MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (16/08/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 16, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS A FIRST PRIORITY FOR GREECE, STATED THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER

The Cyprus problem is a first priority issue for Greece stated greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis after the end of the extraordinary Governmental Committee (Inner Cabinet) meeting held in Athens today, while he added that Greece will continue to offer its unreserved support to the Cypriot Republic and the hellenism in Cyprus until their struggle is vindicated.

The meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, was held in order to be discussed the situation that arose after the killing of two young greek-cypriots by turkish forces in the buffer zone in Cyprus on Sunday and Wednesday.

Mr.Simitis stated that one third of the population in Cyprus are still refugees in their own country, adding that Cyprus is the last divided country in Europe. He said that this painful reality, that was clearly seen in the past few days, shows that the efforts made within the framework of the United Nations for the solution of the Cyprus problem were not effective. He said that the international community has not displayed the necessary strength and will in order to give an end to the drama in Cyprus and in order to give a clear response to the turkish provocativeness.

Mr.Simitis stated that it must be made clear to the european and international communities that they have responsibilities and obligations. He said that especially, the European Union must realize that it has responsibilities and obligations much more now that the negotiations for Cyprus' accession into the EU are very close.

Regarding the resolution of the Cyprus problem and his visit to the island tomorrow, mr.Simitis underlined that a solution to the Cyprus problem can only be reached through peaceful efforts at the diplomatic level. He said that during his visit tomorrow will be discussed with the Cypriot government ways for the intensification of the diplomatic activity on international level, the denunciation of Turkey's behaviour, and the increase of the international pressures in order to persuade Turkey to comply with the UN resolutions and international law.

Mr.Simitis also said that his visit tomorrow will be a working visit with no formal character, adding that another visit will be held on October 1st which will be a formal one with the participation of many greek government members.

The greek Prime Minister stated that the Cyprus struggle is the struggle of the whole greek nation, adding that the close defence cooperation between Greece and Cyprus constitutes the factual realization of hellenism's support. Mr.Simitis stated that Greece will continue to offer its unreserved support to the Cypriot Republic and the cypriot hellenism until their struggle is vindicated.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[02] THE SECOND VICTIM OF THE TURKS IN THE UN BUFFER ZONE WILL BE BURIED TODAY IN CYPRUS

The second victim of the turks, 26yearold greek-cypriot Solomos Solomou, who was shot in cold blood by the turkish occupation forces in Derynia on Wednesday, will be buried in his home town of Paralimni this afternoon.

In the funeral the greek government will be represented by the Undersecretary of Education, mr.Paschalidis, while also present will be Political Spring party leader, mr.Samaras, mayor of Thessaloniki, mr.Kosmopoulos and the Communist Part Parliamentary spokesman, mr.Skilakos.

The Cypriot National Guard continues to be in a state of alert in order to avert the possibility of a new incident.

Meanwhile, cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis had separate meetings this morning with Greece's ambassador to Nicosia, Alexandros Sandis and with UN Secretary General Special Envoy to Cyprus, Gustav Feissel.

The greek ambassador stressed that with his visit to Cyprus greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis wants to express his support to the cypriot people. Mr.Sandis also stressed that the killings committed by the Denktash regime and the turkish occupation forces send a message to all those who had, have or wanted to have illusions about their true face.

Mr.Feissel in his statements stressed that he discussed with the Cypriot President ways for the easing of tensions, while he also said that today will also have a meeting with turkish-cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

[03] THE PRESENCE OF THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER IN CYPRUS PROVES GREECE'S SUPPORT, STATED THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

The visit of the greek Prime Minister to Cyprus at this moment of crisis and tension is a proof of Greece's support, stated today cypriot government spokesman, Yiannakis Kasoulidis referring to the presence of Prime Minister Simitis in tomorrow's meeting of the National Council in Cyprus.

Mr.Kasoulidis added that at this hour, the position of the cypriot government, in consultation with the greek government, is that calm and restraint should prevail.

