MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (23/08/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 23, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

-----

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS ASSURED PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS THAT EVERYTHING IS READY FOR SNAP ELECTIONS

Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis assured President, Kostis Stephanopoulos that everything is ready for the September 22nd snap elections, and as it was made known, the President of the Republic will sign within the day the decree for the dissolution of Parliament.

President Stephanopoulos expressed the belief that everything will go well, while mr.Simitis delivered to him the Cabinet decision, the draft Presidential decree and the letter in which he explains the reasons for which the government wants snap elections.

Referring to the reasons that led him to this decision the Prime Minister stated that the long pre-election period and the speculation about the holding of elections are harmful, while he added that Turkey's provocations and the developments in the Balkans are issues that have to be dealt with quickly and decisively.

The government, stated mr.Simitis, must receive a renewed mandate by the electorate in order to take the necessary decisions without wasting any time, adding that Greece and future can not wait.

Meanwhile, the british newspapers referred to the greek Prime Minister's decision to call snap elections and most of them, avoided to predict that mr.Simitis and the governing socialist PASOK party will be the winners.

"Financial Times" stresses that Kostas Simitis reached the decision to call snap elections after taking under consideration his increased popularity which last month was over 70%, while the opposition is in such a confusion that even distinguished greek businessmen state that they will cut all ties with the conservative New Democracy party and will vote for PASOK. Also, it is mentioned that the popularity of New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert is at a very low point even compared to other leading members within his own party.

[02] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS FORMALLY DECLARED THE OPENING OF PASOK'S PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis formally declared the opening of PASOK's pre-election campaign during the joint meeting of the party's Central Committee and Parliamentary Group that was held today.

In his speech mr.Simitis referred to the reasons that led him to the decision to call snap elections, stressing the issues of national interest, Turkey's provocations, the Cyprus issue and the course of the country's economy. Mr.Simitis also set the four strategic goals which Greece must achieve in order to be able to deal with the great national issues and the historic challenges.

Mr.Simitis underlined that Greece must participate dynamically and on equal terms with the rest EU partners in the development of the European Union, while it must play a leading role in the new geo-political environment that is being formed in the Balkans and the Mediterranean by undertaking new initiatives. Also, must speed up the modernization and growth of its economy and must build up a modern welfare state that will systematically care for the weak social classes.

The Prime Minister also expressed optimism that PASOK's victory in the elections is certain, while referring to New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert said that he revives the old party politics and gives promises he can not keep. He said that Greece began to have a voice and a role in the international scene, adding that the government of PASOK succeeded in making Greece's voice heard, while the greek positions regarding the turkish aggression and barbarity became known.

[03] OPPOSITION LEADER ACCUSES PREMIER OF BEING SHALLOW

President of the main opposition party of New Democracy mr Militades Evert accused today the government and Prime Minister mr Constantinos Simitis of being shallow and indefinite and criticised the way the government handled the dispute with Turkey on the Imia rock islands, the grecoturkish relations and the MEDA project of the European Union.

Mr Evert stressed that the prime minister did not call a summit of the political leaders under the president of the republic and did not react to the fact that there still has been no answer yet by Turkey on the note Athens made after the publication of thereport of the turkish war academy questioning the status of 100 rockislands in the Aegean Sea.

The president of New Democracy accused Mr Simitis of cancelling the attempt for a constitutional reformation which would be discussed in the greek parliament in autumn and of imposing a stabilization programme without development.

The leader of the opposition expressed his optimism that his party, which, as he stressed, is united, will win elections and its honorary president and ex-prime minister will get "the role an ex-premier deserves".

Mr Evert underlined that the party's pre-electoral strategy will focus on economy and national issues while when asked whether he will resign in case he fails, he said that he would give his answer from the prime minister's office and he added that he hoped mr Simitis would remain in the post of the leader of the opposition.

It should be reminded that the early elections in Greece were called for September 2nd.

[04] DRAFT-DODGERS LIVING ABROAD WILL BE ALLOWED TO COME TO GREECE TO VOTE

With a decision made by the Cabinet after a proposal by Defence Minister, Gerasimos Arsenis draft-dodgers living abroad will be allowed to come to Greece in order to exercise their right to vote.

The time period within which they can make use of that right is 40 days.

[05] POLITICAL ACTS ARE JUDGED BY THEIR RESULTS, STATED INTERIOR MINISTER AKIS TSOHATZOPOULOS

Political acts are judged by their results, stated Minister of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, Akis Tsohatzopoulos commenting on the decision for snap elections.

Mr.Tsohatzopoulos announced that the Cross-Party Special Committee, responsible of setting the framework within which the pre-election campaign will be held, will meet in the Ministry of the Interior in three days and added that he has already asked the political parties to appoint their representatives.

The Minister of the Interior said that the first decision the committee will have to make concerns the political parties' promotion time on the radio and television.

He stated that on September 2 will be appointed caretaker Ministers in the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Public Order and Press, while he also announced that in those elections will vote for the first time and the inmates in the greek prisons.

