MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (24/04/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki April 24, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK PREMIER SATISFIED BY HIS MEETING WITH IRISH COUNTERPART

"We had an extensive exchange of points of view regarding European Union issues and the discussion centered around the issues that will concern the Irish EU presidency," the Greek Premier stated, adding that "we are in agreement with Ireland on almost all issues regarding the review of the Maastricht Treaty. We are in agreement that each country is unique and as such in the new form that will be created all countries must participate. Solutions that aim at limiting the role of smaller countries are solutions which we do not accept," Mr. Simitis stated.

Moreover, according to the Greek Premier, the greek-turkish differences were discussed and "Greece reiterated its firm position that the solution to the problem, as Turkey has created it is that there is no use of force or the threat of the use of force, international laws are respected and exercised and, finally, the resort to the International Justice Court at the Hague is the way to resolve the differences."

[02] TURK ARRESTED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SMUGGLE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON A GREEK ISLAND

According to reports, it was shortly after midnight when the greek patrol boat, while making its rounds, detected a speedboat approaching the shore with its navigation lights off.

Upon realizing that he had been discovered, the Turk captain increased his speed and attempted to get away with dangerous manoeuvres.

A chase followed and, after approximately half an hour, the speedboat was immobilized and the captain was arrested along with the 13 Iraqi refugees.

According to their statements following the arrest, the Iraqis paid a bounty of $1500 each to the Turk captain for their transport to Samos from Turkey.

[03] ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS SENDS PROTEST LETTER TO ANTHONY LAKE

In his letter, the Archbishop states that "the United States Congress should not give in to pressures exerted by "friends" who cause additional problems in the american policy of good neighboring and peace, something that should constitute a steady objective."

Mr. Iakovos also referred to the so-called violations of human rights of a minority that enjoys the same rights and privileges as the Greek citizens.

[04] GREEK PREMIER MET WITH BRITISH COUNTERPART YESTERDAY

The British Premier also suggested that the greek reservations regarding the Community funding to Turkey be lifted, an option the Greek Premier rejected.

[05] ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGE ROMEOS SPEAKS TO BBC

Mr. Romeos, who is accompanying the Premier Kostas Simitis on his visits to London and Dublin, participated in the discussions held yesterday with the British Premier John Major and British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind.

"If Turkey agrees to resort to The Hague for the continental shelf issue, then the decision issued will solve the 12 miles issue," the Minister stated.

"What is sought by the turkish side is that Greece will not exercise the right to extent its territorial waters to 12 miles, precisely because Turkey claims more continental shelf than it is entitled to. Therefore, if such an arrangement takes place, somehow the manner in which this right is exercised is also solved."

When asked if there is a risk that the International Court's decision will not be favorable for Greece, the Minister answered that "one cannot expect to win everything in Court."

"We expect (to win) and that is why we insist, because we believe that based on international regulations and the Sea Treaty, what belongs to us will be secured. This pendency must come to an end and the only way it can be solved is for an international court to address the issue."

Mr. Romeos was also asked about the Intergovernmental Conference, which began last month, and the abolition of the unanimity principle within the European Union.

"The issue of limiting unanimity," Mr. Romeos stated, "is composed by two basic parts: issues of social policy and issues of foreign policy and security. In the area of foreign policy there is a tendency to limit unanimity, except for issues regarding national rights. However, on this point, we are willing to accept the majority principle, if our request to legislate the European Union's external borders and to secure the clause of a mutual community assistance is accepted.

"If we secure protection of our borders, we might be more accommodating on the unanimity principle," Mr. Romeos stated.

However, he added that the hopes for achieving the mutual community assistance clause are few.

"That is because most countries appear unwilling and also because there is a practicality issue. The EU does not have military forces and it does not appear likely that the request to include the Western European Union or the creation of a united european military force will be accepted."

[06] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET TODAY IN ATHENS WITH HIS EGYPTIAN COUNTERPART

Mr.Musa arrived in Athens last night for a scheduled two-day working visit and immediately after his arrival he visited in hospital the injured greek tourists.

During the meeting with mr.Pangalos were discussed bilateral issues and the situation in the Middle East.

Commenting on the developments in the Middle East and the latest events in Southern Lebanon, the egyptian Foreign Minister pointed out that all these prove the failure of the peace agreement, while at the same time, he expressed his government's displeasure for the recent military cooperation agreement signed between Turkey and Israel.

Mr.Musa stated characteristically, that his government disagrees with the creation of axes in a sensitive region where efforts for peace are being made.

From his side, mr.Pangalos pointed out that modern diplomacy is not exercised with the creation of axes and underlined that Israel denies that the military cooperation agreement signed with Turkey means that a turkish-israeli axis will be created. Mr.Pangalos said that it will be seen in the future how the implementation of this agreement will proceed and he refused to comment on the statements made yesterday in Bonn by turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gionensai.

