MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (14/05/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki May 14, 1996

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS WANTS TO PROMOTE NATIONAL UNITY

President Stephanopoulos referred to the Greek Constitution and stated that the head of state has ethical rights, rather than legal ones. He pointed out that in order to achieve national unity, the President's role is to harmonize communication between the parties.

Responding to other questions, President Stephanopoulos stated that while Greece accepts Turkey's accession to the European Union, it is other EU member -states who object to its inclusion. "Greece merely wants for Turkey not to harass us," the President stated.

Also, referring to the FYROM name issue, President Stephanopoulos stated that during his meeting with US president Bill Clinton, he requested that the American leader exert pressure on Skopje to accept a name change.

[02] PRESIDENT IN CHICAGO TO MEET GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY LEADERS

In Chicago this evening, the President will attend a function hosted in his honor by the Presidents of the International and Regional Councils of Greeks Abroad (Mr. Athens and Mr. Tomaras respectively) and will be given an address by Chicago Mayor Richard Tarley.

In Sacramento yesterday, his second-to-last stop of his official state visit to the US, the President met with California Governor Pete Wilson and city Mayor Joe Cerna, who granted Mr. Stephanopoulos the city's key.

Prior to departing for Illinois, the President visited Sacramento's Greek research facility Vryonis Center and met with its founder Spyros Vryonis.

Also yesterday, during his Los Angeles visit, President Stephanopoulos gave a speech on the situation in Greece and the Balkans at the Council of World Affairs before an audience that comprised mostly American government officials and Greek-American academics.

In his speech, President Stephanopoulos stated that regarding greek-turkish relations, US President Bill Clinton is "hesitant in taking a position since both countries are US allies and the State Department is opting for keeping the balances."

On the issue of greek-american economic cooperation, the President stated that Greece would like to see cooperation between american and greek businesses in the Balkans and the greater region, to the benefit of both sides. The President stated that there are excellent opportunities for cooperation with Amercian businessemen in Greece and the Balkans.

On the cypriot issue, President Stephanopoulos pointed out that the turkish government is not making any concessions and is not enforcing any of the United Nations resolutions. Moreover, he emphasized that while prior to Cyprus' invasion by Turkey the Turk-Cypriots living on the island amounted to 18 per cent and the Greek-Cypriots were 82 per cent, Ankara is now speaking of equal communities on Cyprus.

Referring to relations between Greece and Albania, the President stated that the Tirana government does not recognize all of the rights of the greek minority living in Albania, although, as Mr. Stephanopoulos stated, he had personally received relevant promises from Albanian President Sali Berisha.

Responding to a question posed by the Macedonian Press Agency, President Stephanopoulos stated that he was greatly satisfied and moved by the contacts he made with the Greeks living in the US, pointing out that his visit's primary aim was to meet with the Greeks abroad, which is the reason why he was accompanied by the Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos, who is also responsible for issues of Greeks abroad.

Referring to his contacts with US government officials, the President characterized them as "satisfactory", noting that everything was held "on a friendly level" and made special references to the needs of Greeks abroad, focusing on the area of improving the teaching of the greek language, as well as the need for more comprehensive coverage by the greek television throughout the US.

President Stephanopoulos will stay in Chicago until tomorrow and will return to Athens on May 16.

[03] CYPRUS-EUROPEAN UNION ASSOCIATION COUNCIL TO BE HELD TODAY

During today's Association Council, the "15" will adopt a common position according to which those decisions drawn on March 6, 1995, -which referred to Turkey's Customs Union and to the start of negotiations regarding Cyprus' accession- were agreed upon within the framework of an all-inclusive discussion and not a compromise.

Turkey hopes to receive hundreds of million of dollars from the MEDA aid program that is set to provide ECU 8,4 billion to 12 mediterranean countries.

The Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, has stated that the lifting of Greece's veto on this funding is depended upon Athens receiving a satisfactory statement from Ankara regarding the turkish claims in the Aegean Sea.

[04] GERMAN DELEGATION MEETS WITH MINISTER OF MACEDONIA THRACE

The 25-member delegation, representing the German union organization "Arbeit und Leben Organization", met with Macedonia -Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos this morning, and was briefed on the recent political and economic developments in Greece as well as the country's relations with the other European Union member-states.

The german visitors expressed pronounced interest regarding the FYROM name issue, and expressed their understanding of the Greek positions in the matter.

During their meeting with the Minister, the union representatives were briefed on the greek-turkish relaitons and on for the development projects currently undergoing in Northern Greece.

