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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-06-08Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 19:18 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANSNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] S.E. EUROPE'S FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROWWeb Posted: 14:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki, June 8 (MPA)The Foreign Ministers Conference on Security, Stability and Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe will begin in Thessaloniki tomorrow, June 9, an event that is hailed as having exceptional significance for the security and establishment of peace in the region.The two-day meeting will feature the participation of FMs from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, FYROM, Greece, Romania, Turkey and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, while participating as observers will be the United States, Russia, Britain, France and Germany. Also, over twenty countries and international organizations will be represented at the Conference, among them Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Moldova, Ukraine, Sweden, the United Nations, Council of Europe, European Commission, World Bank and CEDEFOP. Heading the Greek delegation will be the Greek FM Theodoros Pangalos, who will arrive this evening in Thesaloniki, as well as undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis who is to host an informal dinner for the delegations of the other countries. The Foreign Ministers leading the remaining Balkan countries' delegations will be as follows: F.R.Y.: Milan Milutinovic; Bulgaria: newly-appointed FM Nadejda Michailova; Romania: Andrei Severin; Russia: alternate FM Nicolai Afanasievski; Turkey: assistant undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ali Tugan; Albania: Adrian Starova; FYROM: Blagoj Handiski, this being the first time an FM from FYROM will officially visit Greece. A.F. [02] THESSALONIKI-HELD FM CONFERENCE A STEP TOWARDS GREATER COOPERATIONWeb Posted: 14:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki, June 8 (MPA)The two-day Balkan Foreign Ministers Conference, to begin in Thessaloniki tomorrow, is viewed as an event that is to greatly contribute to political, economic and social cooperation among the region's countries.The Balkan FMs are to discuss issues such as furthering political cooperation. building security and trust measures in the region, developing economic cooperation, establishing specific plans of action for environmental protection, promoting humanitarian, social and cultural collaboration and coordinating the efforts to combat organized crime, terrorism, drug and arms smuggling. According to reports, Greek FM Theodoros Pangalos is to propose the creation of a common market for the Balkan countries, based on equitable relations, a point of heightened concern for the region's weaker states, while always having in mind peaceful co-existence. Moreover, the Greek side is expected to propose the creation of a permanent business center and center of technology transfer, with headquarters in Thessaloniki. A.F. [03] BALKAN BUSINESSMEN TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI, WILL DISCUSS PRIVATIZATIONWeb Posted: 14:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki, June 8 (MPA)Leading businessmen from the Balkan countries will discuss the region's privatization process during a meeting to be held in Thessaloniki tomorrow, on the sidelines of the Balkan Foreign Ministers Conference.Also expected to participate in this foum are the respective countries' ministers who are responsible for the privatization processes in their states. The initiative for the discussion, where the sectors of energy, telecommunications, transportation, banking and industry will be represented, has been taken by the Greek Foreign Ministry, with the organizational support of the Association of Northern Greece's Industries (SVVE). The Greek side will be represented by approximately 50 leading businessmen and bankers. The development of this multi-faceted political and economic cooperation is deemed by the Greek side as necessary, especially during an era that is marked by common actions and ideals among the region's neighbors. A.F. [04] "BALKAN NEWS BANK" AND THE "ASSOCIATION OF BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES"Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki, June 8 (MPA)The Macedonian Press Agency, which since its founding n 1991 has played a leading role in the efforts to establish cooperation among Southeastern Europe's state-owned news agencies, has undertaken the initiative and created at its Thessaloniki headquarters, the "Balkan News Bank" which is fueled by the belief that the exchange of information and mutual understanding among the region's peoples can create the necesary pre-conditions for a peaceful co-existence, friendly neighborly relations and close cooperation among the region's countries.The "Balkan News Bank", financed by the European Union's INTERREG-II program, will be ready for operation next month, July 1997, and will feature the participation of the news agencies that are members of the Association of Balkan News Agencies, created on June 26, 1995 in Thessaloniki. The members are as follows: Greece's national news agencies Macedonian Press Agency (MPA) and Athens News Agency (ANA); Bulgaria: Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) and Balkan Information Pool (BIP); F.R.Y.: Tanjug; Turkey: Anadolu; Romania: Rompress; Albania: Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA): FYROM: Macedonian Press Bureau (MPB). The news agencies that have expressed their wish to participate in ABNA are the Slovenian Telegraph Agency (STA) and Bosnia-Herzegovina's B-H Press. A.F. [05] DUTCH FM HANS VAN MIERLO EXPECTED IN ATHENS THIS EVENINGWeb Posted: 14:57 GMT+2Athens, June 8 (MPA)According to reports, Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo is expected to arrive in Athens this evening, within the framework of his tour throughout European capitals prior to the beginning of the EU Summit.Mr. van Mierlo is expected to meet with Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and alternate FM George Papandreou. A.F. [06] ECUMENICAL HELLENISM PROGRAM TO OPEN TOMORROW IN THESSALONIKIWeb Posted: 14:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki, June 8 (MPA)The program "Ecumenical Hellenism" will begin tomorrow in Thessaloniki, under the initiative of the Greek National Line and the foundation of National