In the meeting with greek Defense Minister Arsenis, the Egyptian Foreign Minister discussed issues concerning the developments in the Balkans and in the Middle East, while the greek Defense Minister announced that his egyptian counterpart is expected to visit Greece soon.

Mr.Arsenis said that his egyptian counterpart visit to Greece aims at the materialization of the defense agreement programme signed by the two countries last year in Egypt during mr.Arsenis' visit to Cairo.

[07] BONN, ANKARA DISAGREE ON WAYS TO RESOLVE GREEK-TURKISH DIFFERENCES

The German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel stated that his country is in favor of the direct referral of the Imia islets issue to the International Justice Court at The Hague, while his Turk counterpart emphasized that his country favors a "unconditional dialogue" with Greece and if there is no result achieved, then a resort to a "third party."

According to a BBC broadcast, German Foreign Ministry officials pointed out that "there is a different approach" to the greek-turkish differences.

Germany believes that there must be a resort to The Hague for a variety of issues, led by the islets and followed by all the other issues that concern the two countries, such as the continental shelf and the territorial waters.

However, Turkey clearly appears to want to avoid The Hague venue, since various law experts of other countries, whose advice the turkish government has sought, have reported that Ankara's legal arguments are weak.

Concurrently, the same German diplomats stated that Mr. Kinkel asked his Turk counterpart to show "more flexibility on the cypriot issue and to exert pressure upon Rauf Denktash on accepting Cyprus' accession to the European Union."

[08] THE US ARE DETERMINED TO HELP TOWARD THE SOLUTION OF THE GREEK-TURKISH PROBLEMS, STATED MR. CORNBLOOM

The US official is in Ankara within the framework of his tour in the region and today met with turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gionensai and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oimen.

After his meeting with the turkish Foreign Minister, mr.Cornbloom characterized his contacts in Ankara as "positive" and expressed optimism for the solution of the greek-turkish problems.

Mr.Cornbloom, who met yesterday with turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and with the True Party leader Tansu Ciller, will leave for Athens this afternoon.

[09] STATEMENTS BY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CORNBLOOM VISIT

Greek government spokesman Nikos Athanasakis, commenting on the statements made by mr.Cornbloom in Ankara regarding Cyprus, said that the greek government will hear the views of the US official and pointed out that the Cyprus problem remains a first priority issue for Greece.

Regarding the statements made by british Prime Minister John Major on the Cyprus issue, mr.Athanasakis referred to the comments made yesterday in London by Prime Minister Simitis pointing out that the fact is that at this moment are in progress different initiatives on the issue, by the United States and the European Union.

[10] RUSSIA MUST DEVELOP WIDER RELATIONS WITH GREECE, STATES MOSCOW RADIO

This comment was emphasized in a radio broadcast in Moscow, where it was also mentioned that, for centuries now, Greeks in Russia have held a special position among the various ethnic minorities and cultures living there.

[11] ARMENIANS HELD PROTEST RALLIES IN ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI

The protest demonstration in Thessaloniki, in which participated hundreds of members of the Armenian Community, ended up in front of the turkish Consulate.

In a resolution the armenians condemn the atrocious crime of genocide that was committed by Turkey against 1.500.000 armenians and also call Turkey to recognize and condemn the 1915 genocide, to return to the armenian people their territories, to stop arming Azerbaidjan and to end the actions that undermine the peace initiatives aiming at a just and viable solution for the Nagorno- Karabach issue.

Also, in the resolution Turkey is called to end the blockade on the Armenian Republic and to stop the provocations against Greece in the Aegean and in Cyprus.

[12] THE AMERICAN COMPANY "MOTOROLA" WILL COME TO GREECE

The company has been attracted by the rapid development of the mobile phone market in Greece. As it was made known, the market's growth rate in Greece is more rapid, even compared to countries such as, France and Spain.

In Greece, there are 330.000 subscribers in the two mobile phone companies that operate in the country, Telestet and Panafon.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] UNITED STATES WANT UN TO REMAIN IN FYROM

Mr. Wirth met yesterday with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski and, following the meetings, referred to the stay of the UN peacekeeping forces by stating that the US have voiced "an exceptionally weighed opinion, through the Secretary of Defense William Perry, who recently visited FYROM."

The Assistant Secretary of State also reminded that a similar suggestion had been made by the US representative to the UN Madeleine Allbright.

FYROM authorities have formally requested that the UN mandate be extended beyond its expiration date of May 31.

[14] CYPRUS SPECIAL ENVOY WAS APPOINTED BY UN SECRETARY-GENERAL

In statements given to the cypriot state-owned radio station RIK, Mr. Bowcher said that the choice was made by the UN Secretary- General himself.