[06] THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES PREPARE THEIR PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

New Democracy's Political Council meets tomorrow to plan the party's pre-election campaign and to decide on the lists of candidates.

Meanwhile, yesterday after a decision by Political Spring party leader, Antonis Samaras was formed the party's Electoral Committee.

Communist party General Secretary, Aleka Papariga cancelled her tour to the Ionian Sea island of Zakynthos and on Sunday will be held an extraordinary meeting of the party's Central Political Committee.

Also, on Sunday there will be an extraordinary meeting of the Coalition of the Left Central Political Committee.

[07] THESSALONIKI WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF THE PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Thessaloniki will be at the center of the pre-election campaign as the Prime Minister and other political leaders will visit the city in the period of September 7th to the 16th.

Prime Minister Simitis will visit Thessaloniki on Friday, September 7th and in the afternoon of the same day will inaugurate the 61st International Trade Fair.

The Prime Minister's visit will be directly linked with the pre-election campaign as it is possible to present PASOK's candidates in a closed political rally that will be held in the city.

Opposition party New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert will visit Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair on Sunday, September 16th.

[08] THE YUGOSLAV PRESS GAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE TO THE GREEK SNAP ELECTIONS

The yugoslav press covered extensivelly the issue of the snap elections in Greece.

The newspaper "Politika", in a front page article mentions the reasons mr.Simitis gave yesterday in order to justify the calling of snap elections and gave special emphasis to his statement according to which, for Greece's modernization are needed to be made leaps forward and not simple steps.

The newspaper "Nasa Borba" mentions that PASOK's victory in the elections is more than certain but at the same time, it writes that with this decision Prime Minister Simitis put at risk the virtues which characterized him during his seven month term in office, namely outspokenness and credibility. According to the newspaper, mr.Simitis had pledged in PASOK's party congress that he will stay in office until the end of the four year term and that he will not call early elections.

Also, the same newspaper mentions, that yesterday when mr.Simitis outlined the reasons that made the calling of snap elections necessary, did not justify his decision based on economic reasons and this way rejected the opposition's allegations which maintains that the government's economic programme has failed and therefore, it is not in a position to close the 1997 budget.

[09] INTERNATIONAL INTERELIGIOUS SYMPOSIUM FOR PEACE IN THESSALONIKI

The symposium is being organised by the Churches' World Congress, the Pontiphical for Interchristian Discourse, the Holy Sea's Commission for the rellations with the Jews and the World Lutheran Federation.

There will be three delegations, each constisting of of 15 people that either live or have lived in Jerusalem.

"Despite the disappointment caused to many people by the so called "return of the God", the religions are able to contribute to the peace process and it seems that at last they are taking their responsibilities and act towards this direction" said to the MPA Mr. Miltiades Konstantinou, substitute professor of the Divinity School of A.U.Th. who has undeertaken the organization of the symposium.

[10] THE COURSE OF THE GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS IS DESCRIBED AS POSITIVE BY THE ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DIRECTOR ON BALKAN ISSUES

In an interview to the pro-government newspaper "Albania", albanian Foreign Ministry Director on Balkan Issues, Ekerem Meta referred to the positive course of the greek-albanian relations and to the decision of the two governments to make their relations an example of bilateral cooperation in the Balkans.

Mr.Meta also stressed that the albanian government made specific steps toward the implementation of the Friendship and Cooperation Accord signed with Greece and that the greek side is expected to complete soon the procedures that will put into effect the agreement on the seasonal employment and the status of the albanian immigrants.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[11] THE CHAMBER IN THE CITY OF KOZANI APPEARS OPTIMISTIC OVER THE OUTCOME OF ITS COOPERATION WITH THE CHAMBER OF KORITSA

Optimism over the successful outcome of the efforts for the strengthening of the trade-economic relations with the Chamber of Koritsa and the promotion of joint investment initiatives in the albanian market, was expressed by the Chamber of Kozani after the meeting that was held yesterday between its President, Panagiotis Apostolidis and representatives from the Chamber of Koritsa.

The meeting was held within the framework of the 13th Trade and Small-Sized Businesses Exhibition in the town of Kila, near Kozani.

[12] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM THE GREEK RED CROSS TO BOSNIAN REFUGEES

The greek Red Cross sent a humanitarian aid of 500 thousand ECU to the Bosnian refugees in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The aid will be packaged in 120 thousand boxes and will be delivered through the Red Cross to municipalities and regions with Bosnian refugees.

[13] UN SECRETARY GENERAL SPECIAL ENVOY SUNG JU HAN WILL VISIT CYPRUS IN MID SEPTEMBER

UN Secretary General Special Envoy, Sung Ju Han will visit Cyprus in mid September for talks with Cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

Meanwhile, the Pan-Cypriot Bar Association suggested bringing Turkey before the Council of Europe Human Rights Committee for the recent killings of the two greek-cypriots, Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou, by the turkish occupation forces in northern Cyprus.

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/