Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-31

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 31, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] MR.REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE LATEST STATEMENTS MADE BY MR.DENKTASH

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas spoke of blackmail today responding to the latest statements of Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that he will proceed with the annexation of the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus to Turkey if the negotiations for Cyprus' accession into the EU continue.

Mr.Reppas made it clear that the relevant EU decision, made in March of 1995 for the opening of the accession negotiations immediately after the Inter-Governmental Conference, is a final decision and does not depend on the statements made by mr.Denktash.

Referring to the statement of NATO Secretary General mr.Solana, that 1998 will be the year of Cyprus, the Greek government spokesman pointed out that everyone shares the wish that a solution will be found next year. Responding to a question on the proposal made by mr.Solana for the deployment of NATO forces on Cyprus, mr.Reppas said that everyone should help as much as they can.

[02] THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE MADE CLARIFICATIONS ON THE DECISIONS OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL

Greece's national priority is the safeguarding of its sovereign rights stated Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who made clarifications on the decisions reached by the Governmental Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense concerning the new defense doctrine, the changes in the structure of the armed forces and the new armaments programme.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos stated that the main axis of the national defense policy is to avert the Turkish expansionism and to deal with the tensions in the Aegean that are sought by Ankara. On the Greek-Turkish relations, the Minister of Defense stated that the NATO Secretary General is likely to attempt again the rapprochement of Athens and Ankara for confidence-building- measures in the Aegean. Nevertheless, he underlined that the Greek position remains firm, demanding the complete implementation of the Papoulias-Yilmaz 1988 memorandum.

The Greek Minister of Defense also stated that the new structure of the armed forces aims at the flexible and direct response to any hostile action. Specifically, in the changes that are being promoted are included the reduction of the number of army camps, the abolition of large slow-moving units, the upgrading of the existing flexible rapid intervention units and the conversion of the 2nd Army Corps into a rapid intervention unit.

[03] GREECE TO SUPPORT ALBANIAN POLICE

The Greek government has dispatched the second part of its aid for the Albanian police, which falls within the framework of restructuring the neighbouring country's police force.

In its first phase, the aid comprised vehicles and motorcycles, while today's phase, the second one, included bullet- proof vests, uniforms,. and office suppliers.

Albania's Public Order Ministry has thanked the Greek authorities for their assistance. A.F.

[04] CONFERENCE OF SEISMOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI

The 29th Conference of Seismology and Geophysics is to be held in Thessaloniki from 18 to 28 of August, featuring over 1,200 earthquake experts throughout the world.

The event is jointly organised by the Laboratory of Geophysics of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki and the Organisation of Cultural Capital of Europe "Thessaloniki' 97". A.F.

[05] CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 500 CHILDREN OF GREEK RE-PATRIATES

The General Secretariat of the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry is organising a camping outing in Halkidiki during August for 500 children of repatriated Greeks.

According to the ministry's office, the aim of this summer's camp is to combine the summer holidays with the studies of the Greek language, history and mythology.

The participating youngsters are to also enjoy a re-enactment of the ancient Olympic Games. A.F.

[06] KAKLAMANAKIS COMPLETES TODAY THE CROSSING OF THE AEGEAN ON A WIND-SURF

Greek wind-surfer Nikos Kaklamanakis left the central Aegean island of Santorini this morning for the coast of Karterou in Crete, which is his final destination while entering the second part of his attempt to cross the Aegean on a wind-surfing board.

The Olympic Gold medallist is being accompanied in his attempt, which is placed within the framework of the efforts to bring the 2004 Olympic Games to Athens, by a Navy frigate, three boats and many Greek and foreign television crews.

[07] 271 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM IRAQ AND PAKISTAN WERE LOCATED BY THE GREEK COASTGUARD

Two hundred and seventy one illegal immigrants from Iraq and Pakistan were located by the Greek Coastguard off the coasts of Anavissos today at dawn, while the search continues for the arrest of the three-member crew of the Ukrainian slave-trading ship on board which the immigrants were found.

As it was made known, the three crew members escaped on a boat to the Aegean island of Andros.

Meanwhile, doctors have been sent to the island to examine mainly the children and the adult illegal immigrants. The decision on their fate will be made by the Ministry of Merchant Marine in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] RECORD NUMBER OF ATHLETES TO TAKE PART IN 6TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

A record number of athletes are to participate in the sixth IAAF World Championships in Athletics, which are to begin in Athens tomorrow.