[04] STATEMENTS OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL SPOKESWOMAN ON THE EVENTS IN CYPRUS

UN Secretary General spokeswoman, ms.Sylvana Foa stated today that UN Secretary General Special Envoy to Cyprus, mr.Gustav Feissel during the separate meetings he had with Cypriot President Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader Denktash, underlined the need to avert the repetition of similar events, like those that took place in the past week and had such a dramatic conclusion.

According to the UN Secretary General spokeswoman, mr.Feissel stated to both sides that it is the responsibility of the greek- cypriot and the turkish-cypriot authorities to stop demonstrators from crossing over the buffer zone.

The UN Secretary General spokeswoman also stated that the report on yesterday's events will be ready tomorrow or the day after, adding that yesterday the UN received the report on Sunday's clashes.

[05] CYPRUS PROTESTED STRONGLY TO THE UN CONDEMNING THE CRIMINAL ACTS OF THE TURKISH OCCUPATION FORCES

Permanent Representative of Cyprus in the United Nations, mr.Agathocleous protested strongly to the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council condemning the criminal acts of the turkish occupation forces.

In contacts he had with all the permanent members of the Security Council, the Security Council's President and the UN Secretary General advisers, mr.Agathocleous strongly condemned the criminal acts committed by the turks in the UN controlled buffer zone in Cyprus. From their part, the UN Security Council members and the UN high officials condemned the turkish acts pointing out that the buffer zone's integrity should be respected by all sides, while they called all parties involved to show restraint.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council found that the shooting and killing of the young greek-cypriot on Wednesday was unnecessary.

The permanent representative of Germany in the UN, who is currently the President of the UN Security Council, stated that after hearing the report of the UN Secretary General, the Security Council renounced the new incident in the UN controlled buffer zone.

The UN Security Council found that the incident was the result of the explosive situation in the buffer zone, which was impossible to be controlled by the greek-cypriots and was followed by the unnecessary shooting, as it was characterized by the UNFICYP commander, "of a person trying to bring down a flag".

The UN Security Council President also warned all sides to avoid further escalation of the violence and appealed to them to respect the buffer zone.

[06] BRITAIN CONDEMNED THE TURKISH-CYPRIOT REACTION TO THE EVENTS THAT STARTED IN THE BUFFER ZONE LAST WEEKEND

Britain condemned the reaction of the turkish-cypriots to the events that started in the UN controlled buffer zone last weekend, while appealed to both sides in Cyprus to show restraint.

In an interview to the BBC radio last night, Britain's mediator in Cyprus, Sir David Hannay stressed that in the present phase immediate priority has the adoption of measures that will lead to the re-establishment of confidence between the greek- cypriot and the turkish-cypriot communities, while he backed the implementation of regulations in the sector of security.

Mr.Hannay stated that the situation is difficult because between the two communities in the island there is bitterness and hostility, while there is also and the issue of security, clarifying that the presence of 34.000 turkish soldiers in the northern part of Cyprus creates a sense of insecurity to the greek- cypriots, while on the other hand, the armaments programmes of the greek-cypriots cause insecurity to the turkish-cypriots.

Mr.Hannay also said that it is not an unattainable goal for the two communities to start working for the solution of the problem based on the ideas proposed by the UN Secretary General.

[07] PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE KILLINGS IN CYPRUS WERE HELD IN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES

Protest demonstrations condemning the killing of the two young greek-cypriots were held by greek-cypriots in Britain and the United States, where in New York, the protesters were met with unusual police brutality.

In Britain, about 2.000 greeks, greek-cypriots and british rallied outside the turkish embassy in London and a delegation of the Cypriot National Federation in Britain, which was the demonstration's organizer, delivered a protest letter to the british Prime Minister's office calling for the stronger intervention of the british government in the current developments in Cyprus and also, in the efforts to stop the illegal occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by the turkish forces.

In the United States, over 1.000 greeks and greek-cypriots held a protest demonstration in front of the UN headquarters in New York, while a protest was also held and in front of Turkey's permanent mission in the United Nations. The New York police showed unsual brutality and attacked the peaceful protesters injuring 7, most of them women, while 4 demonstrators were arrested accused of resistance to authority.