[05] INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI

The participants will discuss the involvement of women in the centers of power, the mass media, culture and the environment. Also, will be discussed and the topic "Women in the Mediterranean and the Balkans".

The conference participants will examine issues concerning the promotion of equal opportunities for both sexes in Greece, the challenges and prospects and the quality of life in Greece today, the possibilities offered in Europe for the strengthening of the position of women in the mediterranean countries, the economic conditions for the working women and the reponsibilities of women in the protection of the environment.

Among the speakers are included, ms.Fr.Mulfinger, member of the European Commission General Directorate V equal opportunity department, ms.L.Castellina and ms.M.Banotti president and vice- president of the European Parliament Culture, Youth, Education and Mass Media Committee, ms.Fr.Bennasar Tours Euro-Deputy and vice- president of the European Parliament Committee on the Women's Rights and vice-president of the same committee ms.A.Fouque, greek Parliament deputies Marietta Koutsikou-Yiannakou and Fanny Petralia President of the Inter-Balkan Women's Association and also President of UNESCO for women and Thessaloniki's Aristotle University professors ms.Mika Haritou-Fatourou and ms.Anna Panagiotarea.

[06] ALL THE EUROPEAN MAYORS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI IN THE PRESENCE OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JACQUES SANTER

Mayor of Kolon mr.Norbert Burger will be the president of the committee which will deal with the issue of the necessary pre- conditions for the development of the regions, while the mayors of Geneva mr.Alain Vaissade and Gijon mr. Vicente Alvarez will participate in the proceedings of the conference on the environment.

President of the Association of Local Authorities in Scotland, mr.North Lonark and Vienna's vice-mayor mr.Hannes Swoboda will participate in the discussions focusing on the challenges of an information-based society.

The culture of local and regional self-government will be a separarte topic of discussions in a special meeting presided over by Thessaloniki's mayor mr.Konstantinos Kosmopoulos. In the same meeting will participate Valencia's mayor ms.Rita Barbera Nolla and also, Lauzanne's mayor ms.Yvette Jaggi.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is the European section of of the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA) founded in 1951. Is an organisation voluntarily set up by european local and regional authorities. Today, it numbers over 100.000 local and regional authorities, federated together in 38 large National Associations in 25 European countries.Thus, CEMR is the largest representative organisation of local and regional authorities in Europe.

[07] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS' INTERVIEW TO THE TURKISH NEWSPAPER "ZAMAN"

The Ecumenical Patriarch stated that the negative picture the turkish public opinion has for the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the result of prejudices and religious fanaticism. He also went on by saying, that the fact the Patriarchate followed a policy of silence for years contributed to the strengthening of anti- Patriarchate views in the turkish public opinion and in the past years efforts are being made to overcome this situation. Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos stressed that the greek minority's most important right, the turkish state must respect, is the reopening of the Theology School in Halki. He explained that provided the members of the greek minority fulfil their obligations to the state, the state must respect their rights without discrimation.

He said that the Patriarchate does not wish to enter politics because this is against the rules of Orthodoxy, while he added that friendship and cooperation will be for the benefit of both countries.

[08] UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS VANDALIZED A GREEK ORTHODOX CEMETERY ON THE ISLAND OF HALKI

According to the turkish newspaper "Yeni Yuzyil", the responsibility for this action possibly belongs to supporters of Alpaslan Turkes' ultra-nationalist MHP party.

The newspaper report signed by Murat Inzeoglu, points out that life for minorities in Turkey is hard and their members are forced to leave the country as a result of the oppression they suffer. He mentions that "certain turks do not want to leave the minority in peace not even in the grave", stressing that the turkish people do not show anymore the old tolerance toward the Greeks and the Armenians living in the Pringiponisa (Prince Islands) near Bosporus.

[09] THE NEW BORDER CROSSING AGII SARANTA-IGUMENITSA OPENS SOON AT THE GREEK-ALBANIAN BORDERS

According to mr.Demi, the construction of the Customs facilities and the improvement of the region's road network will begin this month.

Part of the construction budget will be covered by the community programmes for cross-border cooperation.

[10] THE EMIRATES AIRLINE ANNOUNCED A NEW FLIGHT LINKING ATHENS AND DUBAI

"Emirates" Airline President Sheik Ahmet Bin Saed al Maktum stated in the press conference that new roads for tourism and trade are opened for Greece leading to the Middle East and the Persian Gulf countries.

The Athens-Dubai flight will last four hours and the passengers will be able to use fax machines, personal computers and telephone service, while all the seats will have their own video.

