Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-22

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, January 22, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] POSITIVE RESULTS FOR THE GREEK SIDE AT THE SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis presented in a press conference the positive effects created by the intervention of the Greek and the Cypriot side in the Socialist International Congress that was held in Rome yesterday.

In the Socialist International plenary sesion in New York a decision had been adopted giving a special emphasis to the Cyprus issue and stressing the need for its solution and the implementation of the UN resolutions, said mr.Simitis. The Prime Minister added that the Greek and Cypriot delegations reminded this decision to the Socialist International members and also the need for actions that will assist in the speedier solution of the problem.

He underlined the tension in the Greek-Turkish relations as well as, Turkey's aggressiveness and the fact that the neighbouring country does not want to recognize the international treaties while it does not respect international law. He characterized as unacceptable Turkey's effort for the revision of the existing status quo in the Aegean and reminded that the Greek government has suggested a step-by-step approach which was not accepted by Turkey.

The Greek Prime Minister concluded that mr.Baykal, the representative of Turkey's Republican Popular party, was especially aggressive in his speech and did not take under consideration the sensitivity of the Socialist International members on issues of peace and the respect of International Law.

[02] STATE WILL TRY TO ADDRESS STRIKERS' DEMANDS, BUT WITHIN ITS FISCAL ABILITY

In light of the seamen's ongoing strike and the imminent work stoppages by most of the country's work force, government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated today that the State will try to address the strikers demands, but within its fiscal ability.

Mr. Reppas, who is also Press and Mass Media Minister, added that the right to strike is inalienable, but so are the decisions issued by the courts.

"The government, all of the political forces, as well as the citizens and the social institutions have to claim a deserving share of their responsibilty in order to face the problems stemming from this situation," Mr. Reppas appealed, adding that "not all sides appear to have actually claimed their deserving share."

The Press Minister also relayed the government's disapproval when citizens take the law into their own hands. A.F.

[03] THE TALKS BETWEEN GREECE AND FYROM RESUMED IN NEW YORK

The talks between the representatives of Greece and FYROM, Ambassadors Christos Zacharakis and Ivan Tosefski resumed in New York yesterday under the auspices of UN mediator Cyrus Vance.

Mr.Vance stated that another meeting will be held by the end of February, while he avoided to answer the question made by a reporter on whether there was progress in the talks.

The UN mediator when asked if there is hope after a year of talks, he said that there were many discussions held in the past year and a lot have happened.

[04] THE CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OWES TO THESSALONIKI ITS GREATEST CULTURAL TREASURES, WRITES AN AUSTRIAN NEWSPAPER

Austrian newspaper "Der Standard" in a special tourist presentation on the Cultural Capital of Europe describes the city of Thessaloniki as an economic and spiritual metropolis, a city of myth and fantasy and a melting-pot of different peoples.

The Archeological Museum, the archaeological sites dating back to the Roman era, the Churches built in the years of Byzantium, the Old City walls and the "Modiano" open-air market are presented as impressive sites the visitor has to see. The writer of the article, Karl Victor adds that the Christian Orthodox Church owes its greatest cultural treasures to Thessaloniki.

Meanwhile, the austrian television attributed the selection of Thessaloniki to be Europe's Cultural Capital for 1997 to the different cultures that through the centuries left their marks on the city.

Television journalist Gabriele Madeja made a special referrence to the exhibition of relics from the monastic community of Mount Athos, which she describes as the highlight of the cultural events that will take place in Thessaloniki this year.

[05] GREEK PREMIER IN ROME, ISSUES STERN WARNING TO TURKEY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, who is currently in Rome attending the session of the Socialist International, issued a stern warning to Turkey during his address yesterday.

The Premier condemned Turkey's expansionist policy and called on Ankara to abandon its efforts to create a fait accompli in the Aegean. Also, he stated that Turkey must respect International Law and International Treaties. A.F.

[06] SEAMEN'S STRIKE RESULTS IN FOOD AND MEDICINE SHORTAGES IN ISLANDS

Greece's seamen and dockworkers, having kept passenger and cargo ships docked at the ports for the past six days, have decided to extend their strike until tomorrow morning, protesting the government's decision to lift their tax exemptions.

The seamen's strike has brought on a series of problems, especially for the islands where medicines and fresh foods supplies are already becoming scarce.

The Undersecretary of Labor Christos Protopapas asked the seamen to allow one ferry boat to sail for the remote islands in order to ship fresh foods.

