MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (20/08/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 20, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] TURKISH FIGHTER JETS VIOLATED THE GREEK AIR SPACE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND OF CRETE

Turkish F-16 fighter jets proceeded this morning to in flight refuelling, while they were at the limits of Greece's air space, south of Crete.

The turkish Air Force had submitted a flight plan which, according to greek Defence Ministry sources, was incomplete.

[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MEETS WITH PASOK'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE SECRETARY ON THE ISSUE OF POSSIBLE EARLY ELECTIONS

Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis meets this afternoon with PASOK's Central Committee Secretary, Kostas Skandalidis within the framework of the contacts the Prime Minister has with party and government officials in view of the announcements he is expected to make regarding the government's decision on the holding or not of early elections in the country.

Conservative New Democracy party leader Miltiadis Evert, after the party's Political Council meeting, called on the government to make its position clear on the issue of early elections and also, on the issues of national interest.

Mr.Evert left for Brussels where he will meet with European Commission President, Jacques Santer and afterwards he will visit Nicosia for talks with Cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis.

[03] THE GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE WITHIN THE WEEK WHETHER THERE WILL BE EARLY ELECTIONS, STATED THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas stated that within the week the governmnet will decide whether there will be early elections in the country.

Responding to a question by a reporter on whether the gravity of national issues today allows the holding of early elections, mr.Reppas stated that the government is weighing carefully the existing situation and the outcome will play a decisive role in its final decision.

On Thursday, will meet PASOK's Executive Office and in the afternoon on the same day there will be a Cabinet meeting, while at noon on Friday, PASOK's Central Committee and the party's Parliamentary Group will hold a joint meeting.

On the likelihood of a meeting in Cyprus between the military chiefs of the greek-cypriots and the turkish occupation forces, mr.Reppas commented that this is a choice which was accepted by the cypriot government and now the issue resurfaces with possible positive results. He said that the greek government expresses reservations because, according to information, in the meeting will participate and the military chief of the self-proclaimed turkish-cypriot republic of northern Cyprus. Mr.Reppas said that the greek government regards this participation as negative element because essentially this way, an accomplished fact is legalized.

Responding to a question concerning the turkish demands that Greece should pay for the damages caused to the turkish consulate in Rhodes, mr.Reppas said that Turkey is responsible for two killings and for a policy of aggression, while it is also accused of being the region's trouble-maker and therefore, can not claim compensation for material damages.

[04] A DELEGATION OF THE ORGANIZATION CULTURAL CAPITAL VISITED THE CITY OF BATOUMI IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF ADJARIA IN GEORGIA

A delegation of the Organization Cultural Capital of Europe "Thessaloniki 1997" had significant contacts during the Conference of the Black Sea Hellenism that was held in Batoumi, capital of the autonomous region of Adjaria in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, on August 16-18.

The organization's delegation delivered an invitation to President of Adjaria, Aslan Ambasidje to visit Thessaloniki and to attend together with the 5.000 georgian immigrants living in the city, the events that will be dedicated to them by the Organization of the Cultural Capital.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[05] THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER

British High Commissioner, David Manten met at noon today with Cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis and they discussed the situation as it is formed after the tragic events in Derynia.

In statements made after the meeting, the british High Commissioner said that he discussed with President Kliridis the efforts made for the easing of tensions but he avoided to take a position on the proposal for the issuing of a joint declaration by President Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader, Denktash.

[06] US PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY RICHARD BEATTIE IS EXPECTED IN CYPRUS SOON

US Presidential envoy, Richard Beattie is expected in Cyprus soon for talks with Cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

The announcement was made by cypriot government spokesman, Yiannakis Kasoulidis adding that the date of mr.Beattie's visit has not been set yet.

[07] THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CYPRUS MEETS THIS AFTERNOON

The National Council of Cyprus meets this afternoon in order to discuss the recent developments in the Cyprus problem and also the UN Secretary General proposal for the issuing of a joint statement by Cypriot President Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader Denktash condemning the events in Derynia.

Cypriot government spokesman, Yiannakis Kasoulidis clarified that mr.Ghali's recommendation concerns the defusing of the tension after the cold blooded killings of two greek-cypriots by the turkish occupation forces and not the essence of the Cyprus problem.

The cypriot government will present its views to the National Council and will hear the views of the political parties, stated mr.Kasoulidis, stressing that the views of the Cypriot President are not necessarily different from those expressed by the political parties.

Meanwhile, it was announced that the state of alert in the Cypriot National Guard, that was imposed 10 days ago as a result of the dramatic events in Cyprus, was lifted today.

[08] TWO GREEK-CYPRIOTS CONTINUE THEIR HUNGER STRIKE FOR A 3RD DAY OUTSIDE THE TURKISH EMBASSY IN LONDON

Two greek-cypriots, Linda Kaimaka and Sotiris Theodoropoulos, continue their hunger strike outside the turkish embassy in London for a third day, with the support of the National Cypriot Federation.

The two greek-cypriots want with this form of protest to strongly condemn the recent turkish atrocities and the continuing occupation of northern Cyprus.

[09] TURKISH-CYPRIOT LEADER DENKTASH OUTLINED HIS PROVOCATIVE POSITIONS IN AN INTERVIEW TO THE AUSTRIAN NEWSPAPER "DIE PRESSE"

Turkish-cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash in an interview to the austrian newspaper "Die Presse" outlined a number of provocative positions.

Denktash in his interview rejects the demilitarization of Cyprus, outlines his theories in an attempt to justify the turkish invasion of Cyprus and its continuing occupation by turkish forces and warns Athens and Nicosia to stop using the European Union "card", while he also defends the recent killings of the two greek- cypriots maintaining that the flag had to be protected and that the tense climate made the military measures unavoidable.

Denktash also said that he believes that the United States, Europe, Turkey and Greece can not solve the Cyprus problem and that the two communities on the island should reach a compromise. He said that if Nicosia continues to play the "card" of the European Union this will only intensify the dispute, while he added that Greece is an EU member and therefore, can not be neutral.

[10] TURKISH POLITICIANS TALK ABOUT A POSSIBLE WAR BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY REFERRING TO THE RECENT EVENTS IN CYPRUS

Turkish politicians talk about a possible war between Greece and Turkey referring to the recent events that shocked Cyprus and cost the lives of two greek-cypriots.

After the provocative statements by turkish Prime Minister Erbakan, islamist Justice Minister Sevket Kazan also accused Greece of being responsible for the recent events and also for the 1974 turkish invasion, maintaining that it was the greeks and the greek-cypriots who caused bloodshed in Cyprus.

On a possible greek-turkish war referred and BBP party vice- president, Retzep Kiris who said that it would be useful for Greece, which has a population of 10 million, to be careful with Turkey, adding that if the provocations in Cyprus and the tension in the greek-turkish relations continue then war will be unavoidable and Greece will suffer significant damages.

[11] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BYZANTIUM OPENS THIS WEEK IN COPENHAGEN

The 19th Symposium on Byzantium, that opens this week in Copenhagen, reflects the increased interest of scientists from eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East in the Byzantine times.

The symposium, in which will participate about 500 byzantinologists, will last until August 24 and will deal with five basic topics: the identity of the Byzantine Empire, its influence on Europe until the year 1453, today's views on the byzantine influence and the tools for the study of Byzantium, while the fifth topic will be Byzantium and Scandinavia.

The increased participation of scientists in the symposium, according to the danish newspaper "Politiken", is the result of the recent opening towards the East, where Byzantium is seen as the bridge linking ancient times with modern civilization.

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