Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-02-12

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, February 12, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PREMIER: THERE IS NO ROOM FOR FURTHER INCREASES TO LOW INCOMES

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated yesterday that there is no room for further increases to low incomes, while he defended the state's economic policy, emphasizing the country's aim to achieve equitable status within the European Union.

Commending on the farmers' recent mobilizations, the Premier reiterated that the government is open to dialogue, but, he added, it is not about to succumb to demands expressed by certain social groups. A.F.

[02] THE MEETING BETWEEN SIMITIS AND THE STRIKING TEACHERS WAS FRUITLESS

[03] PREHISTORIC TOOLS DATING BACK 300,000 YEARS EXCAVATED NEAR THESSALONIKI

Prehistoric tools dating back 250,000 to 300,000 years, that is the Paleolithic Age which is the earliest period of the Stone Age when people made stone tools and weapons, have been located 23 kilometers away from Thessaloniki in the Lagada region.

These findings, according to an announcement issued during the archaeological conference currently taking place in Thessaloniki, along with the human skull of the prehistoric man of Petralona, are counted among the earliest traces of human existence in Central Macedonia.

The Greek archaeologists emphasize in their announcement that the distances between the various locations where these findings were discovered provokes great curiosity as the tools are quite similar to others found in Thessaly, central Greece's region.

[04] REPPAS: NO EXTRA MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated today that no extraordinary measures have been taken at the country's borders since "the government does not believe that such a problem will manifest itself in an explosive form."

Mr. Reppas was replying to reporters' questions on the possibility of a wave of illegal immigrants from Albania, given the recent bloody incidents there.

Mr. Reppas also added that the forces stationed along the Greek borders are permanent and adequate to deal with any problems that may arise.

[05] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER : PLAN READY TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos stated today that a plan has been readied to tackle a wave of illegal immigrants coming into Greece.

The come-of-lately concern over illegal immigration stems from the recent developments in Albania where the collapse of get- rich-quick puramid schemes have brought on financial ruin to thousands of Albanians who may seek solace in Greece.

Mr. Petsalnikos stated that the jointly responsible ministries have already taken measures for such a development.

"The measures are constantly at an increased level with joint police and army patrols, but they have not been intensified," Mr. Petsalnikos said, adding that the measures are neither intense, nor loose.

[06] REPPAS: TURKEY'S POLICY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TENSION IN THE REGION

The policy followed by Turkey is responsible for the tension and the danger in the region, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when asked to comment on the statements made by foreign officials on the Cyprus problem and the Greek-Turkish relations.

Mr.Reppas stated that all those who make statements expressing fears for a possible Greek-Turkish armed conflict must see which country's policy is in accordance with international law and work for the deescalation of the tension.

Referring to Greece's position on the Greek-Turkish relations, mr.Reppas stressed that the government exercises a patriotic policy and its position on the issue of the continental shelf is that a joint appeal with Turkey should be made to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

On the issue of the Imia islets in the Aegean which, according to mr.Reppas, constitutes a violation of the Greek sovereign rights, the solution is either for Turkey to state that there is no issue pending or to appeal by itself to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

[07] CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN BY GREEK BUSINESSMEN IN BETHLEEM ON THE 2.000TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHRIST'S BIRTH

Construction projects, in which will be included the building of hotels and the improvement of Bethleem's street layout, will be undertaken by greek businesses in view of the celebrations for the 2.000th anniversary of the birth of Christ, as it was announced by Thessaloniki's Commerce and Industry Chamber.

Bethleem's Christian mayor Elias Freil made a special appeal to Greek businessmen to assist in the improvement of city's picture by undertaking construction projects and added that Greece is the only Christian Orthodox country to which he can turn to for assistance in view of the celebrations for the 2.000th anniversary of Christ's birth.

[08] DEFENSE MINISTER AKIS TSOCHATZOPOULOS TO VISIT GERMANY NEXT WEEK

Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will conduct a two-day formal visit to Germany next Monday.

During his stay in Bonn, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will meet with his German counterpart Faulker Rye and will attend working luncheons with German Defense Ministry officials.

The Greek Minister will have talks over issues concerning bilateral relations, the Greek-Turkish issues, the Cyprus issue, the developments in the Balkan region and the Alliance's eastward expansion.