He emphasized that the government does not want conflict among the social groups.

The Supreme Court's prosecutor has instructed the country's district attorneys to arrest all trouble-makers at the ports or those who proceed to block roads. A.F.

[07] A 24-HOUR STRIKE WILL BE HELD IN GREECE TOMORROW

A 24-hour strike called by the biggest Greek labour organization, the General Confederation of Labour, will be held in Greece tomorrow in protest to the Socialist government's tax draft law. Tomorrow morning, the strikers will hold a rally and will march outside the Parliament building in Athens.

In the strike will participate the mass transportation system employees. The employees in the state air carrier "Olympic Airways" will hold work stoppages, while those working for the state Railway Organization will strike for 24 hours.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] CYPRUS WILL CERTAINLY PROCEED WITH MISSILES PURCHASE, IN SPITE OF RUMORS

Cyprus' Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides refuted rumors that the Cypriot order of Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles has been cancelled.

In an interview broadcast on Russian television, the manager of the missiles manufacturing plant in Russia said that Cyprus' order had been cancelled because Nicosia had not made an advance payment on the order.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Michaelides characterized the plant manager's statements as unfounded and pointed out that the 16- month waiting period prior to the missiles' deployment on the island is necessary for the system's production.

Government circles in Athens also state that the first payment for the missiles purchase will be made this week.

Also, Russian Embassy adviser Sergei Rubov said that he was not aware of any cancellation of the order, while, a short while later, Russian Ambassador Georgi Muratov admitted that he has indeed heard these rumors, which he refuted.

It was reported a few days ago that the advance payment, approximately 22 million Cypriot pound, will be deposited as soon as the Cypriot Parliament approves the funds. A.F.

[09] U.S.: FLIGHT MORATORIUM IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR PROGRESS IN CYPRUS ISSUE

U.S. State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns relayed his government's disappointment over the fact that no progress was noted regarding the moratorium of military flights over Cyprus.

Mr. Burns stated that the U.S. official Carey Cavanaugh, following his recent meetings with Cypriot, Greek and Turkish officials, had received indications that the involved parties would work hard on the moratorium issue, but no progress has been noted as of yet.

"We are very disappointed since the parties were unable to carry through with this measure which has been on the table since July 1996, under various forms," Mr. Burns stated, adding that "we were encouraged by some positive statements we heard in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara last week, but, unfortunately, when the Greek and the Cypriot leaders met in Athens last Sunday, they didn't manage to reach a final agreement on this."

Moreover, the State Department spokesperson stated that an agreement for the moratorium potentially offers an alternative solution for the deployment of missiles in Cyprus.

Commenting on the common statement issued by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Mr. Burns called on the Turkish government to stop the dramatic statements and the threats.

"Mr. Clerides' assurance that the (S-300) missiles system will not be deployed during the following 16 months is very significant and, as such, it should give all the parties the opportunity to work on their differences without dramatic statements and threats," Mr. Burns said. A.F.

[10] THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT WILL VISIT INDIA ON FEBRUARY 10

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides will make an official visit to India on the invitation of his Indian counterpart Shankar Dayal Sharma.

The visit, the first of mr.Clerides to India after becoming Cypriot President in February 1993, will last a week and will begin on February 10. Mr.Clerides will meet with India's President and the Prime Minister.

Mr.Clerides will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Alekos Michailides and will visit the capital New Delhi and Bombay.

[11] BULGARIA: PRESIDENT-ELECT PETER STOYANOV TAKES OFFICE TODAY

With a formidable economic crisis plaguing his country, Bulgaria's newly-elected President Peter Stoyanov will formally take over his office today, with his first mission being to lift the impasse reached by the disagreement between the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition's request for early elections.

Mr. Stoyanov is called on to decide if the Socialists will be given the order to form a new cabinet. He has already openly said that he favors early elections in order to salvage the country from the economic crisis.

Meanwhile, Stoyanov's predecessor Zhelyu Zhelev, a self- declared opponent of the Socialists, refused to give them the mandate to form a new government. The opposition now demands that the voting be held in March.

Meanwhile, according to BBC reports, the country's national currency, the lev, has taken a nose dive, skewering Bulgaria with economic, banking and social problems, coupled with a skyrocketing unemployment rate. A.F.

[12] US DEFENCE MINISTRY DELEGATION IS VISITING SKOPJE

A US Defence Ministry delegation is on a short visit to FYROM on the invitation of FYROM's Defence Minister Blagoi Hatzinski.

