MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (96-10-16)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, October 16, 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 ADDRESSES PASOK PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis, addressing his party's Parliamentary Group meeting today, emphasized the necessity of cohesion within the party in order to carry out the governmental tasks and, more so, to achieve Greece's social reform.

The Premier made extensive references to the Parliamentary Work Sectors (PWS) and their relation with the government. Bringing to mind the checks and balances system, Mr. Simitis asked that the PWS promote regular-interval checks on governmental policy and stated that the Cabinet's ministers are to inform the corresponding PWS prior to drafting laws. This change aims to alleviate the Parliament's plenary session from the numerous amendments that are normally tabled, excepting extraordinary cases.

Thereafter, the Premier referred to the significant, as he characterized it, role of the Parliamentary Group's Presidium, which is "a governmental body with a specific function and responsibility."

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER THEODOROS PANGALOS ARRIVES IN SARAJEVO

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos arrived in Sarajevo today, where he announced that a Greek embassy will be established in the city by the end of Octrober.

According to the Bosnian News Agency B-H Press, Mr. Pangalos stated that Greece is interested in Bosnia's reconstruction projects, for which it has set aside seven million dollars up to date, and is supporting the active implementation of the Dayton peace accord.

While in Sarajevo, Mr. Pangalos met with Bosnia's President Alija Izetbegovic, Prime Minister Hasan Muratovic and Foreign Minister Iandrago Prlic.

Mr. Prlic expressed his satisfaction of the discussion held with Mr. Pangalos and noted that he attained the promise that Greece will aid Bosnia in its efforts to gain accession to the Council of Europe.

Mr. Pangalos met with government officials but not with Bosnian-serbs since, he stated, in order for the collective bodies of the post-war Bosnia to work together successfully there is no need to hold separate meetings with Bosnia's Serbs.

Following the end of these talks in Sarajevo, the Greek Foreign Minister departed for Belgrade where tomorrow he will meet with Serb President Slobodan Milosevic, the Federal Prime Minister Radoyie Kodic and his Yugoslav counterpart Milan Milutinovic.

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER THEODOROS PANGALOS BEGINS BALKAN TOUR TODAY

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos departed for the cities of Sarajevo, Belgrade and Zagreb today, in an effort to display Greece's active involvement in the Balkans and its interest in promoting bilateral relations with Bosnia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia.

Starting with Sarajevo today, Mr. Pangalos will address issues of bilateral relations between Greece and Bosnia- Herzegovina as well as Greece's participation in Bosnia's reconstruction projects.

In Belgrade, where Mr. Pangalos' visit is awaited eagerly as it marks the first time a high-ranking official is visiting the city after sanctions imposed on FRY were lifted a few days ago, a cooperation agreement will be signed between the foreign ministries of the two countries. Before the end of the year, Greece and FRY will also sign bilateral agreements regarding investments and the avoidance of double-taxation.

In Zagreb, Mr. Pangalos will meet with his Croatian counterpart and is also scheduled to meet with Croat President Franjo Tudjman.

The Greek Foreign Minister is expected to stress the Greek government's position for the active implementation of the Dayton peace accord and the importance of these countries' equitable participation at the Interbalkan Conference which will be held in Thessaloniki in June of 1997.

[04] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER MET WITH THE US AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS

The Cyprus problem and the greek-turkish relations were the main topics of discussion during today's meeting between greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis and US ambassador to Athens, Thomas Niles.

The meeting was ceremonial, as it was the first one held after the September 22 elections and there was no agenda. The Prime Minister reiterated to mr.Niles Greece's opposition to the turkish provocativeness and aggressiveness and pointed out that the neighbouring country is undermining peace in the region.

[05] INTERNATIONAL PEACE INITIATIVES ARE WELCOMED IF THEY PROMOTE A FAIR AND VIABLE SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, STATED MR.REPPAS

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, commenting on the statement made by US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns regarding the cold-blooded killing of greek-cypriot Petros Kakoullis by the turkish occupation forces in Cyprus, stated that international peace initiatives are welcomed if they are undertaken within the framework and the prospect of a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.

In his statement, mr.Burns while condemning the killing of the greek-cypriot makes recommendations to both sides to avoid such incidents.

