Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-02

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki,September 2, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THESSALONIKI ONCE AGAIN IS AT THE CENTER OF DEVELOPMENTS

Thessaloniki will be at the center of developments this week. The significant speech of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis at the formal opening of the 62nd Thessaloniki International Trade Fair will mark a new course for the economic development of northern Greece.

According to information, the Prime Minister will refer to the great development projects that are underway and close to completion as well as, to the decentralization efforts made by the government.

[02] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE IS ON A VISIT TO BRITAIN

Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos is on a visit to Britain and in the contacts he will have he is expected to discuss the Greek-Turkish relations, the prospects for the relations between Greece and Britain and also, armaments issues.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos will meet with his British counterpart mr.George Robinson and British National Defense General Staff Chief Charles Garthy, while he will also have contacts with representatives of the Greek community in Britain and members of the Greek Orthodox Church.

[03] GREECE IS NOT AWARE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE ALLEGED BRIBING OF IOC MEMBERS

Greek government spokesman Dimitiris Reppas stated that Greece is not aware of the information on the alleged bribing of International Olympic Committee members.

Mr.Reppas referring to the allegations made by the IOC vice- President, which were later withdrawn, according to which certain members of the committee had been bribed, stated that such allegations should be well-documented and added that the Greek candidature for the hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games is in an advantageous position because its activities are not exposed to such criticism.

[04] GREEK INVESTORS WANT TO PURCHASE LARGE BULGARIAN COMPANIES THAT WILL BE PRIVATIZED SOON

Greek private investors have expressed strong interest in the Bulgarian companies that will soon be privatized and their sale is going to be negotiated in the immediate future, according to information provided to MPA by President Burgas Chamber of Commerce and Industry mr.Tzanko Ivanof.

Mr.Ivanof preferred to give no more details but he mentioned that contacts have already begun with Greek businessmen who want to take over large textile industries in Bulgaria.

It should be mentioned, that in the shops of the tourist city of Burgas dominate the chairs that are imported from Greece and made from Bulgarian plastic, as Bulgaria exports to Greece over 40 types of petro-chemicals, which are being processed in Greece and return to their country of origin mainly in the shape of furniture. The same happens with wooden products but in a much smaller scale.

It should be reminded, that businessmen from both countries had the opportunity to strengthen their relations and to examine the likelihood of new cooperation during the formal visit made to Burgas by a delegation of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis on the occasion of the signing of the protocol for the twinning of the two cities.

[05] EMOTIONAL ATMOSPEHER IN THE CHANGE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

In an emotional atmosphere, Mr. Haris Kastanides left the ministry of transport and communication where he had resigned from on Saturday.

Mr. Castanides reffered to his work at the ministry while the new minister Mr. Mandelis stated that there will be a close cooperation between the ministries of interior, where he served up- to-now and transport and communications ministry.

[06] IOC TO DECIDE ON 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES HOST

The International Olympic games committee started today its crucial session which will be finished on Friday with the naming of the city which will organize the 2004 Olympic games.

Swiss vice-president of the IOC, Mark Hodler attributed today to information of the press which he repeated his statement according to which, there was an attempt that members of the IOC be bribed so that they vote for some city which has not been named.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] ANKARA SHOULD IMPROVE ITS RELATIONS WITH GREECE

Foreign Minister of Luxembourg and EU Foreign Ministers’ Council President Jacques Poos issued a strong warning to Ankara during his meeting yesterday with his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem, according to which, its relations with the EU will not improve if there is no improvement in its relations with Greece and if Turkey does not facilitate Cyprus’ accession into the European Union.

Mr.Poos stressed that the improvement of Turkey’s relations with the EU depends on the improvement of its relations with Greece, while he pointed out that Turkey should be among the countries calling for Cyprus’ accession into the EU, adding that the Turkish-Cypriots are not in any danger but on the contrary they will benefit from the EU membership of Cyprus.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas expressed the government’s satisfaction for the statements made by mr.Poos.

[08] CYPRUS ISSUED A DEMARCHE TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FOR THE STANCE ADOPTED BY A BRITISH OFFICER

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry made representations and demarches to the British government and the High Commission in Cyprus regarding the document the British bases circulated in the island in which the Turkish-Cypriot regime is mentioned as “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.

The above were stated by Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofides who mentioned that the actions of the British government officials must, at all times, be in accordance with the UN resolutions and the firm position of London which does not recognize the Turkish-Cypriot regime.