The visit's objective is the briefing of the US officials on FYROM's defence system, the international cooperation developed by the General Army Staff in the sector of defence and the activities of FYROM's army within the framework of NATO's "Partnership for Peace" programme.

During their stay in Skopje the members of the US delegation will visit army training camps to evaluate the training level of FYROM's army officers.

[13] GERMAN COURT ACCUSED TURKEY OF COVERING UP DRUG-DEALERS

A Frankfurt court publicly accused Turkey of covering up drug- dealers, who are flooding western Europe with heroin. The unprecedented for a country public accusation, is included in a ruling issued by a Frankfurt court which sentenced three Turks to prison terms of 5 to 9 years for drug-trafficking.

Judge Rolf Schwalbe presented evidence which prove the existence of close relations between the Turkish government and heroin dealers. According to him, the heroin trade from Turkey to Germany and other western European countries is controlled by the Chenoglu and Baybaschin organized crime "families" in Istanbul. The illegal trade of those organizations is covered up by the Turkish government, a fact that makes the work of the drug enforcement agencies very difficult.

In the court ruling is mentioned characteristically that those "families" have excellent relations with the Turkish government and especially close personal relations with a woman minister in the present government.

Members of the court when asked by the German news agency correspondent confirmed the suspicion that the woman minister mentioned in the ruling is former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, who is the Vice-President and Foreign Minister in the current government of islamist Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan.

The Frankfurt trial concerned the illegal trade of 8 kilos of heroin that were brought from Istanbul in October of 1995 and the arrest of the three Turks was achieved after a phone-tapping operation.

Meanwhile, investigations continue in Belgium for the arrest of the members of an international ring dealing Turkish heroin, to which belonged the three Turks arrested in Frankfurt. It is estimated that this drug-trafficking ring has already brought to Germany about 100 kilos of heroin.

[14] F.R.Y.: RALLIES CONTINUE IN BELGRADE, TAXI DRIVERS CREATE CHAOS IN STREETS

Supporters of the Federal Yugoslav Republic's main opposition, the tri-partite coalition "Zajedno", continue their mobilizations in the streets of Belgrade, at times employing the most innovative ways to express their protests.

Yesterday, the capital city's taxi drivers blocked the streets, creating a bottleneck effect in the center of town.

Meanwhile, many supporters of Zajedno have reported that they were beaten by the police in various areas of Belgrade. A.F.

[15] BULGARIA: SOCIALIST PARTY'S NEW LEADER OPEN TO EARLY ELECTIONS

The president of Bulgaria's Soialist Party Georgi Parvanov stated yesterday that early elections could be held a year ahead of schedule, on October 13 or December 18 of this year.

In an interview with a Sofia daily, Mr. Parvanov stated that the only way to salvage the country from its formidable economic crisis is to hold elections nine months from now.

Up until then, the political forces must aim towards stabilizing the economy, Mr. Parvanov said. A.F.

[16] ANKARA APPALLED BY DRUG DEALING COVER-UP ACCUSATIONS, FILES DEMARCHE

Turkey has filed a demarche with the German Embassy in Ankara, protesting a Frankfurt court's revelation which publicly accused Turkey of covering up drug-dealers.

Turkish Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Omer Akbel characterized the German court's opinion as "unacceptable and condemnable."

The Turkish Embassy in Bonn has also sent a protest note to the German Foreign Ministry, demanding further explanation of the court's decision.

"No one can make such allegations against a country or its officials, without proof or support," said Turkey's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oymen.

The public accusation is included in the ruling issued by the German court during the sentence hearing of three Turks who were found guilty of drug-trafficking.

According to Judge Rolf Schwalbe, the heroin trade from Turkey to Germany and other western European countries is controlled by the Chenoglu and Baybaschin organized-crime "families" in Istanbul. The judge reportedly added that these people enjoy close ties with the Turkish government and a female minister in specific. A.F.

[17] SERB LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC MEETS WITH MONTENEGRO'S BULATOVIC

The Serb President of the Federal Yugoslav Republic Slobodan Milosevic met with the President of Montenegro Momir Bulatovic in Belgrade today.

During their meeting, the two men agreed that recently-noted efforts provoking the -false- impression of differences between them, aim to weaken the two republics' positions, and of Yugoslavia in general.

The two leaders emphasized that cooperation between their two states is at a high level and aims to strengthen the country as a whole. A.F.

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