Mr.Reppas stated that Greece accepts the international initiatives that are being undertaken within the above mentioned framework, but at the same time stressed that so far the international initiatives for the solution of the Cyprus problem have failed either because they were met with intransigence or because they were themselves hypocritical.

[06] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT REACTED TO THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR DURING HIS VISIT TO THRACE

The statements made by turkish ambassador to Athens Umit Pamir during his three-day visit to Thrace, according to which the muslim minority in the region is a turkish one, have caused the greek government's reaction.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stressed that they are greek muslims who enjoy the same rights with the rest of the greek citizens.

Mr.Reppas also stated that the reaction of the local population is calm adding that it watches this visit by keeping a distance from it.

[07] AMBASSADORS FROM ISRAEL, BELGIUM AND NEW GUINEA PRESENT CREDENTIALS

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos received today the new Ambassadors of Israel, Belgium and New Guinea in Athens.

Israel's Ran Kurriel, Belgium's Jacques Scabel and New Guinea's Gabriel Koiva Benson presented their credentials to the President who wished them success in their mission.

[08] CUBAN AMBASSADOR VISITS THESSALONIKI'S CULTURAL CAPITAL ORGANIZATION

Cuba's Ambassador to Greece Ana Maria Gonzales visited the offices of the Cultural Capital Organization "Thessaloniki '97" yesterday, where she met with the Organization's vice-president Dimitris Salpistis.

Among the topics discussed were the possibility of Cuba's participation in 1997's festivities and the "adoption" of an elementary school in Cuba by the Organization.

[09] NORTHERN GREECE'S GOLD MINING PROJECT IN JEOPARDY

Halkidiki's multi-billion-drachma gold production project, operated by Canadian company TVX Gold, is in jeopardy following the protests of local residents who fear that the gold processong plant will hurt local tourism and damage the environment.

According to reports, the company's local head has stated that the firm will suspend its 270 billion USD -Greece's largest project during the recent years- this month if local residents continue to disrupt their work.

"The company is scheduled to suspend the operation of the mines if the road (to the mines) does not open before the end of October," said Costas Sinis, TVX's executive vice-president in Greece.

He made these statements at a regional council meeting on the matter near Halkidiki, where the gold processing plant has been stopped from starting operations for the past ten months.

According to Sinis, the company has so far lost 28 million USD from these delays and it has continued to pay its 500 workers without making any profits.

TVX Gold bought the two mines in Halkidiki during December of 1995 and agreed to build a gold processing plant in a 270 million USD inestment, the biggest in Greece for the past three decades.

The area's residents appear divided as hundreds of local laborers and residents took part in a march held in the city of Poligyros on Monday, expressing their support to the gold production project.

TVX Gold foresees that the project will triple the area's gold output to 1.2 million ounces by 1998.

According to environmental impact reports published by TVX Gold, the project is environmentally sound as it will employ modern technology to process the gold.

[10] CONFERENCE ON ANCIENT MACEDONIA HELD IN THESSALONIKI

Scientists participating in the Conference on Ancient Macedonia, currently held in Thessaloniki, are confirming the region's indisputable greek character.

American Prof. L. Tritle, who teaches ancient and modern Greek history at Loyola University in the United States, told the Macedonian Press Agency that he is certain the ancient Macedonians were Greeks and that the language they were speaking was a Greek dialect.

According to Mr. Tritle, because they were living in the north of the country they were influenced by non-greek tribes, such as the Illyrians, but based on things like the language, culture, civilization and national identity it is certain that they were Greeks.

During the Conference, which will be held until October 19, Prof. Tritle will also analyze unknown dimensions of the trial of Athenian businessman Leocrates which had shocked ancient Athens.

Also presented at the Conference are data written in the Macedonian language and presented on Mycenean signs, thereby giving new bases to the search of common elements between the two languages, accordng to Greek Professor John Probonas.

Moreover, Antonis Thavoris willl address the Macedonian language and will give specific emphasis to its vocabulary. According to Mr. Thavoris, "while examining the limited language material of the Greek dialect spoken by ancient Macedonians which is saved on written sources since the era of Alexander the Great and thereafter, one discovers that these words (id est locations, months, proper names) can be divided into categories and as such determine the character of the ancient Macedonian vocabulary."

The marble signs of the 3rd century A.D. which were recently brought to light through archaeological escavations in Thessaloniki's ancient agora will also be addressed by academic George Velenis.