and Religious Concern which aim at promoting and presenting the country's national issues and history throughout the world.According to the president of the Greek National Line Stavros Panousopoulos, the program consists of two axes: First, to distribute, free of charge, the book "Macedonia" in the English language throughout foreign universities and institutes, to the US Congress and House of Representatives and museums and libraries in the United States, Canada and Britain. Second, to organize a series of events and seminars whose topic will be the Greek culture, orthodoxy and traditional Greek music. The "Ecumenical Hellenism" program is to also be performed in New York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago and London. The program is held under the auspice of the President of the Hellenic Republic and is supported by the Municipalities of Athens, Thessaloniki and Kalamaria, as well as various other authorities. A.F. [07] GREECE'S DEPUTY FM: TARGET IS CLOSER COOPERATION, WELFARE IN BALKANSWeb Posted: 19:18 GMT+2Thessaloniki, June 8 (MPA)In light of tomorrow's Thessaloniki-held Conference of Foreign Ministers from South-eastern European countries, Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, stressed the active part the country is to carry out in promoting the approach between the Balkan countries and the European Union.Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Kranidiotis stressed that there are multiple opportunities available today in comparison to the past and they should be utilised in order to achieve the area's development and the welfare of the region's peoples. "The Balkan region is one that, after the cold war, was transformed into an arena of conflict and juxtaposition," Mr. Kranidiotis states in his message. "This situation is a factor of instability for the overall region, affecting Greece as well. The crisis in the former Yugoslavia and the war in Bosnia, the political and economic crises in Romania, Bulgaria and the recent turmoil in Albania exemplify the fact that all the Balkan countries are faced with two common and basic problems: "First, an institutional problem, related to the course towards democracy and second, a problem of economic restructuring. The handling of these issues necessitates long-term planning and common initiatives with interventions that will allow the adoption of policies that will enable these countries to enter the wider European community. "Greece has undertaken initiatives to promote co-operation and development in the region both within the EU's framework, as well as in other fora. "Our country believes that the international and the European communities should undertake a complete action plan for the Balkans and not be limited to isolated moves. Greece supports that these countries should be closer linked with the European institutions with a long-term aim to achieve their accession in the EU. Greece will carry out an active role in promoting this policy. "The inter-Balkan Conference falls within the effort to achieve closer co- operation among the Balkan countries, aiming at promoting stability, security and development in the region. "My point of view is that the Inter-Balkan Co-operation should constitute a permanent institution and develop its own bodies that will deal on a regular basis with the problems that may arise. That is why I believe that the formation of a permanent Balkan council would be useful. Greece has a singular role to play in the Balkans, being the country with the greatest political stability and economic devilment and as a member of the most significant European organisations. "Following an ill-starred period, during which Greece was involved as part of the Balkan crisis through the wrongful handling of the previous government, currently our country has improved its relations with all the Balkan countries, including FYROM, and has proven to be the most credible international factor in the region. "The Inter Balkan conference in Thessaloniki foresees the fortification of the ties of co-operation and good neighbouring among the region's countries, aiming at transforming south-eastern Europe into a region of peace, stability and economic welfare, in accordance with the principles recognised by the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co- operation in Europe. "Today's opportunities are the greatest ever. It is to the benefit of all that these opportunities are taken advantage of in the fullest extend for the sake of our peoples development and welfare." A.F. [08] TURKEY'S FOREIGN OFFICE CHIEF: BALKAN BORDERS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CHANGEWeb Posted: 19:18 GMT+2Thessaloniki, June 8 (MPA)The borders of the Balkan region are not subject to change," stated the director of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Ambassador Ali Hakim Alp, during an interview to a Greek daily.The Turkish official also stated that "the borders and the territorial integrity of the Balkan countries have been determined for some time now by the international and bilateral accords and, therefore, there is no such issue. However, Mr. Alp added that co-operation among the Balkan states is a difficult task to promote for various reasons although he did note that "a good beginning has been made in the direction of reactivating the process of co-operation that got started towards the end of the 80s. "We mustn't be too ambitious, but instead we should try to build that which we can, realistically, It's better to look at the positive aspects, instead of the negative, of the political situation in the Balkans," Mr. Alp stressed. Regarding the absence of his country's Foreign Minister, Tansu Ciller, from tomorrow's FM Conference in Thessaloniki, Mr. Alp explained that Ms. Ciller is the leader of a significant political party in Turkey and as such, due to other commitments she would be unable to attend. "There is no intention to send any kind of a 'message'," Mr. Alp clarified. A.F. [B] BALKANS[09] ALBANIA: VRANITSKI IN TIRANAWeb Posted: 14:57 GMT+2Tirana, June 8 (MPA)Austria's former chancellor and current representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Franz Vranitski, is currently in Tirana where he will meet with President Sali Berisha and Premier Bashkim Fino, as well as other political party leaders.Mr. Vranitski is expected to focus on issues concerning the upcoming elections in Albania. A.F. 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/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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