MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (01/05/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki May 1, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PRIME MINISTER TO TOUR EASTERN MACEDONIA AND THRACE

The Premier will speak at a conference to be held at Thrace's Demokritus University where he will expound on the country's new development program for the region.

Specifically, the Premier will refer to the new model of development for the municipality which is "not based on the traditional logic of provisions and promises that serve as compensation for their incompletion, but rather on the creation of structures, the improvement of living conditions and the training of the human factor, in order to attract investments."

Moreover, Mr. Simitis is expected to speak on the issue of minorities, as "the government believes that the inclusion of minorities in the process of economic and social development constitutes the most reliable path for the achievement of the economic, social and cultural cohesion in the region."

On Friday, The Premier will visit the municipalities of Xanthi and Kavala, and will participate in meetings with the local administration's representatives.

On Saturday motrning, Mr. Simitis will visit Drama and in the afternoon will travel by helicopter to the greek-bulgarian borders region in Evros, where he will give a speech on the trade opportunities that exist in the Balkan and Black Sea countries.

Mr. Simitis will be accompanied by the Ministers of: National Economy, Gerasimos Arsenis; Development, Vasso Papandreou; Environment, Kostas Laliotis; Health, A. Peponis; Public Order, Kostas Geitonas; Macedonia-Thrace, Philippos Petsalnikos; and the Under-Ministers of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization L. Papadimas; National Economy, Christos Pachtas; Education G. Pashalides; Athletics A. Fouras; and Agriculture A. Fotiades.

[02] MAY DAY EVENTS WERE HELD IN THESSALONIKI

Thessaloniki's Workers' Center Chairman Ilias Kontopoulos stressed in his speech the need to create a wide national front with the participation of the government and the political parties for a more successful promotion of the national issues. He also called for the end of the austerity policy while he said that a new policy should be promoted based on regional development and decentralization and aimed at bringing economic development and dealing more effectively with unemployment.

Mr.Kontopoulos also said that the workers' movement will strengthen its claiming character calling for a policy that will support the workers, the people and the country, while it will also defend peace and cooperation among the peoples of the region. He also said that the labour movement is determined to protect the national interests and the inviolability of the borders.

[03] THE BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES ADOPTED THE "DIAVLOS" PROGRAMME HAMMERED OUT BY MPA FOR THEIR SATELLITE CONNECTION

According to the declaration, the DIAVLOS programme for the establishment of a satellite communications network connecting all the Balkan news agencies with Thessaloniki has already become an integral part of ABNA. Also, it was decided that in the next meeting of ABNA's General Directors should be discussed the establishment of an ABNA office in Brussels, as it is provided by the DIAVLOS programme.

The Technical Directors of the Balkan news agencies met with Minister of Macedonia-Thrace mr.Phillipos Petsalnikos who expressed the greek government's unreserved backing and support to the activities of the Balkan News Agencies, which as he said, will help the Balkan peoples to further improve their relations while they will also help in restoring the climate of friendship and peace in the region.

Minister Petsalnikos had separate talks with every Balkan news agency delegation and heard with great interest the proposal made by ABNA's Executive Secretary and Chairman of Bulgarian news agency BIP, mr.Stefan Velev for the organizing of meetings between Bulgaria's and northern Greece's business world after an initiative of the news agencies operating in those countries.

Macedonian Press Agency General Director mr.Spiros Kouzinopoulos announced after the end of the Technical Directors' meeting that in the second half of 1997, when MPA will hold ABNA's rotating presidency, two conferences of great interest will be held in Thessaloniki, namely a National Balkan News Agencies Conference and a European News Agencies Conference.

In ABNA's Technical Directors meeting that was held in Thessaloniki participated Greece's ANA and MPA, Bulgaria's BTA and BIP, Albania's ATA, Jugoslavia's TANJUG, Romania's ROMPRES, Turkey's ANADOLU and FYROM's MPB. The national news agencies of Slovenia and Bosnia participating in ABNA as observers expressed interest in taking part in the initiatives undertaken by MPA.