The marble signs feature sentences written in Greek but are only saved in various parts. They are invitations to duels that bear signs of written decoration, although the names of the emperors who sponsored these duels have been erased. Similar findings have been discovered in Veria.

The manner in which byzantine authors describe the personality and works of Alexander the Great will be analyzed by Agnes Vasilakopoulou who will focus on how these authors alter the Statesman's work and personality in accordance with their time's ideals.

"The Byzantium boasts that it continues the political tradition of the Roman state and the cultural tradition of the ecumenical hellenism which was established with the conquests of Alexander," Ms. Vasilakopoulou emphasizes, adding "Alexander, the King of the Hellenes is the archetypical hero of their visions, not a Roman emperor."

[11] NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENTS FOUND IN PIERIA, PREHISTORIC DISCOVERY IN THESSALONIKI

Four neolithic settlements have been discovered in various regions of Pieria, shedding more light on the era's social structure and the prehistoric man's living conditions.

These extensive settlements are leveled and include wooden houses, some of which feature furnaces made of clay and pots that have been maintained in tact. Many of these houses also have circular, semi-underground rooms and the diversity in the material discovered in these houses attest to the social strata that varied form region to region.

In Thessaloniki's Tuba district, recent escavations have revealed extensive storing facilities and community projects, while there also seem to have been diverse social classes as few of the houses feature furnaces and pottery wheels used to produce ceramics of mycenean type.

[12] INSTITUTE OF GREEK STUDIES ESTABLISHED IN SWEDEN

The Center for Hellenic Culture and the Foundation "Sweden's Greek Library and Archive", have collaborated in the establishment of an Institute of Greek Studies in Sweden.

According to the presently temporary board, the Institute's aim will be to program and conduct research on issues of mutual interest to both countries, such as immigration, the Greek language and the Greek culture.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE RECENT KILLING OF A GREEK-CYPRIOT

The cypriot government is satisfied with the statement issued by the UN Security Council on the cold-blooded murder of greek- cypriot Petros Kakoullis by the turkish occupation forces in Cyprus.

Cypriot government spokesman, Yiannakis Kasoulidis stated that the UN Security Council strongly condemns the killing of the greek-cypriot and stressed that the cypriot government is satisfied with this position.

Mr.Kasoulidis characterized as "nonsense" the turkish allegations that the killed greek-cypriot was armed.

[14] CYPRUS WILL ISSUE A MEMORANDUM CONDEMNING THE MURDER

The Cypriot government will proceed to issue remonstrations to all the countries with which it has diplomatic relations, regarding the acts of violence committed by the turkish occupation troops, while the Cypriot Foreign Ministry is preparing a memorandum condemning the "repeated use of murderous violence in an unprovoced manner."

According to Cypriot government spokesperson Yiannakis Kasoulides, included in the memorandum will be a description of the manner in which the three Greek-Cypriots Tasos Issac, Solomos Solomou and Petros Kakoullis were murdered.

[15] U.S. ADOPT POLICY OF EQUAL-DISTANCES REGARDING MURDER OF GREEK-CYPRIOT

Three days after the murder of the Greek-Cypriot civilian Petros Kakoullis who was killed Sunday by Turkish soldiers on Cyprus' occupied territory, the United States issued a reaction to the incident, adopting once more a policy of equal distances.

U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns spoke of inexcusable violence used by the Turk-Cypriots while implying that the Greek-Cypriot side bears responsibilities for the recent murder of a Turk-Cypriot guard on the occupied territory, despite the fact that the guard's own relatives had condemned the Turkish authorities as being responsible for his death because he was of Kurdish origin.

The United Nations Security Council has strongly protested the murder of Kakoullis and has asked both sides of the island to embark on a dialogue for extending the agreements that concern the observation posts at the demarcation line.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot government, through a letter sent by Cypriot Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Nikos Agathocleous, asks the Security Council to underake all the necessary measures that will put an end to the criminal acts committed in Cyprus by the Turkish occupation troops and to bring the perpetrators before justice.

[16] RUSSIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE MURDER OF GREEK-CYPRIOT CIVILIAN

Russia has strongly condemned the murder of Greek-Cypriot civilian Petros Kakoullis who was killed on Sunday by turkish occupation troops, by characterizing the event as "unprecedented, brutal and indecorous."