Also, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will meet with members of the German-Hellenic Parliamentary Group and leading members of Germany's Greek community. A.F.

[09] TEACHERS TO DECIDE TODAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL CONTINUE STRIKES

Greece's striking high school teachers will decide today whether or not they'll continue their strikes for a fifth consecutive week, while their union is to conduct a protest rally in the center of Athens.

The government calls on the academicians to return to schools for the sake of education. Prime Minister Kostas Simitis reiterated yesterday that the teachers are to receive a raise which will be on the average of nine percent. A.F.

[10] PLAN DRAWN TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN EPIRUS, MACEDONIA, THRACE

A plan, code named "Balkanio", concerning the combat of illegal immigration from neighboring countries (Albania, FYROM, Bulgaria) has been drawn by the Ministry of Public Order.

The plan aims to establish coordinated groups from all of the government's bodies at the borderline municipalities of Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace, in order to deal with the surging wave of illegal immigrants into Greece. A similar plan has been drawn to deal with illegal immigrants entering Greece from Turkey. A.F.

[11] GREEK INVESTMENTS IN THE BALKANS TAKE DOWNWARD TREND

Greek investments in the Balkan region have taken a downward trend lately, given the instability noted in the neighboring coutnries.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, the director of the Northern Greece Exporters' Asociation Iordanis Adamides stated that the climate is marked by uncertainty, especially in Albania and Yugoslavia, although specific data on the reduction of investment is not yet available. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] MR.CLERIDES RESPONDED TO MR.RIFKIND FROM NEW DELHI

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides completed his contacts with Indian government officials and businessmen in New Delhi yesterday and today will visit the city of Untaipur.

In statements he made, the Cypriot President referred British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind to a UN Secretary General report on the Cyprus problem in which he mentions that the lack of progress in the Cyprus issue is due to the lack of political will on behalf of the Turkish side.

Responding to questions in a press conference in New Delhi yesterday, President Clerides pointed out that the second reason based on which the UN Secretary General does not believe that there was progress in Cyprus is the fact that the Turkish side ignores the UN Security Council resolutions.

Mr.Clerides reiterated that a direct dialogue with Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash can not start "unless there is an indication from the other side that is ready to negotiate and to change its position toward important issues". He concluded that Britain, the United States and the special envoy of the UN Secretary General to Cyprus have reached similar conclusions after their visits to the island.

After reiterating the proposal for the demilitarization of Cyprus, President Clerides explained that the government decided the purchase of the Russian S-300 missile system because 80 Turkish F-16 fighter jets are just 4 minutes away from the capital of Cyprus.

Responding to the question concerning Cyprus' accession into the European Union, mr.Clerides pointed out that the EU has repeatedly confirmed that the negotiations with Cyprus will begin 6 months after the end of the Inter-Governmental Conference and will not allow Turkey to block its decisions.

[13] STEFAN SOFIYANSKI IS THE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF BULGARIA

Mayor of Sofia and former Telecommunications Minister in the 1992 Union of Democratic Forces government, Stefan Sofiyanski is the Prime Minister of Bulgaria's caretaker government that was sworn-in before President Petar Stoyanov this afternoon.

President Stoyanov with a special decree announced the dissolution of Parliament on February 19 while early elections will be held on April 19.

In an interview made earlier to bulgarian state radio, mr.Sofiyanski had stressed that it is impossible for the country to get out of the economic crisis in three months but every effort will be made for the gradual normalization of the economic and social situation.

Mr.Sofiyanski underlined that for the achievement of this end the government needs the support of the bulgarian people to start implementing reforms.

The new Prime Minister will start negotiations with the unions immediately to make sure that the workers will not be involved in mobilizations during the three-month term of the government of technocrats.

Bulgaria has won the attention of the West and now it will seek its tangible support, said mr.Sofiyanski, who concluded that the government will start negotiations with IMF and other financial organizations as soon as possible.

The caretaker government will be made up of 16 Ministers. The "economic brain" of the Union of Democratic Forces Alexander Bozkov will be the government's Vice-President and Industry Minister, while the government's other Vice-President and Justice Minister will be Haralambi Antsev, who was until recently the Central Electoral Committee Secretary.

