MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (28/08/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 28, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

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[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THE LETTERS ON EARLY ELECTIONS EXCHANGED BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER ON AUGUST 22 AND 23 WERE PUBLISHED TODAY

The letters on the holding of early elections exchanged by President, Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis on August 22 and 23 were published today.

In his letter mr.Simitis refers to the government's work for the materialization of its targets and points out that the foundations were laid for Greece's strongest presence in the international scene, while there was active participation in the negotiations for a new EU structure of operation. Also, he mentions that the tensions in the greek-turkish relations were handled with successful moves and decisive steps have been made for the growth of the economy, the establishment of new institutions, the creation of a welfare state and the construction of large infrastructure projects.

In his reply the President accepts the government's proposal for early elections and expresses the certainty that they will be held in a faultless manner and in an climate of calm.

[02] THE PRESIDING BOARD OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIES IN NORTHERN GREECE HAD SUCCESSIVE MEETINGS WITH MR.SIMITIS AND MR.EVERT

The Presiding Board of the Association of Industries in Northern Greece had successive meetings today with Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis and New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert.

The association's representatives delivered a memorandum on projects and decisions that need to be made for northern Greece in the first six months after the elections.

Mr.Evert stressed the need for construction of development projects, the improvement of Thessaloniki's Airport and road networks and the defence and economic shielding of the region. He also repeated his pledge to bring the Ministry of Education to Thessaloniki.

[03] THE CROSS-PARTY COMMITTEE AGREED TO STOP THE PUBLICATION OF OPINION POLLS RESULTS 10 DAYS BEFORE THE HOLDING OF THE ELECTIONS

The Cross-party Committee reached an agreement during the meeting on the distribution of mass media promotion time to the political parties, according to which the publication of opinion polls results will stop 10 days before the holding of the elections.

The announcement was made by Minister of the Interior, Akis Tsohatzopoulos who also said that the Cross-party Committee will meet again tomorrow in order to examine the new additional proposals submitted by the Interior Ministry and the National Radio and Television Council concerning the distribution of television time not only in the state but in the private television channels as well.

Objections to this issue were expressed in today's meeting of the Cross-party Committee and by the small political parties and as a result no final decisions were made on the matter.

[04] PASOK'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN CENTRAL COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE PARTY'S PRE-ELECTION TACTIC

PASOK's Election Campaign Central Committee discussed the party's pre-election tactic. Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis strongly criticized New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert on his pre-election tactic and the negative advertisements, while referring to his party's programme, that was announced yesterday, he accused him of "false promises" and of telling lies aimed at misleading the greek people.

He analysed each of the seven proposals made by New Democracy on the country's economy by comparing them with PASOK's positions for the handling of economic problems. Mr.Simitis underlined that PASOK wants to give answers to the questions concerning the country's course and the creation of a strong Greece and referred to the modernization and the development of the greek society, the preservation of the welfare state, the participation in the european integration and the realization of Greece's new historic role in the Balkans.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated, referring to ND's economic programme, that mr.Evert promised to give out money he will obtain by cutting state spending, adding that only New Democracy is capable of such spending and demagogy.

Mr.Reppas also said that the number of unsuspecting citizens in this country is far less than the number needed by mr.Evert in order to win the elections, while on mr.Evert's proposal for three televised debates with mr.Simitis, the government spokesman stated that the Prime Minister always supported dialogue as it has been proven in the past and as it will be proven again.

New Democracy spokesman, Prokopis Pavlopoulos responding to the Prime Minister's criticism on the economic programme announced yesterday by ND leader mr.Evert said that the Prime Minister discovered what are the real problems of the greek people after yesterday's announcements. He said that at this hour and because in a few days the electorate's verdict will be out, mr.Evert calls mr.Simitis to participate in a dialogue on all issues.

Mr.Pavlopoulos said that the leader of ND will give a press conference tomorrow in order to respond to the criticism by PASOK's leader.

[05] THE BELIEF THAT COALITION OF THE LEFT WILL BE REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT WAS EXPRESSED BY THE PARTY'S LEADER

The belief that Coalition of the Left will be represented in Parliament was expressed in a press conference by its leader, Nikos Konstantopoulos.