[11] GREEK CINEMA DIRECTOR HAILED AS THE BEST IN EUROPE

"A marvelous mixture of the ancient and the modern, comedy and tragedy, personal and political, is what makes Greek cinema one of the most competitive in the international scene," MacSorley said.

During Ottawa's currently ongoing Festival of Greek Cinema, the two Greek films that were shown were Antonis Kokkinos' "Telos Epohis" and Mihalis Kakoyiannis "Stella".

[12] GREEK SOCCER TEAMS ARE BARRED FROM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

FIFA informed the Greek Soccer Federation that based on article 43 paragraph 2 of its charter, both the greek national soccer team and the rest greek teams do not have the right to compete in international events.

FIFA's letter concerns the harmonization of the Greek Soccer Federation charter with the international regulations, which hasn't been done yet because the greek state rejected the charter adopted by the Greek Soccer Federation General Assembly in November 1994.

After many "ultimatums" and deadlines issued by FIFA, the latest of which ended on May 10th, FIFA apparently carried out its threats and barred the greek soccer from all international events until further notice.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] CYPRUS RESPONDING POSITIVELY TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S CONDITIONS

According to assurances issued by the two Committees of Relatives of the Missing in Cyprus, the classification of the cases in the framework of the International Investigation Committee, as Mr.Ghali has suggested, will not undermine the investigation itself, but instead will ease the process.

[14] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT CYPRUS IN JUNE

The new special representative has already met with UN Secretary General assistant Marak Goulding, his predecessor John Clark and US Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum, who briefed him on the developments concerning the Cyprus issue.

Responding to the question, if mr.Kornblum mentioned to him what form the US initiative will have, mr.Chan said that he did not get the impression that the United States have a specific plan and stressed that coordination with the United Nations is necessary.

[15] THE MINISTERS' SUMMIT ON EUROPE'S CULTURAL HERITAGE WILL BE HELD IN HELSINKI ON MAY 30-31

This summit, the first of its kind, aims at forming a new strategy for the preservation of the european heritage, stressing that this heritage is making a special contribution to peace and security in Europe.

After the formal opening of the Summit by Council of Europe Secretary-General mr.D.Tarschys the European ministers will participate in a discussion with basic topic "The cultural heritage,economic and social challenge".

The discussions will focus on the ethics of the cultural heritage, the socio-economic consequences and the tourism strategies.

Also, an appeal will be made for the preservation of the cultural heritage in Bosnia and Croatia, while specific actions of solidarity toward those countries will be adopted.

In the summit will participate 44 countries, signatories of the European Cultural Convention, while the United States, Canada, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will attend as observers.

[16] THE OUTCOME OF YESTERDAY'S EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING WAS VERY SATISFACTORY, STATED THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT

Meanwhile, cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulidis stated that the problems concerning the declaration of the "15" have been overcomed and stressed that Greece's EU membership facilitates Cyprus' accession course.

[17] BULGARIA'S ECONOMIC SITUATION VERY STRAINED , ACCORDING TO IMF

According to the Bulgarian President's economic advisor, Ms. MacGerk characterized the economic situation in Bulgaria as one that is "especially difficult" and emphasized the need to immediately start economic restructural changes in the country.

Meanwhile, according to reports, 67 state-owned Bulgarian businesses in the red will have to close their doors, as the government is moving towards promoting privatization, following decisions drawn during a weekend-held ministerial council.

"Bulgaria is facing the danger of a complete economic destabilization if the party (Socialist Party) does not support the urgent governmental measures," stated the Bulgarian Premier Zan Videnov.

According to the bulgarian daily "24 Hours", the application of these new measures will lead to a 1.1% increase in the unemployment rate, which will rise to 13.5 per cent from the current 12.4% rate.

The bulgarian national currency lev slid downward at an unprecedented rate last week , hitting 150 leva to the dollar on Saturday, whereas ten days ago it broke the barrier of 100 leva to the dollar.

[18] BBC FACE TO FACE WITH ROMANIAN OFFICIALS FROM THE AUDIOVISUAL FIELD

BBC World Service mentioned in its yesterday's news, that the Romanian ruling party, PDSR, have asked for limitations on BBC broadcasts owing to their impartial stands on Romanian electoral campaign. Representatives of Romanian opposition stated that the accusations have no justification. A BBC spokesman said the station described the electoral campaign in Romania with the same obiectivity and impartiality as it always does.

The argument began on May 4 when, during an electoral meeting in Ploiesti, the executive chairman of PDSR Adrian Nastase expressed the opinion that BBC is meddling in the Romanian election campaign by favouring the political opposition.