[15] STATEMENTS BY THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE COMMENTS MADE BY JOHN MAJOR REGARDING CYPRUS' EU MEMBERSHIP

Mr.Major had said that Britain supports Cyprus' accession into the European Union but it would be better if before the accession there was an effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Kasoulidis said that the position of the EU, as it was presented by External Relations Commissioner Hans Van den Broek, has now been clarified, namely, that Cyprus can become an EU member before the solution of the Cyprus problem, but the solution of the problem before the accession is desirable.

The cypriot government spokesman also stated that Cyprus will continue to cooperate with the greek government aiming at achieving the EU membership.

[16] KOZLODUI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ON EARTH, SAYS GREENPEACE

Greenpeace members stated that four of the six plant's reactors are of outdated technology and similar to those used in Chernobyl.

According to the report, should a nuclear accident occur at Kozlodui, the repercussions for Greece will be one hundred times fold.

"In the case of a nuclear accident, 132,000 persons may die from cancer in Greece, while the total cost for taking emergency measures will rise to 36 trillion drachmas," Greenpeace stated.

[17] BULGARIAN OFFICIALS REJECTED GREENPEACE'S APPEAL TO CLOSE THE KOZLODUI NUCLEAR PLANT

Yesterday, Greenpeace called Bulgaria to close the nuclear plant, which is located near river Danube at the borders with Romania, maintaining that an accident can happen in its antiquated reactors.

Bulgaria has already received credits from the European Union and other european organizations in order to improve the security levels of the nuclear plant, which supplies the whole country with electric power.

Bulgarian Atomic Energy Committee Chairman Yianko Yianev stated that Greenpeace has no responsibility for any of its decisions but "we are responsible for the (atomic energy) security and for supplying the necessary electric power to the bulgarian people". Speaking to reporters, he also stated that he deeply respects Greenpeace and said that it has the right to make an appeal for measures it regards as appropriate.

Bulgarian Energy Committee Chairman Kostantin Rusinov in an interview to the state television last night, stated that Bulgaria can not survive without this nuclear plant, which produces half of the electricity used in the country, pointing out that the bulgarian economy depends largely on the industries with large electric power consumption.

[18] TANSU CILLER TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE TURKEY'S INTERPARLIAMENTARY INTERROGATORS

The proposal to bring Ms. Ciller before an Examining Committee was brought to the turkish Parliament by Mr. Erbacan's islamic opposition Welfare Party.

It was reported that 232 parliamentarians voted for Ciller's recall, 179 against.

[19] TURKEY WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE ITS WATER SUPPLY TO SYRIA AND IRAQ

In a press conference, mr.Nurkan said that this had happened and in the past adding that the reduction in the water supply will take place during the muslim holiday of the Sucrifice next week, adding that the iraqi and the syrian authorities have already been informed on the turkish decision.

According to official sources, the water supply will be reduced to 200 cubic meters per second and the normal flow will be restored after the muslim holiday.

Based on the agreement signed by Ankara and Damascus in 1987, Turkey has to supply Syria with 500 cubic meters per second even though Syria demands more increased water supply in order to cover its needs.

Responding to a question by a reporter on whether there is a connection between the water supply reduction and the strict warning launched last Sunday by turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, which was targeting mainly Syria, mr.Nurkan said that he does not believe that there will be a problem between Turkey and Syria regarding the Euphrates waters.

Mr.Nurkan said that Syria by raising this issue to an international level attempts to cover up its support toward the kurdish PKK party, stressing that terrorism can not be used in any way as political means.

Turkish Prime Minister Yilmaz, during his tour last Sunday to the Hatai province at the borders with Syria, had launched a strict warning to a neighbouring country (without naming it) which "provides shelter in its territory" to PKK and "cooperates with it in order to achieve Turkey's partition".

[20] YUGOSLAVIA AND ROMANIA RECONFIRM THEIR GOOD RELATIONS

Expressing Yugoslavia's high appreciation on Romania's stand, Milutinovic stressed that the agreement is a comprehesive and very important one for the future cooperation between Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Romania in all the fields, such as security, economy, environment and culture.

"We have stated that permanent friendship and good neighborly relations are a powerful basis for a further successful development of Yugoslav-Romanian relation and cooperation.We have agreed on a great importance of continuous political dialogue at all levels and have agreed that this dialogue be intensified," said the Yugoslav Minister.

The document also defines that the Romanian community in Yugoslavia and the ethnic Serb community in Romania have always been a bridge of cooperation and friendship between two countries.

Milutinovic underlined that Belgrade fully appreciates Romania's objective and constructive efforts for a peaceful, lasting and just political solution in the former Yugoslavia as well as Romania's readiness to urge Yugoslavia's speedy reintegration into international and regional institutions and organizations.

