MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (29/04/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, April 29, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER MET WITH HIS COUNTERPART FROM LUXEMBURG

The two Prime Ministers discussed mainly issues concerning the European Union, the role of the European Parliament, the developments on the economic and the monetary union as well as the greek-turkish relations.

In statements he made after the meeting, mr.Simitis said that regarding the greek-turkish relations, Luxemburg's Prime Minister believes that International Law must be implemented, while there should not be a threat of force in the relations with third countries and among European Union member states.

He also said that if there are any disputes they should be resolved in The Hague.

[02] THE GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF GREECE WILL ISSUE HIS ANNUAL REPORT ON THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY

According to information, he will point out that political and monetary fluidity create dangers and disturb the climate of stability necessary for the drop of inflation, and for keeping deficits and public debt under control.

Mr.Papadimos will also explain that the economic policy must continue in order to overcome the crisis that has been created through the rise of inflation and be able to move ahead with the EU convergence course.

He will also mention that the counter-inflationary policy should continue keeping public spending and deficits under control.

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT AND THE EU OFFERED THEIR UNRESERVED SUPPORT TO THE ASSOCIATION OF BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES

The support of the greek government and the European Union was conveyed by Minister of Transport and Communications mr.Charis Kastanidis and by Euro-Deputy and President of the Joint European Parliament Committee for Bulgaria's and Romania's association with the EU mr.Nikos Papakiriatzis during the opening of the Balkan News Agencies' Technical Directors meeting held today and tomorrow in Thessaloniki.

The greek Transport and Communications Minister expressed the belief that the European Union will support those efforts till the end and characterized as very useful the establishment of an Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) office in Brussels which will play a leading role in sending news from the European Union to the Balkan national news agencies through the Balkan News Bank in Thessaloniki.

The greek Minister of Transport and Communications characterized as an especially important step for the achievement of ABNA's targets the decisions made in Sofia last Friday by the Balkan Ministers of Communications and Postal Services. It was decided that they will meet at least once a year, while it was also decided and the formation of special Support Committees aiming at joint actions that will lead to the link up of the Balkan states telecommunications networks.

Euro-Deputy mr.Papakiriazis conveyed the EU's unreserved support to those efforts.

Next week, the General Directors of all the Balkan News Agencies will visit Brussels and will meet with members of the European Commission and the European Parliament aiming at promoting the DIAVLOS programme.

Opening the meeting today, Macedonian Press Agency's General Director Spyros Kouzinopoulos stated that through the development of cooperation, the Balkan News Agencies will be able to contribute to the restoration of the climate of peace, friendship and cooperation among the Balkan states. Macedonian Press Agency Chairman prof.Pavlos Petridis mentioned that MPA's activities will continue and intesify.

ABNA's Executive Secretary and General Director of bulgarian news agency BIP mr.Stefan Velev welcomed MPA's initiatives and activities which, as he said, have the unreserved support of all the Balkan national news agencies.

In the meeting participate the Technical Directors of the following Balkan national news agencies: ATA from Albania, BTA and BIP from Bulgaria, TANJUG from Yugoslavia, ANA and MPA from Greece, MPB from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, ROMPRES from Romania and ANADOLU from Turkey. Also, in the meeting participate the General Directors of bulgarian BIP and FYROM's MPB news agencies.

[04] STATEMENTS BY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE PANGALOS-GONENSAY MEETING IN BUCHAREST

He also reiterated that Ankara should make the first step by going to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, while he characterized as "positive element" the statements made by mr.Gonensay who maintained that the use of force should be avoided.

[05] AN AHEPA DELEGATION MET WITH THE MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE AND WITH THE MAYOR OF THESSALONIKI

In the meeting with mr.Petsalnikos views were exchanged on national issues and on problems concerning the greek communities abroad.

The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace briefed the delegation on the Cyprus problem, the problems caused by Turkey, the greek-skopjan relations and the issue of the name that will be used by FYROM. He also briefed them on the initiatives undertaken by the greek government for the support of the greek civilization and the teaching of the greek language abroad.

Chairman mr.Makris stated that AHEPA will continue the intense and coordinated efforts aimed at supporting the governments of the United States and Canada where there are large greek communities and also Greece's just positions.

AHEPA publishes a magazine distributed to 30.000 greek-american associations aiming at the better information of the greeks living abroad.

In the meetings, also participated and representatives of AHEPA's women's department "Daughters of Penelope".

[06] THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO NICOSIA MET CYPRIOT PRESIDENT KLIRIDIS

The above were stated by russian ambassador to Nicosia, Boris Zenkov after his meeting this morning with Cypriot President Kliridis.

Mr.Zenkov avoided to reveal the content of the russian proposal that was submitted during the informal meeting of the "5" in New York on April 17th.

He also said that nothing serious and effective happens regarding the Cyprus problem outside the framework of the United Nations and without the involvement of all five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Responding to questions by reporters, the russian ambassador denied information according to which, Russia has warned that it will exercise its veto power on the issue of the renewal of the international peace-keeping force mandate next June if there is no progress toward the solution of the Cyprus problem.

He also said that the recent agreement between Russia and Cyprus concerns issues of cooperation and information exchange on technical level, adding that it is not a military or defense agreement. Mr.Zenkov also said that a similar agreement has been signed with Greece too.

[07] TURKEY, FYROM AND ALBANIA WON'T PARTICIPATE IN BALKAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTER

On the contrary, the European and International Bank have expressed their interest for the Balkan Telecommunications Center, which was created by the Balkan region countries and hosts the participation of Cyprus and Moldavia.

Regarding Turkey's turning down the invitaiton to participate, according to the newspaper "Trud", the Turk Minister of Communications Mr. Tezman stated that his country maintains its known positions regarding Cyprus and that his government objects to the cypriot participation. Moreover, turkish representatives stated that their country intents to launch its own telecommunications satellite.

An agreement was reached following a lengthy discussion centered around a memorandum prepared by the Bulgarian Commission of Post Offices and Telecommunications regarding the fixing of long distance call prices.

Regarding long distance calls between Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, the president of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Organization stated that it will be reduced to the fixed ceiling of long distance calls.

"Our aim is that the calling costs between Sofia and Thessaloniki will be set at the same level as those of Sofia-Burgass, through digital phone lines," Mr. Danov stated.

The proposal to create a telecommunication bank was not brought up during this meeting.

[08] GREEK FURMAKERS LOOK FOR MARKETS IN THIRD COUNTRIES

Already, 60 percent of the production (which ten years ago surpassed $150 million annually) is exported to the former Soviet republic countries, China and Korea, while 40 percent is targeted at the traditional market of the EU member-states.

This turn towards the Soviet market was implemented since last year, following the first Greek-Russian Fur, Trade and Tourism Symposium, held in Kastoria as part of the city's 20th annual fur exhibit.

This year's fur exhibit will be held between May 6- 21 and will feature more than 130 participants from Greece and abroad.

According to the Furmakers' Association, Kastoria today produces approximately 800,000 fur pieces yearly, while the industry, in case of a market recovery, is capable of reaching 2 million pieces in annual production.

[09] NO OFFICIAL OBJECTIONS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE BLACK SEA COOPERATION CONFERENCE

[10] PRESIDENT GLIGOROV INSISTS ON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

In order to reconstruct the economies in the region, President Gligorov forwarded five items, that are : opened borders for free circulation of people, goods and ideas, mutual recognition between all the countries, support of the market reforms, access to the European and world markets and other economic and finance institutions and, finally, but not least, effective realisation of the reform-programmes in the region.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/