Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-04-29

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, April 29, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: CILLER SHOULD, AT LEAST VERBALLY, COMMIT TO COMMON POSITION OF "15"

Greece remains firm on its veto to Turkey's financing from the European Union, while Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated that his Turkish counterpart Tansu Ciller must, at least verbally, vow to uphold the common position adopted by the EU's "15" before Greece changes its position.

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that the common statement is satisfactory for Greece, which is wating for Turkey to accept its terms. Meanwhile, Ms. Ciller is late in arriving at Luxemburg where the EU-Turkey Association Council is to take place, due to a mechanical breakdown in her plane.

The European Union's common position for the EU-Turkey Association Council states that the further strengthening of relations between the Community and Turkey depends on a number of factors.

Specifically, one of these factors is "the improvement of relations between an EU member-state and Turkey through the settlement of issues between them in acordance with international law, including means such as the International Court of Justice, as well as through good neighborly relations and the rejection of the threat of use of force in accordance with the UN Charter."

Moreover, the common position states that Turkey must improve its human rights record, bringing its standards to internationally- accepted levels. A.F.

[02] LAST PART OF GREEK BATTALLION DEPARTED FOR ALBANIA TODAY

The last part of the Greek battallion participating in the multinational peacekeeping force assigned to Albania departed this evening from Thessaloniki's port for Durres where they will arrive in 48 hours.

The ninety troops are being transported on the Greek Navy's tank-landing ships "Chios" and "Kos".

The eight-nation force, code-named "Alba" (the Italian word for dawn), is to supervise the transport of the humanitarian aid sent to Albania. A.F.

[03] GREECE'S LARGEST BALKAN BUSINESS VENTURE TO BE SIGNED ON MONDAY

Greece's largest business venture in the Balkans up to date, amounting $502 million, will be signed on Monday between the Greek company "Mytilineos" and the "Treptsa" mines from Kossovo's Kosovska Mitrovitsa.

According to the five-year agreement, Mytilineos will finance "Treptsa" in exchange for promoting the materials into the international markets.

"Treptsa" is the largest mine throughout the Balkans and it is widely assessed that this venture will greatly contribute to the development of the Kossovo region. A.F.

[04] GREEK-GERMAN COMPANIES TO COOPERATE IN BALKANS, THESSALONIKI THE BASE

Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis called on the German business sector to venture into the Balkan region in cooperation with their Greek counterparts, with Thessaloniki being the base.

During his stay in Germany, Mr. Simitis met with leaders from Germany's business and banking sectors. In turn, the Premier of Hesse said that the ground towards this direction will be paved through Germany's participation in the upcoming September's International Trade Fair to be held in Thessaloniki. A.F.

[05] THESSALONIKI'S JEWISH COMMUNITY HONOURS THE MEMORY OF THE 50.000 JEWS KILLED BY THE NAZIS

With the slogan "God remembers what people forget" Thessaloniki's Jewish Community will honour on May 4 the memory of the city's 50.000 Jews killed in nazi concentration camps 54 years ago together with other 6 million Jews.

It should be reminded that 96% of Thessaloniki's Jews were killed by the nazis and the city's Jewish Community was reduced to 1.950 members by the end of WWII compared to the 56.000 members it numbered before the persecution.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] EU-TURKEY ASSOCIATION COUNCIL TO BE HELD IN LUXEMBURG TODAY

The European Union-Turkey Association Council is to be held this evening in Luxemburg where the common position adopted by the "15" will be discussed.

As Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos have said, Greece will lift its veto over Turkey's financing from the EU only if Ankara meets the three terms posed by Greece, that is, Turkey must respect international rules and accords and must not use the threat of force or force against Greece.

The European Union's common position for the EU-Turkey Association Council states that the further strengthening of relations between the Community and Turkey depends on a number of factors.

Specifically, one of these factors is "the improvement of relations between an EU member-state and Turkey through the settlement of issues between them in acordance with international law, including means such as the International Court of Justice, as well as through good neighborly relations and the rejection of the threat of use of force in accordance with the UN Charter."

Moreover, the common position states that Turkey must improve its human rights record, bringing its standards to internationally- accepted levels. A.F.

[07] ALBANIA: SALI BERISHA WANTS ELECTIONS THROUGH MAJORITY SYSTEM

Albanian President Sali Berisha met in Tirana yesterday with a European Council delegation to whom he announced that his country's upcoming elections, scheduled for June, will be held through a majority system.

Mr. Berisha blamed Albania's former communists for the riots in the country's southern region after the illicit banking scandal that led hundreds of thousands of Albanians to lose their hard- earned savings.