Foreign Minister will be former Bulgarian Ambassador to Germany Stoyan Stalev, while Interior Minister is the ministry's former Secretary General in the 1992 Union of Democratic Forces government Bogomil Bonev. Finance Minister is Stanislav Gavriiski, former Undersecreatry of Finance and head of the Bulgarian delegation in previous negotiations with the IMF, while the new Defence Minister is Georgi Ananiev.

[14] ERBAKAN IS ARROGANT AND AMBITIOUS ACCORDING TO THE TURKISH PRESS

Most Turkish newspapers characterize Prime Minister Erbakan as arrogant and ambitious based on the content of his speech in Antalia, when he backed the policy followed by his coalition government with Tansu Ciller's True Path party and declared that this government will stay in power beyond the year 2000.

The Turkish Prime Minister stated that soon inflation will drop under 10%, while interest rates will be decreased, the national currency will have a bigger value compared to the US dollar and Turkey will become the strongest state in Europe.

[15] FYROM'S NATIONALISTS WANT EARLY ELECTIONS AFTER THE "PYRAMID INVESTMENT SCHEMES" SCANDAL

FYROM's nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party reiterated its demand for the holding of early elections because of the chaos in the country that was created after the revelation that certain private investment schemes cheated their investors.

According to FYROM's state television, citing a party statement, the nationalists accused the governing party of the Social-Democratic Union maintaining that the pyramid investment schemes had the state's approval which is mainly responsible for the situation that has been created.

VMRO-DPMNE maintains that the pyramid investment schemes are a continuation of the policy implemented in 1991 by the Social- Democratic Union when it blocked the foreign exchange deposits made by the country's citizens, worth 1,5 billion dollars.

In the statement issued by the nationalists is mentioned that the government is unable to deal with the country's economic problems and therefore, it should hold early elections to avoid events similar to those shaking Albania and Bulgaria.

[16] FYROM'S PRESIDENT WILL MAKE A FORMAL VISIT TO THE US IN 1997

FYROM's President Kiro Gligorov will make a formal visit to the United States before the end of the year, as it was announced by the country's Foreign Minister Liubomir Frtskofski, who did not mention the exact date of the visit.

In a press conference he gave after his visit to the United States, FYROM's Foreign Minister stated that he was satisfied with the contacts he had with american government officials.

[17] CLINTON PROMISED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS ISSUE

US President Bill Clinton gave the promise to Cyprus' new Ambassador to Washington, mr.Andros Nikolaides that he will do everything possible for the promotion of the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The US President, in the ceremony for the presentation of mr.Nikolaides' credentials, stated that Cyprus' division does not allow the country to play its role in the region. He stressed that no state can achieve progress for as long as UN forces patrol in its territory, if there are buffer zones and its capital is divided.

Referring to the US initiative on Cyprus, the US President said that the government will evaluate the developments in the region and will examine in what way the United States, in cooperation with the international community, will promote an inter-communal agreement in Cyprus. He stressed that the reaching of a solution that will satisfy all sides will depend on the intentions of the two communities on the island and on the support of Athens and Ankara.

Mr.Nikolaides stated that the people of Cyprus want to be allowed to live free, while they also want a solution that will guarantee every freedom and human right for all Cypriots, Greek- Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots alike, in a reunited, federal and demilitarized Cyprus.

[18] THE SITUATION IN ALBANIA REMAINS UNSETTLED - PROTEST RALLY IN TIRANA IN SPITE OF THE POLICE BAN

The situation in Albania remains unsettled as the protest demonstrations have expanded in almost every city, after the chain- reaction collapse of illegal pyramid investment schemes which tends to take unforeseen dimensions and acquire the form of popular uprising.

The most violent clashes between police and angry demonstrators, who were demanding the government's resignation, took place in the south Albanian city of Vlore and as a result 3 people lost their lives while hundreds were injured.

The leadership of the governing Democratic Party, after its failed attempt to impose a state of emergency in Vlore, when its proposal was rejected in Parliament, holds a meeting today to examine alternative ways for the solution of the crisis. At the same time with the meeting, the opposition will hold a protest rally in Tirana's main stadium in spite of the police ban.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Forum opposition front demands the government's resignation and the forming of a new government of technocrats as the only way out of the crisis.

Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi called on the opposition parties to participate in a dialogue in order to deal with the situation but the opposition leaders set as a precondition for their participation the forming of a government of technocrats while they also reiterated that the crisis must be resolved through peaceful means.

[19] ALBANIA: PROTEST RALLIES DENOUNCING SALI BERISHA CONTINUE

Tens of thousands of irate Albanians continued their protests in the streets of Tirana and Argyrocastro yesterday, denouncing the Sali Berisha regime which they consider responsible for the illicit money-making operations known as the "pyramid".

Yesterday, the funeral of one of the persons who died during Monday's clashes with the police was turned into a populous rally. Participants set fire to the offices of the ruling Democratic Party. A.F.

[20] F.R.Y.: PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZES ZAJEDNO'S VICTORY, OPPOSITION STILL SCEPTICAL

The Serb President Slobodan Milosevic's proposal to recognize the opposition Zajedno's victory during last November 17's elections was upheld by the Serbian Parliament last night, but the tripartite oppositon colaition conmtinue their protests for an 85th consecutive day.

Vuc Drascovic, one of Zajedno's three leaders, stated that these mobilizatIons will continue until the law is actually enforces, while Zoran Djindjic, said that the protests will continue until the state's control on the mass media is loosened. A.F.

[21] US SECRETARY OF STATE: CYPRUS ISSUE DRIVES A WEDGE BETWEEN TWO ALLIES

United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told the Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs that "the Cyprus issue drives a wedge between two countries-allies in NATO and, as such, threatens the European stability and our viable interests."

According to Ms. Albright, the US is prepared to carry out a greater role in finding a soliution to the Cyprus issue, emphasizing that the involved parties must agree on specific steps that will result in a reduction of the tension and will build trust. A.F.

[22] FEARS FOR NEW BLOODSHED - TIRANA IS UNDER ARMY RULE

[23] THE SERB OPPOSITION CONTINUES ITS DEMONSTRATIONS

[24] GREEK EUROMEP PROPOSES RESOLUTION FOR THE EXTRADITION OF ALOIS BRUNNER

In a motion filed today with the European Parliament, Greek Euro-deputy Nikos Papakyriazis, calls on the European Council and all the member-states to assist in the search for and the prosecution of Alois Brunner, the wanted war criminal responsible for the killing of 56,000 Jews of Thessaloniki and anther 25,000 in Dracy, France, during WWII.

Given that 1997 is the year dedicated to the combat of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, Mr. Papakyriazis appeals to the European Parliament that it take decisive and definite action which will lead to the extradition of Brunner, who, according to existing proof, lives in Damascus, Syria.

Mr. Papakyriazis' resolution is to be forwarded to the Syrian government whcih, so far, has categorically denied that Brunner lives in the country.

[25] MOSCOW ASKS BULGARIA TO FINALLY DECIDE ON OIL PIPELINE

A Russian government delegation, headed by Vice-President Oleg Lobov, is to visit Bulgaria at the beginning of March in order to ask Bulgaria what exactly it is that it plans to do with the construction plan of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Leonid Kerestediads, spoke to Bulgaria's press today and relayed his government's exasperation over the project's delay. Moscow appears determined to find out who is blocking the pipeline's process, according to the Ambassador's curt statements.

[26] DENKTASH TAKES UP GREECE-TURKEY WAR SCENARIA

Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has taken up the British Foreign Minister's recent speculations of a Greece-Turkey war erupting over Cyprus, and stated that Malcolm Rifkind is correct in fearing such scenario.

Mr. Denktash said that in order for a war to be avoided, the "duo known as 'Greeks and Greek-Cypriots' must be intercepted."

Mr. Denktash also said that the Cyprus issue will not be resolved if equal treatment is not granted to both Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots.

"We insist," he said, "on equality."

Meanwhile, Britain's Foreign Office issued an announcement this evening wherein it clarified Mr. Rifkind's scenaria of war between Greece and Turkey.

Specifically, Mr. Rifkind clarified, he did not state that Cyprus would be the cause of such collission, but, rather, it would be the two neighbors' differences over the Aegean Sea.

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