanian beliefs. The Nobel Prize Commitee accepted Ilascu's candidacy for 1996 Nobel Prize for Peace, which has been proposed by Bucharest.

Meanwhile, Moldovan President Mircea Snegur went to Tiraspol, the capital of the breakaway Transdnester region, and met Igor Smirnov, the leader of this self-proclamed republi, Moldovan media reported.

Besides, other political and socio-economic issues which had been discussed by the two political leaders, Moldovan President Mircea Snegur asked Smirnov to pardon the so-called Ilascu-group.

[26] ALBANIA INSISTS FOR A MEDIATOR ON KOSSOVO ISSUE

"Kossovo remains a top priority for Albanian policy," Serreqi stressed during the talsk with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council Leni Fisher.

As a precondition for long-term peace in the region, Serreqi insisted on the appointment of a mediator between Belgrade and Prishtina.

[27] ROMANIAN INFORMATION CENTER IN BRUSSELS

"The government's intention is to open information centers in some other eight countries," Mircea Cosea said, adding that these offices will be patterned after a similar agency in Frankfurt.

The Romanian official stressed that the current level of the privatized sector, accounting for 40% of the GDP, did not guarantee the irreversibility of democracy in Romania.

[28] ROMANIA WANTS TO BE FULL MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL-EUROPEAN INITIATIVE

Representatives from 10 countries from Central and East Europe will examine the possibilities to strenghten their economic relations. Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Croatia, Italia, FYROM, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary are full members of the organization, while Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine are associate-members.

A Romanian delegation, headed by the Minister of Trade Dan Ioan Popescu, will join the reunion in Vienn. Also, Romanian Minister of Reform Mircea Cosea said at a press conference in Bucharest that he would attend this conference at the invitation of the host, German Federal Minister of Economy, Gunther Rexrodt.

Romania will express his desire for forward development of the economic relations with the countries members of the Central-European Initiative and its intention to become full member of the organization, Romanian News Agency Rador reported, quoting sources from the Romanian Trade Ministry.

[29] RUSSIA AND ROMANIA TO SIGN THE POLITICAL BASIC TREATY

The treaty between Russia and Romania could be signed during the visit the Russian Foreign Minister Evgheni Primakov will make to Romania, later in April, to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation meeting, Romanian Agency Rador reported, quoting the Itar-Tass News Agency.

[30] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY         FIXING     BUY         SELL
ECU              301.6600   300.7550    302.5650
U.S. Dollar      242.1400   241.4140    242.8660
Deutsche Mark    161.0500   160.5670    161.5330
UK Sterling      366.2700   365.1710    367.3690
French Franc      47.4070    47.2650     47.5490
Swedish Crown     36.1610    36.0530     36.2690
Danish Kroner     41.7400    41.6150     41.8650
Norwegian Crown   37.300     37.1880     37.4120
Italian Lira      15.4280    15.3820     15.4740
Swiss Franc      198.4900   197.8950    199.0850
Spanish Peseta     1.9320     1.9320      1.9378
Finnish Mark      51.6000    51.4450     51.7550
Yen              222.3650   221.6980    223.0320

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