Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-21

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 21, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS PRAISED THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD IN SAFEGUARDING THE NATIONAL INTERESTS

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos in his message, read in the opening of the 51st National Conference of the Pan-Macedonian Association of US and Canada held within the framework of the 7th World Conference in Thessaloniki, praised the priceless and decisive contribution of the Greeks living abroad to the safeguarding of the Greek national interests.

President of the Pan-Macedonian Association of US and Canada Evangelos Michalopoulos stated that the conference is an opportunity to send the message to FYROM's President Gligorov that the history of a nation can not be stolen and that national conscience can not be imposed on people.

The World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, was represented by President of the SAE of America Christos Tomaras, who stressed the need to safeguard the unity of all Greeks living abroad which is necessary to deal effectivelly with provocations.

[02] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONDEMNED THE PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS MADE BY TURKISH OFFICIALS

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas condemned the provocative statements made by Turkish officials on the occasion of the black anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Mr.Reppas stated that the policy followed by Turkey is known and characterized the visit to Cyprus by Turkish government vice- President Bulent Etsevit and other officials as inopportune.

Such a behaviour is not consistent neither with the effort Turkey has to make in order to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem nor with its european aspirations, said mr.Reppas and concluded that Greece is on Cyprus' side and any offence against it will constitute a cause of war.

[03] FOREIGN MINISTRY STAFF MEET OVER GREEK-TURKISH ISSUES

Greece's strategy on Greek-Turkish issues and its main stance regarding Turkey's funding from the European Union and the new course of this country's ties with the allies, were the topics discussed in a staff meeting held at the Foreign Ministry today.

Greece's stance regarding the results of the Madrid-held NATO Summit will be formed during a conference that is to be convened by the Premier Kostas Simitis within the following days, although, according to reports, the Government is not expected to deviate from its present positive stance towards Turkey's European orientation. A.F.

[04] GOVERNMENT MEETING TO DISCUSS THE GUARDING OF THE GREEK BORDERS WITH ALBANIA

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis presided over a meeting held with the participation of the Ministers of National Defense, Foreign Affairs, Interior and Public Order to discuss the guarding of the borders with Albania and the presidential decrees on the illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, fear and rage prevail in the villages close to the borders as the Albanian armed gungs continue their attacks, while the four Greek farmers, who had been abducted near Kastoria, were released after the intervention of the Greek government

Greek government spokesman Dimitiris Reppas gave the assurance that all necessary measures have been taken for the effective guarding of the borders after the recent incidents, while he announced that the customs office in Kakkavia is open and remained closed only for a few hours due to the arrest of a drug dealer and after information on an imminent attack by armed Albanians.

[05] THE GREEK POLICY TOWARD TURKEY WAS EXAMINED IN A FOREIGN MINISTRY MEETING

Greece's policy toward Turkey was examined in a meeting held in the Foreign Ministry in the light of the new developments that resulted from the Madrid agreement between Greek Prime Minister Simitis and Turkish President Demirel.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview to an Athens newspaper spoke of a new page in the Greek-Turkish relations after the Simitis-Demirel agreement, stressing that there is a potential for direct talks between Greece and Turkey without the mediation of a foreign power.

Mr.Pangalos issued an appeal to the Turkish side to move dynamically toward the future and pointed out that Turkey can not be divided between islamism and Europe. He also said that if the problem of the Turkish claims over Imia is not resolved the Greek- Turkish relations can not be improved.

Meanwhile, alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou stressed to the Prime Minister the need for Greece to play a leading role in forming a special status between Turkey and the European Union.

[06] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS SESSION CONTINUES IN THESSALONIKI

[07] GREEK CONTINGENT ASSIGNED TO ALBANIA BEGINS ITS RETURN TODAY

The Socialists are threatening to simply by-pass his refusal and go on with the formation of the assembly.

Meanwhile, the Greek contingent assigned to Albania as part of the eight-nation peace-keeping force code-named "ALBA" is beginning its return to Greece today, a process that will be completed by August 12. The troops had been in Albania for three months.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] MR.FEISEL WILL HAVE SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH CLERIDES AND DENKTASH

UN Secretary General alternate special envoy to Cyprus mr.Gustav Feisel will have separate meetings tomorrow with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

In statements he made, mr.Feisel stressed that the objective of those contacts is to set the date for the meeting that will take place in his residence in the neutral zone of Nicosia. The holding of the meeting had been decided in the direct talks of New York.