Mr.Christofides stated that Britain is a guarantor power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council and therefore, is aware of the international organization’s resolutions and the UN’s constant appeal that none should recognize the Turkish-Cypriot regime neither directly nor indirectly.

[09] THE CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH HIS ESTONIAN COUNTERPART

The need for Cyprus and Estonia to support each other in their efforts to become EU members was stressed in the contacts Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides had in Estonia.

Mr.Kasoulides met with the Estonian Prime Minister and also with the country’s Foreign Minister. In the meeting with his Estonian counterpart was agreed that the two countries should cooperate by exchanging information and experience in order to deal with the problems they face in their course toward their accession into the EU.

[10] THE TURKISH-CYPRIOT LEADER IS CRITICIZED BY OTHER TURKISH- CYPRIOT POLITICIANS

The wrong policy followed in the Cyprus issue led to the characterization of the Turkish-Cypriot side as intransigent, stated in a press conference Turkish Republican Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

He also said that it was a mistake to present Cyprus’ EU accession as an obstacle to the solution of the Cyprus problem because it created the impression that Turkey tries to exploit Cyprus in order to achieve its goals.

[11] SECOND ATTACK AGAINST A TURKISH PRIVATE TELEVISION STATION IN TWO DAYS

The private television station ATV in Istanbul, that was attacked two days ago by the islamists, became their target again at the early morning hours of today, causing limited damage.

It should be mentioned that Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in his message, after last Sunday’s attack against the same TV station, had stated that such attacks against the mass media help to see the real face of the perpetrators.

[12] INVESTIGATION CONTINUES FOR THE CAUSES OF DIANA’S DEATH

Police investigation continues into the causes of the car crash that claimed the life of Princess Diana as well as, the lives of her Egyptian boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed and the car’s driver.

Meanwhile, the world expresses deep sorrow for Diana’s death and her funeral will be held on Saturday.

[13] MASS GRAVE DISCOVERED IN BIHAC

A mass grave with 300 bodies was discovered near the former Muslim enclave of Bihac in western Bosnia.

According to the Bosnian television, the remains belong to Muslim citizens killed by the Serb forces during the civil war in former Yugoslavia, when they had surrounded the enclave.

An investigation will be held with the participation of western forces to determine the conditions of their death.

[14] NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING IN BULGARIA FOR THE ACCIDENT IN BOBOV DOL MINES

Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov declared the country in national mourning for yesterday’s accident in Bobov Dol mines, south-west of Sofia in which 7 workers were killed and 28 were injured, five of whom are in critical condition.

Bulgarian government vice-President Yevgeni Bakartziev, who was put in charge of the committee responsible for the investigations into the causes of the accident, spoke of the likelihood of a sabotage.

Mr.Bakartziev stated that it is the fourth accident that occurred in the Bobov Dol mines this year and promised that those responsible for the tragedy will be found.

[15] THE US PRESS REFERS TO THE PERSECUTIONS OF JOURNALISTS IN TURKEY

In an extensive article, the US newspaper “The New York Times” refers to the persecutions of journalists in Turkey as well as, to the fact that they are treated as terrorists, who want the destruction of the Turkish state.

According to “The New York Times”, Turkish officials maintain that the terrorists have created small newspapers which are involved in an open propaganda aimed at destroying the country, while the prosecutor in Istanbul Erol Kanozkan states that the people who write in those newspapers are not real journalists but press representatives of terrorist groups.

The government of Prime Minister Yilmaz has promised more freedom for the press but similar promises, which were never kept, were made by previous governments as well, mentions the newspaper. Referring to the amnesty granted by the Turkish Parliament to 6 publishers, who were jailed because they had published “illegal articles”, the newspaper stresses that the laws that sent them to prison have not changed and they were warned that they will return to prison if they publish similar articles again.

[16] EU-TURKISH RELATIONS GO THROUGH ANKARA’S RELATION WITH GREECE

Luxemburgian foreign minister Jacques Poos who is serving as EU term president called today on Ankara to improve relations with Greece and facilitate Cyprus admission to the EU so that EU- Turkish relation proceed.

Mr. Poos stressed to his Turkish counterpart Mr. Ismail Cem that Turkey should be the first country to ask for Cyprus admission to the EU adding that the Turkish-cypriots not only are they not in danger because of the admission but it will be in their benefit.

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