[04] INTERNATIONAL, DEMOCRATIC UNIONS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI

The Conference will last four days and discussions are expected to center on issues addressing the European organizational development and the international conservative and liberal parties.

The three presidents will give a joint press conference on May 3.

[05] THE DRAFT LAW FOR THE WATERS OF RIVER NESTOS WAS APPROVED BY THE RESPONSIBLE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

As it was announced, next week a special committee will be formed which will observe and monitor the implementation of the terms of the agreement on a permanent basis regarding the contruction of the necessary projects.

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Romeos stressed that this agreement serves the greek national interests and at the same time it allows for the unobstructed development process in important sectors of the economies of the two countries.

[06] BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION TO CONTINUE

Speaking to Sofia's "Standard" newspaper, Mr. Doudoumis emphasized the project's significance, whose length is 275 kilometers and whose cost is estimated at $650 million.

"This oil pipeline", the diplomat stated, "will put an end to the oil transport monopoly through Bosporus and the Dardanelles, while the Alexandroupolis port will be transformed into a huge Mediterranean basin."

The pipeline's projected annual production capacity is estimated at approximately 30 million tons of petroleum.

Referring to the trade relations between Bulgaria and Greece, the trade attache stated that he is optimistic over the development.

"Five years ago greek exports to Bulgaria barely reached $50 million. Today this number has risen almost tenfold to $400 million," Mr. Doudoumis stated.

[07] GREEK TRADE MISSION WILL TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA

The South Africa market, despite its vast distance from Greece, is of special interest to the greek exporters since the political leadership as well as the South African business world have shown interest in Greece and leave room for further development of the trade and economic relations.

The greek products that can be promoted in South Africa are mechanical gadgets, electronics, fabric, marble, foodstuff, beverages, cement, fur, medical instruments, ready to wear garments, rugs, carpets, shoes and leather.

[08] INCREASED TRAFFIC NOTED AT THE GREECE-FYROM BORDERS

The relations between the two countries have improved and, as a result, it is expected that the number of people crossing the borders will return to the 1991 level, as it was prior to the Greece-imposed embargo on Skopje.

[09] GREEK EXPORTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND COSMETIC PRODUCTS INCREASE

In 1994, 2,033 tons of pharmaceutical products were exported, whose total value was ECU 62 million, while 8,048 tons of cosmetic products valued at ECU 23 million and 23,233 tons of detergent valued ar ECU 20 million were exported. These figures marked a slight increase in the value and volume of exports of these products, with the exception of cosmetics whose exports showed a slight increase in value but marked decrease in volume (17%).

The imports of these same products is currently at high levels and in 1994 rose to ECU 782 million, 17.10% higher than 1993.

European Union member-states, especially England, make up the most significant market for these greek products, while impressive quantities are exported to countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

[10] CHAMBER MUSIC CONTEST TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI

Taking part in this year's contest are musicians from Greece and Cyprus as well as Greeks living abroad and foreigners, especially from Germany and Austria.

Performing in the contest's first category for piano and violin, or viola and violincello will be five duets, while performing in the second category for piano and flute or oboe, clarinet, fagoto, will be 11 music duets.

The awards and the winners' recital will take place on May 16 at the John Vellides Conference Center at Thessaloniki's International Fairgrounds, thereby completing this year's 24 international music days cycle.

[11] PRESIDENT OF SAE MEETS WITH CANADA'S GREEK COMMUNITY

Mr. Athens stated that a political strategy is developing in Athens regarding Greece's national issues, which will be networked throughout the United States, Canada, Brussels and London in order to strengthen the country's position and to present these issues in an organized and successful manner.

Mr. Athens noted that Greek Premier Kostas Simitis enjoys a quite positive image in the States, following his visit there and added that the efforts put forth by SAE also helped in that direction. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] THREE KILLED AND 45 INJURED DURING MAY DAY IN CONSTANTINOPLE

The groups scheduled to participate in the marches had gathered since the early morning hours in the Hasan Pasha area of the city where the police had already settled. The clash erupted when a group refused to submit to police inspection resulting in six people being injured, two of whom are policemen, while two others were shot and killed.