The event will be inaugurated by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos at the Panathinaikon Stadium tomorrow evening, while also present will be the Premier Kostas Simitis and a score of other dignitaries.

The President of IAFF, Dr. Primo Neviolo stated that this year's event has already broken two records: first, over two hundred countries are to participate and, second, almost to thousand athletes will compete.

Greece's famous music composer Vangelis Papathanasiou will provide the music for the event. A.F.

[09] BULGARIA, TURKEY TO SIGN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Bulgaria and Sofia are to sign a free trade agreement in October, as was decided upon during the Bulgarian President's Petar Stoyanov, visit to Ankara.

While only 11 Bulgarian companies are active in Turkey, over 1700 Turkish ones are prospering in Bulgaria, constituting 2.5% of Bulgaria's overall foreign investment. The Bulgarian President today completed a three-day official visit to Ankara, where he met with Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Premier Mesut Yilmaz. A.F.

[10] CYPRIOT MAN TRANSMITTED AIDS TO GIRLFRIEND, SENTENCED 15 MONTHS IN JAIL

A Cypriot fisherman charged with knowingly transmitting his girlfriend with the AIDS virus was sentenced to 16 months in jail by a court on Famagusta today.

In its ruling, the court found that the forty-year-old Pavlos Georgiou Kremastos was fully aware that he was an active carrier of the AIDS virus since 1992 and took no measure whatsoever to protect his British girlfriend Elizabeth Pink, nor did he inform her of his perilous health condition.

In issuing its ruling, the court took into consideration the fact that Georgiou was supportive of Pink ever since she was diagnosed as having been transmitted the virus.

Kremastos is the father of four children, the youngest of whom, six years old, is also an AIDS virus carrier. Kremastos' wife died of AIDS in 1994. A.F.

[11] EU REMINDS MILOSEVIC TO OBSERVE OSCE'S GUIDELINES IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS

The European Union has called on Slobodan Milosevic, the New President of rump Yugoslavia, to accept international supervision of the country's presidential and legislative elections of September 21.

In a statement issued by Luxembourg, currently holding EU's Presidency, Belgrade's government was criticised for its failure to implement the recommendations issued by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) regarding reforms in the country's electoral system and respect of media and press freedoms.

Moreover, the statement emphasised that "the EU urges the Yugoslav authorities to keep to their commitments, to accept OSCE observation of the elections, including the process of the campaign, and to guarantee freedom of expression and of information." EU's statements was endorsed by Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovenia. A.F.

[12] THE 6TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OPEN IN ATHENS TOMORROW

The 6th IAAF World Championships open in Athens tomorrow. In this big fiesta of classical sports participate 200 countries with 2.500 athletes.

The athletic events will be covered by 3.500 foreign correspondents and will be watched live on television by 4 billion people all over the world.

[13] NEW CLERIDES-DENKTASH MEETING

A new meeting between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot Rauf Denktash will be held in Cyprus today to discuss humanitarian issues.

Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofides stated that Cyprus expects Denktash's response to the demand for the exhumation of the remains of the missing Greek-Cypriots.

[14] VARTHOLOMEOS-STOYANOV MEETING

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos met in Istanbul with Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov. The meeting was characterized as cordial and offered a chance for the discussion of issues concering the relations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with Bulgaria. Mr.Stoyanov visited the Bulgarian parish in Istanbul where he met with members of the community.

[15] THE EU COMMISSION BANNED THE CONSUMPTION OF CERTAIN SHEEP AND CATTLE INTERNAL ORGANS

The EU Commission decided to ban the consumption of spleen, brains and bone marrow that come from cattle and sheep.

The decision, which will be put into force in all EU member- states in January of 1998, is placed within the framework of the European Union efforts to stop the spread of "mad cow" disease.

Eight members of the EU Agriculture Ministers' Council, among them Britain where the "mad cow" disease was first recorded, have supported the ban, while the other 7 are opposed to it, including Greece.

[16] KARADJIC IS WILLING TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE

The Bosnian-Serb co-president in the three-member collective presidency of Bosnia, Momcilo Kraisnik stated to Associated Press that Radovan Karadjic is ready to meet with representatives of the International Court of Justice in The Hague to discuss with them the war crimes accusations made against him.

Mr.Kraisnik stated that this way the former Bosnian-Serb leader will have the chance to prove his innocence.

Meanwhile, there was no reaction from the United Nations neither to the statements made by Kraisnik nor to Karadjic's intentions. Nevertheless, UN sources mention that Karadjic will continue to be the number one on the list of war criminals in Bosnia.

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