The Albanian President also said that the elections must be held under the supervision of the C of E, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Parliament and American institutions. Mr. Berisha did add that the main obstacle to fixing the exact date of the elections is posed by the armed committees which the Socialist Party, after it signed an open agreement with them on March 28, recognized as its armed wing and also asked the government of national reconciliation to recognize.

Meanwhile, 150 Albanian officers have deserted from their country's army, which numbers 4,500 troops, according to Albania's Defense Minister Faki Bukai.

Also, 25 persons were killed and seven were injured in a strong explosion that occurred last week in a military depot in northern Albania. The explosion took place when two youngsters, 17 and 19 years old, activated an explosive mechanism by mistake in their attempt to steal mines and guns. A.F.

[08] RUSSIAN PROPOSAL ON CYPRUS TO BE TABLED TO SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY

A Russian proposal on resolving the Cyprus issue is to be tabled during today's meeting of the United Nations Security Council, according to Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.

President Clerides characterized this move by Russia as a positive one, but he declined to make any further comment.

Meanwhile, aside from today's SC meeting, representatives of the UN Chief Kofi Annan met in New York yesterday where they discussed the Cyprus issue. A.F.

[09] BULGARIAN PREMIER SAYS: FYROM IS PART OF BULGARIA'S HISTORY

Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov's statement that "Macedonia constitutes a part of Bulgaria's history" has - surprisingly- stirred no reaction from FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia) which broadcast the statement on its state- owned stations without comment.

Specifically, Mr. Stoyanov said that "As President, and being Bulgarian, I will not alter my conviction that "Macedonia's history constitutes a part of Bulgaria's history."

In the past, milder statements had provoked a storm of reactions from Skopje. A.F.

[10] US TO BLOCK IMF'S $486 MILLION LOAN TO CROATIA IF ACCUSED WAR CRIMINAL IS NOT TURNED IN

The United States are set to block the 486 million dollar loan approved for Croatia by the International Monetary Fund if Zagreb does not turn in to the international Court for War Crimes in The Hague, within two weeks, the Croat nationalist Slavko Alexovski.

Alexovski is accused of having committed war crimes in central Bosnia during the war in former Yugoslavia. This is the first direct measure that Washington has announced, following its repeated warnings towards Croatia which, in spite of the Dayton Agreement, refuses to cooperate with the International Court of Justice. A.F.

[11] ROMANIA: IMF GRANTS $430 MILLION LOAN

The International Monetary Fund has approved a 430 million- dollar loan to Romania, aiming at strengthening the reforms program adopted by the country's conservative coalition government.

Although the IMF will pay $86 million immediately, the loan's remaining sum will be granted in four quarterly payments, in accordance to the course of the reforms planned by the Romanian government.

Romanian Premier Victor Corbea characterized the loan as "an act of international trust". He added that the reform process has begun its one-way course to the right direction. A.F.

[12] ALBANIA'S SCHOOLS TO RE-OPEN TODAY

After a two-month hiatus, Albanian students returned to their classrooms today as the Albanian Ministry of Education has decided that the situation is calm enough for schools to re-operate.

Certain schools, especially in the region near Tirana, are guarded by armed policemen. Schools in the regions of Gjirocaster and Durres have been operating since last week but the University of Tirana remains closed. A.F.

[13] LABOUR PARTY SHOWS IMPRESSIVE LEAD TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS

Albeit two days before Britain's elections, Toni Blair's Labour Party already presents an impressive lead, bordering on 22 percentage points.

In spite of Prime Minister John Major's efforts to the contrary, he visited Northern Ireland yesterday, the early forecasts are expected to materialize. A.F.

[14] THE PRESIDENT OF THE EU-BULGARIA JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE WILL VISIT SOFIA

President of the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee, Greek Euro-deputy Nikos Papakyriazis met today with officials of the Bulgarian Embassy to the EU as well as, with officials from the responsible agencies of the European Commission and the European Parliament to discuss the course of the materialization of the different programmes in Bulgaria and the distribution of humanitarian aid in the country.

The formal meeting of the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee will be held in Sofia in June during which will be discussed Bulgaria's relations with the EU and the country's pre- accession course. Mr.Papakyriazis will visit Bulgaria soon for the preparation of this meeting after the swearing-in of the new government is held and he will have contacts with President Stoyanov, new Prime Minister Kostov, government ministers, Parliament deputies and representatives of the opposition.

[15] US INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE US STATE DEPARTMENT

US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns announced the undertaking of an initiative by the Clinton government for the solution of the Cyprus problem. In his scheduled meeting with pres representatives, mr.Burns stated responding to a question made by a Turkish journalist, that the United States will take action in 1997 for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Referring to the Greek-Turkish relations, the US State Department spokesman reiterated US Secretary of State Madleen Albright's interest in the issue.