As it was made known, two members of the US Congress, Bob Menentez and Eliot Engel, will give a press conference in the UN followed by the screening of a video tape showing the turkish atrocities in the buffer zone. Also, greek-american community members will meet with Assistant Secretary of State, John Kornblum and National Security Adviser, Samuel Berger.

Meanwhile, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has condemned the escalating aggression by the turkish occupation forces in Cyprus, which resulted this week in the brutal murders of two greek-cypriots and the wounding of more than a dozen others.

The ANCA has joined with the greek-american community and a bipartizan group of legislators in calling for a strong US reaction to Turkey's violations of its basic commitments as a member of NATO and as a signatory of the international conventions on human rights.

[08] THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREEK-GERMAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT CALLS ON GERMANY TO TAKE A POSITION ON CYPRUS

Greek-german Parliamentary Group President in the Federal Parliament of Germany and also President of the Federation of Greek-German Companies, ms.Sigrid Skarpelis-Sperk in a letter to german Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel demands that the german government should take a position on the issue that has arisen in Cyprus and calls for the immediate punishment of those responsible for the turkish atrocities in the divided island.

The letter is sent while the german government, as another Pilate, tries to put the blame for the bloodshed on both sides.

Ms.Sperk, after giving an account of the dramatic events in Cyprus, asks the german Foreign Minister to express to the turkish government Bonn's abhorrence and indignation over this barbarity and also to demand the immediate opening of inquiries and the strict punishment of those who are responsible.

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

[09] UK MP's WARN ON BRITAIN's ISOLATION IN EUROPE

The opinion that U.K. faces isolation in Europe because the government has under- estimated how far other nations in the European Union are prepared to go toward closer political union is expressed in a report by a cross party committee of legislators in Britain.

The report says that Britain will be left behind if it fails to keep up with the pace.

[10] VULCANUS PROGRAMME TO HELP EU COMPANIES TO GET CLOSER TO JAPAN

The European Commission invited companies across the European Union to participate in the Vulcanus Programme, an initiative aimed at establishing closer links with Japan by hosting top-level Japanese students.

In return for an investment of 6,000 ECU, paid to the EU- Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, host companies will obtain the services of a third or fourth-year undergraduate or postgraduate student from a top Japanese University for eight months. Any European Union-based company in the industrial sector may apply by 15 October 1996 to become a host company.

[11] VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS A RISE OF 150% IN PROFITS

A first half profit of 282 million marks, up 150 percent if compared with the same period last year, was reported by the German auto maker Volkswagen AG.

The Volkswagen midyear report said worldwide deliveries were up 13 percent, to 2 million unit while manufacturing costs were also up 13 percent from the same period in 1995.

The rise in Volkswagen's profits was, according to company's officials, because of increased sales and earnings on financial services.

The German auto maker predicted its full year sales and earnings will also be higher than last year's - a net profit of 336 million markson sales of 88.1 billlion marks.

[12] SLIGHT RISE EXPECTED IN UK's JULY RETAIL PRICE INDEX

A slight rise to 2.2% from 2.1% expect economists appeared in UK's July Retail Price Index that the british government is expected to release today.

The underlying rate, which is used by the British government in setting its inflation targest, is expected to edge up to 2.9 percent from 2.8 percent.

The figures could jeopardise the government's target to get inflation down to at least 2.5 percent by next year an event that may provide further justification for the Bank of England's argument that interest rates should rise to keep nflation under control.

[13] ERICSSON REPORTS A 25% RISE IN PRE-TAX PROFITS

A 25 percent rise in pre-tax profits is expected to be shown by the Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson report on the first six months of this year due to be published today.

Analysts are worried though about the effect of the strengthening Swedish crown on the second half.

[14] HEWLETT-PACKARD POSTS A 26% DROP IN ITS NET PROFIT

A 26% drop in its third quarter net income was posted by Hewlett-Packard Co. which was hurt by a weakening in the demand of its products.

Hewlett-Packard had warned several weeks ago that its growth was slowing and it would have difficulty meeting analysts' expectations this quarter.

'This quarter's results confirmed what we've said for some time: that it would be very hard to grow consistently at the strong rates we achieved in recent years,' said Lewis E. Platt, HP's chairman and chief executive officer.

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