Mr.Feisel confirmed that President Clerides and mr.Denktash will deal with humanitarian issues and the adoption of gestures for the creation of a climate of good will.

[09] DOUBLE PASSPORTS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THE TURKISH-CYPRIOTS AND THE SETTLERS IN THE OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS

The Turkish government appears to be closer to the decision to adopt the issuing of double passports for each Turkish settler and Turkish-Cypriot. The passports will be issued by Turkey and the authorities in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

According to the Turkish newspaper "Gumhurriyet", the decision is placed within the framework of the Turkish government efforts aimed at the integration of northern Cyprus into Turkey after the EU report "Agenda 2000", based on which Turkey is definitely not included in the European Union enlargement.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish newspapers, Turkey's National Security Council, that is scheduled to meet on July 25 in Istanbul, is expected to discuss the issue of the integration. Also, in the meeting will be made clear if Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will go to Geneva in August for the second round of the direct talks with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.

[10] GREECE AND CHINA TO COOPERATE IN SECTOR OF AGRICULTURE

Greece's Agricultural Bank and China's Agricultural Bank are to expand their cooperative activities, as per a meeting held yesterday between the Greek Bank's governor Christos Papathanasiou and the Chinese Bank's vice-president Wang Wenfei, who is heading a Chinese delegation currently on a visit to Greece.

The two discussed the opportunities to develop cooperation between the two financial institutions in the sectors of agricutural loans, exchange of technical aid and financing.

Mr. Wenfei expressed the Chinese government's wish to strengthen its economic cooperation with Greece especially in the sector of agriculture, specifically in the areas of raisin and olive oil production.

Currently, the Chinese delegation is in Crete where the participants will visit raisin and olive oil production sites.

[11] MICHAIL BARISHNIKOV: "IT IS MY HONOR TO DANCE IN THESSALONIKI"

World-famous dancer Michail Barishnikov arrived in Thessaloniki today, in light of his much-awaited performance on Wednesday night.

Upon his arrival, Mr. Barishnikov stated that he is especially honoured to perform in Thessaloniki "a city which has been the crossroads of civilization for centuries."

Moreover, he stated that "Thessaloniki is true to its glorious past, its position as Cultural Capital of Europe prove that the present and the past co-exist harmoniously."

Mr. Barishnikov's performance with the White Oak Dance Project has been sold out.

[12] ALBANIA: SALI BERISHA ISSUES MANDATE ON FORMATION OF PARLIAMENT

The President of Albania Sali Berisha has issued a presidential mandate through which he convenes his country's new Parliament on Wednesday, July 23, at 5 pm.

The report was broadcast by Tirana's state-owned television station, which also mentioned that President Berisha has interrupted his negotiations witrh the country's various political parties since, as his office stated, he hasn't managed to find one individual who could be accepted by all as prime minister. A.F.

[13] PRESIDENT CLERIDES: DIRECT TALKS CLIMATE IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY TURKEY

The current climate of the direct talks between the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leaders of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash is negatively affected by the recent declaration of the Turkish-Cypriots and the Turkish government, as well as by the visit of the Turkish Vice-President Bulent Ecevit to the island.

In addition to the above statement, the Cypriot President also added that the situation that is currently being formed by the direct talks will be discussed with the Greek government and the National Council which is to convene on Thursday. A.F.

[14] ECEVIT DISPLAYS PROVOCATIVE STANCE OVER CYPRUS

He and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash have issued a joint declaration wherein they state that the only thing that remains to be done is the annexation of occupied Cyprus to Turkey, following the European Union's decision to proceed to accession negotiations with Cyprus.

[15] THE RELATIONS OF ALBANIA WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS MUST BE IMPROVED, SAID THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE FOREIGN MINISTER

The need for the normalization of Albania's relations with Greece and Yugoslavia was stressed in an interview of Paskal Milo, who will allegedly be the country's new Foreign Minister.

In an interview published in the newspaper "Gazeta Skiptare", the Albanian politician, who is of Greek origin and in the recent elections ran with the Socialist Party, maintained that there will be many changes in the foreign policy of his country and the main axis of those changes will be Albania's euro-atlantic orientation.

Referring to Albania's relations with Greece and Yugoslavia, he said that the relations of his country with its neighbours were not at a good level for historical and subjective reasons and stressed that the new Albanian government will make every effort to follow a new policy without prejudice taking under consideration the national interests. Mr.Milo said that this policy will be based on dialogue, the solution of problems through talks and also, on the easing of tensions and the stability of relations with Athens and Belgrade.

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