He stated that ms.Albright has a real interest in south- eastern Europe and eastern Mediterranean and is also directly interested in the preservation of peace between Greece and Turkey, two countries that are allies of the United States and NATO. He said that Greece and Turkey should assume their responsibilities in achieving peace in the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean, adding that the European states should be open to Turkey's full European membership.

Responding to a question on whether there is truth in the information that the Clinton administration will end or limit its military aid to Turkey, mr.Burns stated that he is unaware of the issue and characterized the country as "a very good NATO ally".

[16] TORTURES CONTINUE IN TURKEY ACCORDING TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Amnesty International representatives in a press conference in Vienna made accusations according to which, tortures continue in Turkish police stations as well as, human rights violations, in spite of the international pressures exerted on the government of Turkey.

In a 200-page report are included cases of brutal and systematic human rights oppression in Turkey. The Amnesty International representatives underlined the fact that in the past months the number of people who disappeared while in police custody has increased. In the two-month period of November- December 1996 were recorded at least 11 cases of prisoners' disappearances.

In the press conference also participated a woman journalist and lawyer from Istanbul, who was a political prisoner and now is the legal representative of the Turkish Human Rights Association.

Ms.Eren Keskin pointed out that what is mainly persecuted in Turkey is the freedom of expression, stressing that the people who want to express their views freely in Turkey face the risk of imprisonment.

Regarding the Kurdish issue, ms.Keskin said that the mere mentioning of the words Kurdish or Kurdistan is seen as an effort to undermine the country's national security. She also condemned the new revision of the anti-terrorist law, through which an effort is being made not to reform it but to improve certain articles in order to change the negative climate that exists abroad.

Austria's Amnesty International representative ms.Gabrielle Juen stated that with this press conference ends the 7-month long international campaign against the systematic human rights violations in Turkey. She said that this does not mean that Turkey will be forgotten and added that the efforts will intensify because in this country not only there is a lack of progress in the human rights situation but there is a dangerous deterioration of its human rights record.

[17] TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION IS PREPARED AGAINST THE KURDISH PKK

A large number of Turkish soldiers is being transported to the south-eastern part of the country in view of the spring military operations against the Kurdish PKK rebels outside the Turkish borders.

According to the Turkish newspaper "Radical", the number of soldiers in the south-eastern borders of the country have exceeded the 15 thousand mark, while reinforcements continue to arrive at the provinces of Tsukurtza and Semdinli.

The issue of the preparations for a military operation in south-eastern Turkey is also mentioned in the newspaper "Sabah", which writes that the army reinforcements began arriving in the region 15 days ago.

[18] TURKEY IS IN SEARCH OF AN ALTERNATIVE POLITICAL SOLUTION

Turkey is greatly concerned with finding an alternative political solution, as there is deterioration in the relations between the military and the government.

The leader of the Turkish armed forces in an unscheduled press conference warned the government that the fight against the islamists is a life or death issue. Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan was forced to co-sign a National Security Council declaration limiting the role of the islamists in public life, while he also expressed readiness to call early elections in the country.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and leader of the Leftist Democratic opposition party Bulent Etsevit has begun consultations for an alternative political solution in Turkey.

[19] INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS

The International Conference on the role of commerce and the distribution networks in the European Union, which is organized by the National Confederation of Commerce and the EU Commission's Directorate 23, will be held in the north-eastern Greek city of Alexandroupolis on May 30 - June 1 in the presence of Greek Minister of Development ms.Vaso Papandreou.

The meeting will offer a chance for communication to the European trade institutions and agencies for the collective solution of problems in the European and international trade. Also, will be presented the tendencies formed in the European trade due to the globalization of the economy and the dissemination of information to all the sectors of the economy.

[20] OVER 15.000 CIVILIANS ARE KILLED EACH YEAR BY LANDMINES

At least 15.000 civilians, most of them young children, lose their lives each year in many cases after hostilities are over, by landmines abandoned by armies in war zones.

According to facts presented by Mediciens Sans Frontiers, man has exhausted all imagination in making landmines, as non- detectable materials are now being used. As a result minefields are impossible to be cleaned up and huge parts of land are left uncultivated.

President of the organization's Greek branch mr.Odyseas Voudouris stated that the victims of landmines are mainly children because they tend to touch everything that excites their curiosity.

[21] GREEK-SWEDISH CULTURE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED IN STOCKHOLM

The new bilingual culture magazine "Aristotle" was published in Stockholm by Greek and Swedish journalists.

The magazine's editor-in-chief mr.Christos Karipidis, who is an active member of the Greek community in the Swedish capital, stated that its aim is to illustrate the Greek culture and traditions from antiquity to the present times.

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