He stated that early elections were not necessary for the handling of Greece's national issues and economic problems but are being held in order to be handled the ruling party's problems and also in order to be preserved the two party political scene.

Responding to the question on his party's relations with PASOK and the possibility of a post-election cooperation, mr.Konstantopoulos left that option open and underlined that Coalition of the Left fights for a change in the way of government and also for the formation of alternative government majorities. He also suggested the holding of a televised debate with the Prime Minister in order to discuss the issue of the center-left before the greek people.

[06] THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT GREECE ON SEPTEMBER 14

Prime Minister of France, Alain Juppe will visit Greece on September 14 as it was announced by government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas.

Mr.Reppas clarified that it will be a formal visit adding that mr.Juppe also comes to Greece and on the occasion of the events organized in the country by the French Archaelogical Society.

The french Prime Minister, who will be accompanied by the Minister of Education, will meet with Prime Minister Simitis and Foreign Minister Pangalos.

[07] MOST OF THE MINUTES OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT SESSIONS ON THRACE ARE READY FOR PUBLICATION

The largest part of the minutes of the greek Parliament sessions on Thrace is ready for publication. The material is being collected under the auspices of the greek Parliament and the personal attention of the legislative body's vice-President, Panagiotis Sguridis who expressed optimism that the work will be completed by October 1997, as it was originally scheduled or even earlier.

This idea was presented for the first time by mr.Sguridis in the 1st World Conference of Thracians in 1994 and concerns the collection of all the minutes taken during the sessions of the greek Parliament that dealt with issues regarding Thrace from the year 1844 till today. The same was done on another occasion with the minutes on Cyprus.

The material is expected to be published in 7 volumes and will also be released in CD-ROM. Already, has been collected the material concerning the periods from 1844 to 1890 and from 1904 to 1994.

Before it is published the material collected will be processed by the "Thrace Fund" in cooperation with specialists from the Dimokrition University of Thrace in order to become a priceless guide for historians.

[08] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 4,7 ON THE RICHTER SCALE SHOOK SOUTHERN GREECE

Earthquake measuring 4,7 on the Richter scale hit this afternoon the region of Katakolo in the Peloponnese, southern Greece.

The tremor was recorded by Aristotle University Geophysics Laboratory and by the Geodynamics Institute of the National Observatory in Athens.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] STATEMENTS BY THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE ACCUSATIONS THAT CILLER SENT THE "GREY WOLVES" TO CYPRUS

Government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas referring to the accusations that turkish Foreign Minister, Tansu Ciller sent members of the extremist group "Grey Wolves" to Cyprus, stated that she kept for herself the role of the "grey fox". He said that ms.Ciller sent the "Grey Wolves" to Cyprus in order to lead to the recent incidents, indirectly creating this way the false impression to the international public opinion that the greek- cypriots and the turkish-cypriots can not co-exist.

Mr.Reppas said that if this accusation, made by a Parliament deputy who was until recently an associate of ms.Ciller (as mr.Baykal's Republican party cooperated very well with her party), is true then it is proven that the greek-cypriots and the turkish- cypriots can co-exist on the island. He said that it is the intervention, the invasion, the presence of a third party there, that create all the tensions and the frictions while functioning as an inhibitory factor toward reaching any solution to the pending Cyprus problem.

Mr.Reppas stated that, unfortunatelly for her and for Turkey, ms.Ciller's role has been internationally exposed and this message, if the accusations are true, must be taken under serious consideration by everybody. He repeated that if the accusations are true Greece will take all the necessary measures clarifying that the issue is being examined.

[10] THE CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTRY WILL CIRCULATE A DOCUMENT IN THE UN ON THE NEW EVIDENCE REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE "GREY WOLVES" IN THE RECENT CLASHES IN CYPRUS

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry will circulate a document in the United Nations on the new evidence regarding the participation of the turkish extremist group "Grey Wolves" in the bloody incidents that took place in Cyprus, after it received financial backing by the turkish government.

The above were stated by cypriot government spokesman, Yiannakis Kasoulidis who added that all the necessary moves will be made in order to inform the international comunity on the issue.

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