"The promotion of good neighbourly relations is in the interest of all countries in the region and Europe and it can be successful only if regional countries participate in it on an equal footing," the Yugoslav Foreign Minister said.

Romanian President Ion Iliescu and the President of the RF Yugoslavia Zoran Lilic will officially sign the agreement in Belgrade soon.

[21] ROMANIA AND YUGOSLAVIA SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS FOR BOSNIA'S RECONSTRUCTION

During the second conference of the donor countries for the reconstruction of B-H, held recently in Brussels, Romania, who suffered substantial losses as a result of the international embargo, expressed its interest to identify ways of securing the stability and to develop cooperation in south-eastern Europe, Romanian public radio reported.

According to Milutinovic, Romania and Yugoslavia consider a consistent and full implementation of the Dayton agreement as a priority and that the timely holding of democratic and fair elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina is also important for the stability and final success of the peace process.

Romania and Yugoslavia agreed on the fact that the international community must have an impartial approach to all sides in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"We agreed that such an approach was necessary also in the implementation of the basic agreement on Eastern Slavonia and Srem- Baranja region," Milutinovic said.

[22] BULGARIA, ROMANIA TO SIGN A DRAFT AGREEMENT ON NUCLEAR INCIDENTS COOPERATION

"I was assured by the Romanian side that they are ready to work late into the night if it is necessary so that we draft the agreement and, hopefully, sign it on Wednesday," the Chairman of the Bulgarian side of the Commission Deputy Minister of Environment Yoncho Pelovski told journalists.

Mr. Pelovski, reminding that Bulgaria signed a similar agreement with Greece, announced that Bulgaria will soon sign such an agreement with Turkey.

Another issue to be discussed on the working meeting of the Bulgarian-Romanian intergovernmental commission on cooperation in environmental protection is the information exchange about nuclear facilities.

[23] BULGARIA AND GERMANY TO COOPERATE ON BOSNIA'S RECONSTRUCTION

"Interest has been shown in Bulgaria's experience, mainly in civil construction projects and in the construction of infrastructure," Glavanakov told after he and his intelocutor discussed the prospects for joint participation of the two states in the reconstruction of Bosnia.

[24] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL VISIT BELGRADE IN MAY

In an article titled "Courageous in the Convoy" the weekly summarizes the past five years of the German-Yugoslav relations, with the major events the end of 1991, the recognition of Slovenia and Croatia, and the recent Government session in Bonn, when the decision on normalizations of the relations with the FR Yugoslavia was adopted.

The article reproaches German diplomacy for being in the front line by the end of 1991, while now it is "somewhere in the golden middle".

"Spiegel" writes that the Chief of German diplomacy is striving to obtain for the actual German policy in the Balkan the status of "an honorable mediator."

The decision on normalizing the relations with FR Yugoslavia has "first of all a political dimension", "Spiegel" is quoting Chancellor Kohl as saying.

[25] FIFTY THOUSAND REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED TO BOSNIA SINCE DAYTON

Included are 20,000 Serbs who returned to Mrkonjic Grad and Sipovo in southwestern Bosnia, and 15,000 Muslims who returned to Bihac.

Petersen turns the public opinion's attention to the UNHCR's main problem. That is, according to Petersen, the refugees are not permitted by any side to return to places they would form an ethnic minority, apparently in order to maintain the results of the "ethnic cleansing."

"Local authorities everywhere have regularly obstructed UNHCR attempts to organize visits for refugees to their homes," Petersen said.

[26] VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN KOSOVO

The killing of a 20-year-old Albanian student by a Serb civilian in Pristina on April 21 has sparked several shootings in all of Kosovo. One woman was killed during an incident involving the police near Kosovska Mitrovica, and one officer was murdered in front of the police station in Shtimalj. The worst incident happened in Dechani, where a disguised person opened fire in a Serbian hotel, killing three persons and wounding others.

The police arrested the Serb suspect, who fired a deadly shot at the Albanian student from the fifth floor of an apartment house. The suspect stated that he thought the Albanian was stealing his car.

[27] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY         BUY        SELL        FIXING
ECU              299.2940   298.3960    300.1920
U.S. Dollar      242.0400   241.3140    242.7660
Deutsche Mark    159.0940   158.6170    159.5710
UK Sterling      366.6100   365.5100    367.7100
French Franc      47.0990    46.9580     47.2400
Swedish Crown     35.9400    35.8320     36.0480
Danish Kroner     41.2530    41.1290     41.3770
Norwegian Crown   37.0400    36.9290     37.1510
Italian Lira      15.5665    15.5200     15.6130
Swiss Franc       35.9400   195.7010    196.8790
Spanish Peseta     1.9172     1.9114      1.9230
Finnish Mark      50.1500    50.0000     50.3000
Yen              226.6150   225.9350    227.2950

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