"Great Britain is not a county of Romania", and "BBC should tell Romanians what is going on in Great Britain and in the world, not in Romania," Adrian Nastase said. He also stressed that the Romanian National Audiovisual Council (CNA) should thoroughly examine that aspect and take a decision on authorising private radio stations to re-broadcast BBC programmes. In a related matter, Deutsche Welle reported that Adrian Nastase described the BBC Romanian service's comments as "tendentious" and "prejudicial to PDSR", but "favourable to the opposition."

Few days later, the CNA decided to hear the director of the Romanian BBC service Cristian Mititelu concerning the allegations made by the PDSR executive chairman on the breaching of legal provisions by the BBC. According to CNA leader, Titus Raveica, the Romanian law on audiovisual and the CNA rules forbid broadcasting stations to take partisan position in their programmes. Rejecting Mr. Nastase's allegations, Mr. Mititelu said the current incident is a test on CNA's impartiality.

Besides Romanian and international media, this argument called President Iliescu's attention. He said the BBC was the only foreign station with numerous programmes broadcast locally and therefore it should attach "more importance to objectivity." Moreover, President Iliescu, in a mediation attempt, said Romania should possibly use the BBC's stations to promote and make known its position, adding that the matter was one of "reciprocity."

In an interview with Radio Free Europe, Professor Razvan Theodorescu, member of CNA and former president of Romanian public Television, expressed some personal opinions emphasizing that criticism was not directed against BBC as a whole, recognized for its accurancy and deontology, but against journalists working at the Romanian service - "people who grew up on Dimbovitsa's banks and not on Tames's and they have inhaled the labile and passionate air from here" - and the way they abide BBC's rules.

Besides all this, Rador reported and the case of a BBC freelance reporter from the Romanian city of Cluj, Liviu Man, which is analysed by the "Reporters sans Frontieres" organization. The case was publicized after the reporter received anonymous threats. The secretary-general of "Reporters sans Frontieres" sent a letter to Romanian President Ion Iliescu, urging him to initiate an investigation about the case, and expressing hope that Romanians citizens would not be deprived of the possibility of listening to the BBC programmes.

[19] AN ALTERNATIVE TO NATO'S ENLARGEMENT

That would be the creation of a denuclearised zone between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, including former Soviet republics, the Baltic states, the three nations forming the Vishegrad Group - Belarus, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

Asked to comment on the proposal, Ioan Mircea Pascu, state secretary in the Romanian Defense Ministry, said it could be reckoned as an attempt to promote a concept of a neutral zone between NATO and Russia and the idea of a political, not military integration of those countries into the Atlantic Alliance, Rador reported.

[20] GAGAUZI MOVEMENT IN SOUTH MOLDOVA INTEND TO CREATE A UNION

While the former Soviet Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence, the Gagauzi minority which, according to some theories are Orthodox Turks living in south Moldova, in Romanian region of Dobrudja and in Bulgaria, have set up a movement parallel with the Transdnestrian leaders aiming to proclaim their own republic.

The document reads that now there are the prerequisites of the creation of a unique Bessarabia on its historical territory, called Bessarabia's Peoples Community. This union would have its own Constitution, flag, anthem while the Moldovan language would be decided by every town. This union, including 16 southern districts of both Moldova and Ukraine, will observe the sovereignty of two countries.

So far, the central authorities in Chisinau have not commented on the move.

[21] A ROMANIAN FILM WILL CONTEST THE PALM D'OR TROPHEE

[22] INTER-BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN EARLY JUNE

During the meeting will be discussed measures for the strengthening of security in the Balkans, the participation of the Balkan countries in infrastructure projects, the expansion of trade relations and investments and also measures against crime, terrorism and drugs.

According to the bulgarian newspaper, Slovenia refused to participate in the meeting, while Croatia will attend as an observer.

[23] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY          FIXING       BUY        SELL
ECU              298.1800   297.2850    299.0750
U.S. Dollar      243.0400   242.3110    243.7690
Deutsche Mark    158.4520   157.9770    158.9270
UK Sterling      368.6500   367.5440    369.7560
French Franc      46.8100    46.6700     46.9500
Swedish Crown     35.9700    35.8620     36.0780
Danish Kroner     41.0490    40.9260     41.1720
Norwegian Crown   36.9420    36.8310     37.0530
Italian Lira      15.6430    15.5960     15.6900
Swiss Franc      194.3400   193.7570    194.9230
Spanish Peseta     1.9014     1.8957      1.9071
Finnish Mark      51.2050    51.0510     51.3590
Yen              231.1200   230.4270    231.8130

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