The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Grigori Tarasov stated that his country considers the cold-blooded murder as being inhumane and relayed his government's concern over the "brutal way in which another unarmed Greek-Cypriot was killed by the Turks."

Mr. Tarasov added that incidents like this should force the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General to act more decisively on the cypriot issue.

[17] HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN CYPRUS, MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLERIDES

Hungaria's Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs is currently on a visit to Cyprus where he met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and with the Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides this morning.

Messieurs Kovacs and Michaelides discussed the latest developments on the cypriot issue and also spoke asbout the murder of the Greek-Cypriot civilian Petros Kakoullis. They also discussed the potential of their countries' accession to the European Union. The two officials are expected to sign a bilateral cooperation agreement.

Mr. Kovacs expressed the hope that Cyprus and Hungary will be among the first countries to gain accession to the EU during the following years.

Following his discussions in Nicosia, where he will also meet with Cypriot Speaker of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou, Mr. Kovacs will also visit the island's demarcation line.

[18] TURKEY'S AMBASSADORS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE FOREIGN POLICY FOLLOWED BY ANKARA

Turkey's ambassadors to european countries in a joint statement point out that their country has been cut off from Europe.

According to the private television channel HBB, Turkey's ambassadors to Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland gathered in Germany where they signed a joint declaration in which they underline that the recent developments have made Europe wonder over the course that Turkey is following. In their joint declaration the turkish diplomats express their opposition to their country's foreign policy.

[19] THE SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS TABLED A PROPOSAL ASKING THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO UNDERTAKE INITIATIVES FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

A draft resolution calling the german government to undertake initiatives for the settlement of the Cyprus problem after the recent killing of a greek-cypriot by the turkish occupation forces in Cyprus, was tabled by the Social-democrats in the Federal Parliament where they are the main party of the opposition.

The proposal was approved last night by the SPD parliamentary group and is expected to be discussed in Parliament possibly next month.

In the draft resolution the Social-democrats stress that the reason for the dispute is the continuing occupation of part of Cyprus and call on the conservative government of Chancellor Helmut Kohl to make efforts for the easing of tensions and the peaceful settlement of the problem. Also, they call on the governmnet to back the efforts made by the UN and the European Union aimed at the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Meanwhile, german Parliament deputy ms.Skarpelis-Sperk, member of the SPD Presiding Board and President of the joint german-greek parliamentary group, in a statement she has issued expresses "abhorrence" and "indignation" for the recent killing of a greek-cypriot by the turkish occupation forces and calls on the german government to protest formally to Ankara.

Also, she calls on the german government to ask through the diplomatic route for an official clarification from Turkey in order to be made clear if the turkish occupation forces have received orders to shoot and kill anyone crossing the "green line" in Cyprus.

[20] THE TRANSPORT OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS WILL BE A SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION AMONG RUSSIA, BULGARIA AND GREECE

Russian companies express strong interest in participating in the privatization process in Bulgaria, according to Vice-President of the Russian Parliament mr.Yurev, who is on a formal visit to Bulgaria heading a delegation.

The above were mentioned in the bulgarian newspaper "Pari", according to which mr.Yurev stressed after the meeting he had with bulgarian Prime Minister, Jan Videnov that the transport of oil and natural gas through Bulgaria will be a subject of discussion during the meeting of bulgarian, greek and russian delegations that will be held in November.

[21] OVER 25% OF TURKS LIVE BELOW POVERTY LEVEL, ERBAKAN TO SUBMIT BUDGET

Accoridng to a study conducted by the Turkish Foundation of Economic and Social Studies, 29% of Turkey's citizens live below poverty level, and this rate is rapidly increasing.

The study presents a more dismal situation for the country's farmers as an astounding 70% of them are on a subsistence "diet."

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan is no longer facing a censure vote as tonight's parliamentary debate did not gather enough votes for the no-confidence motion to pass. Mr. Erbakan will present his government's budget in the Turkish Parliament tomorrow.

Mr. Erbakan came to office less than four months ago and is modern Turkey's first islamist leader as the head of a coalition government with his pro-islamic Welfare Party and the center-right True Path Party (DYP), led by Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller.

[22] CROATIA WILL BECOME A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IN NOVEMBER

Croatia will become the 40th member of the Council of Europe on November 6.

The country's accesion into the european organization will take place after a 6month delay due to the concerns expressed regarding the human rights situation in this former Yugoslav Republic.

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/