The march that followed was marked by successive clashes between protesters and police, where eight citizens and two policemen were wounded. The protesters threw molotof-type bombs at the National Action Party (MCP) offices, setting the premises on fire.

At the railroad station Soutlu Tsesme, another altercation between protesters and police resulted in extensive vandalism.

Meanwhile, the turkish labor unions that organized another march in the city's european section, honored the 34 persons who lost their lives during May Day of 1977.

[13] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFKOS CLERIDES TO VISIT ATHENS

Within this framework, the two governments are also forming a common strategy in light of a new american initiative which is expected to be anounced during the following months.

President Clerides and President Stefanopoulos will discuss the developments on Monday afternoon and will exchange points of view on the cypriot issue in general.

The following day, President Kostis Stefanopoulos will depart for the US where he will meet in the White House with US President Bill Clinton, whose discussion will center on the greek-turkish issues as well as Cyprus.

On May 9, President Clerides will meet in Athens with Premier Kostas Simitis with whom he will conduct a review of the cypriot situation, as it is shaped following his meeting with President Clinton and the talks he held in Athens, Ankara and Nicosia with the US Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum.

[14] HAN SUNG JU TAKES ON HIS POST IN CYPRUS TODAY

Prior to taking on his new duties, Mr. Ju held meeting in Washington and New York with various US State Department officials who are involved in the cypriot issue solution process.

[15] AHEPA DELEGATION ARRIVES IN CYPRUS TODAY

Mr. Makris stated that the delegation will be briefed on the latest developments in the cypriot issue, in order to strengthen its US-based efforts to solve the problem.

He added that AHEPA has pressured the US government on various occassions, although not always successfully since it was faced with Washington's special interests.

The AHEPA Chairman also stated that he will seek the cooperation from the new Assistant Secretary of the State Department John Kornblum.

In Cyprus, the delegation will be received by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and wil meet with the Foreign Minister Alekos Mihaelides, the President of Parliament Alexis Galanos and Archishop Chrysostomos.

[16] THE SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM MUST COME FROM GREECE, TURKEY, AND THE TWO COMMUNITIES IN CYPRUS, SAID MR. BAUCHER

Commenting on the statements made by UN Secretary- General special representative in Cyprus according to which there is a long standing stagnation in the Cyprus problem, mr.Baucher stated that he found mr.Feysel's statements pesimistic.

Regarding the statement by US Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum that there is good will for the solution of the Cyprus problem, he pointed out that in order to have an agreement the interested parties must not only state that they are ready for an agreement but that they want an agreement and are ready to do anything necessary in order to be achieved.

The Cypriot President commenting on the statements made by the US Ambassador said that the United States have understood completely that the road toward the solution of the Cyprus problem can not open unless Turkey changes its way of thinking and its positions regarding the issue.

[17] THE HEAD OF THE GREEK LIAISON OFFICE IN SKOPJE MET WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SKOPJAN PARLIAMENT

In the meeting were exchanged views on the political situation in the sensitive Balkan region, while both men said that bilateral relations in the economic sector are developing in a satisfactory pace.

They also discussed the possibility of cooperation between the Parliaments of the two countries.

[18] NUDE STATUES IN L.A.'S OLYMPIC STADIUM CONSIDERED PROVOCATIVE

This rift has not gone unnoticed by the international media. The London Times daily has mocked the ado by reminding that during the ancient Olympic Games athletes competed in the nude.

The front-page article states that despite the fact the the Olympic Flame symbolism may be anachronistic and based on myth, it nevertheless constitutes a powerful symbol of the ideal athlete, who aims to be faster, taller and stronger.

Upon leaving Los Angeles, torch-bearers will carry the Flame through a 42-American states marathon, covering a distance of 24,000 kilometers, before arriving at Atlanta's Olympic Stadium where the Summer Olympic Games will be held in July.

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/