Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-16

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 16 October, 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 OF GREECE: OUR COUNTRY WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN THE END

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos stated that “Greece wants its rights to be recognized, nothing else. It does not have claims against anyone, Our only claim is that others respect our rights, our national integrity.”

President Stephanopoulos is currently in Veria where he is to attend the city’s parade commemorating the 85-year mark since its liberation from the Turkish yoke. A.F.

[02] TURKEY PERFORMS MORE AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS OF ATHENS’ FIR TODAY

Turkish fighter jets harassed Greece’s C-130 aircraft which was transporting Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos from Cyprus to Crete, a mere hours after the Greek Minster had condemned Turkey for adopting a “cold-war like behavior.”

At 10.12 a.m. four Turkish air force F-16 violated Athens’ FIR and embarked on dangerous maneuvers within a short distance from the Greek aircraft. The Turkish jets were intercepted by the Greek F-16 which were accompanying the Minister’s C-130. A.F.

[03] GREECE’S DEFENSE MINISTER ISSUES STERN WARNING TO TURKEY

Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, currently in Cyprus, issued a stern warning to Turkey, stating that if the neighboring country wants to escalate the tension and attempts to threatens Greece’s territorial integrity, then the answer it is to receive from Athens will be immediate.

“We are in the position to face any challenge. But if Turkey wishes to become a part of the European Union, then it must respect international law and stop being cocky.” A.F.

[04] P.M. ADDRESSES CONFERENCE OF S.E. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEADERS

Greece’s Prime Minister Kostas Simitis addressed today the Athens-held Conference of Parliamentary President from southeastern European countries, an event held after an initiative taken by the President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis. Mr. Simitis stated that at the imminent inter-Balkan summit to be held at the island of Crete in November “we will aim at the establishment of good neighborliness, cooperation, peace and security in the region.”

Moreover, the Prime minister stated that the Balkans are a sensitive region, marked by fragile relations, given the past’s violent conflict.

The countries represented at the Conference are Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, FYROM, Romania, Turkey, Croatia and Slovenia, as well as observers from parliamentary assemblies from various international organizations such as the Western European Union. A.F.

[05] LEADER OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT MEETS WITH COUNTERPART FROM FYROM

The president of the Hellenic parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis met with his counterpart from FYROM Tito Petkovski on the sidelines of the Conference of Parliamentary President from southeastern European countries, which began in Athens yesterday.

The two Parliament presidents discussed issues concerning the role of the two Houses in the promotion of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

According to Mr. Petkovski, the two leaders also discussed the name issue that is still pending between the two neighbors. A.F.

[06] GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON: TURKEY HAS AN OUTDATED MENTALITY

Turkey suffers from cold-war complexes and an outdated mentality, according to the Greek government’s spokesperson Dimitris Reppas, who referred to today’s harassment performed by Turkish fighter jets in Athens’ FIR against the Greek C-130 aircraft which was transporting the Greek Defense Minister from Cyprus to Crete.

Mr. Reppas stated that this act on behalf of Turkey simply revealed its choice to play the role of trouble-maker in the region. Moreover, he added that actions like these lead to aggravated bilateral relations. A.F.

[07] GREECE’S FM: TURKEY CANNOT BEHAVE AS IT DOES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES

Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated today that the government will present austere demarches to Ankara, the European countries, the United States and the various international organizations, following today’s provocative challenges by Turkish fighter jets against the Greek Air Force’s C- 130 which was transporting Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos from Cyprus to Chania,

Mr. Pangalos called on the international community to seriously take into consideration Turkey’s specific policy.

“This is not only a problem between Greece and Turkey. It is also a problem between Turkey and the European Union,” Mr. Pangalos stated, adding that no country can behave like with without consequences. A.F.

[08] GREECE’S DEFENSE MINISTER ON TURKEY’S PROVOCATIVE BEHAVIOR

Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated today that Turkey’s behavior leaves her exposed as an international trouble-maker.

Turkish fighter jets harassed Greece’s C-130 aircraft which was transporting the Greek Defense Minister from Cyprus to Crete.

At 10.12 a.m. four Turkish air force F-16 violated Athens’ FIR and embarked on dangerous maneuvers within a short distance from the Greek aircraft. The Turkish jets were intercepted by the Greek F-16 which were accompanying the Minister’s C-130.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated tongue in cheek, that “Turkey’s political and military leaders continue to provide us with honorary guard, just like on our flight to Cyprus.” A.F.

[09] THESSALONIKI TO BECOME INT/NAL WEBSITE OF PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION

Greece’s Ministry of Public Administration and Decentralization is aiming to strengthen Thessaloniki’s accession into a regional website , in the information network created by the United Nations on administrative matters, with point of reference being the countries Central and Eastern Europe.

As such, an international conference for public services is to be held the following month in Thessaloniki, which will feature the attendance of government representatives, at a ministerial level, from Greece and countries of central and Eastern Europe, as well as representatives from the European Union, the World Bank, and other organizations.

The conference is jointly organized by the Ministry of the Interior and the UN. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN FYROM

Germany’s Foreign Minster Klaus Kinkel, currently on an official visit to Skopje, met today with his counterpart from FYROM Blagoi Handjinski. Both officials agreed that their countries’ relations are developing and improving significantly and proceeded to the signing of an agreement on cultural cooperation. Mr. Kinkel stated that his country will continue to support FYROM, especially in regards to its reforms and its accession course towards NATO and the European Union. A.F.

[11] ITALIAN PRESS : GREECE’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS A SMALL MIRACLE

Press reports in Italy have characterized the recovery course of Greece’s economy as a small miracle, given the country’s impressive results in its efforts to achieve convergence with the other EU member-states’ economies.

Referring to the upcoming ECOFIN meeting, to be held in Luxembourg in November, the Italian press reports that “Greece can hope” to gain accession to the Economic and Monetary Union, that is, limit its public deficit to less than 3% in 1998. A.F.

[12] HONORARY PRESIDENT OF MAIN OPPOSITION MEETS WITH SL. MILOSEVIC

The honorary president of Greece’s main opposition party, New Democracy’s Konstantinos Mitsotakis met with the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade today.

In a meeting that lasted two hours, the two men discussed issues concerning the situation in the Balkans, the new developments, bilateral relations, as well as issues of common interest.

Mr. Mitsotakis was received by President Milosevic within the framework of a private visit to Belgrade. A.F.

[13] GREEK FM MEETS WITH SLOVAK COUNTEPART

Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos met with his counterpart from Slovakia Zdega Krablova in Athens today.

The two officials discussed issues concerning cooperation between the two countries, and Mr. Pangalos stressed the Greek government’s support over Slovakia’s negotiations for accession to the European Union, on the same timetable as with other countries, as well as its accession to the Alliance.

Also today, the Undersecretary of National Economy Alexandros Baltas and his counterpart form Slovakia signed agreements on trade, economic and technological cooperation. A.F.

[14] P.M. ADDRESSES CONFERENCE OF S.E. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEADERS

Greece’s Prime Minister Kostas Simitis addressed today the Athens-held Conference of Parliamentary President from southeastern European countries, where he emphasized that new forms of cooperation that need to be developed between the region’s countries and the European Union, especially in the sectors of transportation, communication, trade and energy. Also, the Premier referred to Greece’s efforts in creating networks that will link the Balkan region with Central and Eastern Europe.

The countries represented at the Conference are Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, FYROM, Romania, Turkey, Croatia and Slovenia, as well as observers from parliamentary assemblies from various international organizations such as the Western European Union. A.F.

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