Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-30

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 30 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] GREECE LOVES PEACE

Greece loves peace and works for peace, but nevertheless its armed forces are ready, strong, determined and able to protect its national integrity and national interests.

The above were stated by the Chief of the General Defense Staff wing-commander Athanasios Tzoganis, who attended the reception in the Turkish Embassy in Athens last night on the occasion of the national holiday of Turkey.

[02] PROBLEMS IN NORTHERN GREECE BECAUSE OF THE SNOW

Bad weather continues to hit northern Greece with snow, extreme cold and rain. The snowfall has caused serious problems in many roads in north-western Greece and cars move with difficulty, while in the city of Florina schools will not open today.

In Hortiatis and Agios Vasilios, near Thessaloniki the snow continues, while in many cities of northern Greece temperatures dropped below zero.

[03] THE TENSION WITH TURKEY DOES NOT SERVE THE INTERESTS OF GREECE AND CYPRUS

The tension between Greece and Turkey does not serve the interests of Greece and Cyprus, according to the overwhelming majority of the Greeks, based on the conclusions of a research on the Greek-Turkish relations that was held on behalf of the “Flash” radio station in Athens on October 23 and 24 on a sample of 807 Athens residents.

Specifically, 90% of those asked believes that the tension serves the interests of those who want the increase of armaments in the region, 89,8% believes that it serves the interests of the United States and 77% the interests of Turkey. Also, 88% believe that it does not serve Greece’s interests and 82% believe the same for Cyprus.

An immediate danger of an armed conflict with Turkey is visible by 33,6% of those questioned, while 63% speculates that such a danger does not exist.

Regarding the policy followed by the Greek government toward Turkey, 38,3% believes that it moves in the right direction, 49% that it is wrong and 13% did not express an opinion. In support of a step by step approach with Turkey is 67% of those asked, while 27% wants to stop every contact with that country.

Also, the Greek public opinion appears to have strong reservations regarding the US initiatives in the region and accuse Washington of fostering the tension. According to 77% the US initiatives favor the tension, while 12% responded that they favor peace. The United States favor Turkey according to 68%, while 26% believes that they keep equal distances and only 2% believes that Washington favors Greece.

[04] THE POMAKS IN THRACE HAVE THEIR OWN NEWSPAPER

The Pomaks in Thrace, north-eastern Greece have their own “voice” with the publication of the first newspaper in the Pomak language under the title “Zagalisa” which means “love”.

The newspaper is published with the support of the construction company “Michaniki A.E.” and is distributed for free as a bulletin of the Pomak Research Center based in Komotini.

Its first issue is made up of two pages but those responsible for the publication promised that the newspaper contents will improve both in quality and in quantity.

[05] GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON CRETE’S SUMMIT CONFERENCE

Greece would like to see the imminent Summit Conference of Balkan leaders, which is to be held at the island of Crete on November 1-2, culminate with the signing of a declaration that will refer to the need to respect borders, uphold International Accords and International Law and utilize the International Court of Justice, according to government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas stated that “this Conference will give the Balkan countries’ leaders the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest for the future of northeastern Europe, issues that concern economic cooperation, ways to fortify and improve the structures and secure conditions of stability and cooperation in the region,” Mr. Reppas said, adding that “we would like this cooperation to acquire a permanent institutionalized nature, to have a regular meeting among the representatives of the various countries, to create a basic and flexible structure, a secretariat that will address the issues concerning the Balkan cooperation.

Lastly, the government spokesperson stressed that the Summit is to focus on Balkan issues, not Greek-Turkish relations. A.F.

[06] GREEK GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS TUKISH V.P.’S STATEMENTS

Greece’s political leaders condemned today Turkey’s provocative stance, following the new statements issued by the Turkish government’s vice-president Bulent Ecevit.

Mr. Ecevit accused Greece of seeking a limited military conflict with Turkey, aiming at obstructing that country’s accession course to the European Union.

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated that “it’s too much for Mr. Ecevit to want to have his cake and eat it too, to speak of Greece’s responsibilities when he himself has repeatedly blown the many efforts exerted for easing the ties between the two countries.” A.F.

[07] DEFENSE MINISTER: TURKEY TRIES TO FRAME GREECE AS INSTIGATOR

Greece’s National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated today that Turkey is trying to create the impression that Greece is also a trouble-maker, so that Ankara is not seen as the sole instigator of problems.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos met with the opposition party leader Antonis Samaras who characterized the letter forwarded to NATO’s allied command by Turkey’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ismael Karadayi as “ludicrous and misleading”. In that letter, the Turkish military leader asked the Alliance to intervene and take measures against a potential Greek-Russian collaboration in the Aegean. A.F.

[08] DEFENSE MINISTER FORESEES WARM EPISODE IN THE AEGEAN

The Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos is said to have stated today that Turkey is likely to provoke a warm episode in the Aegean Sea, one that would aim at weakening Greece’s role in the region, and he is also reported to have targeted the likelihood of such episode at the following February- March, when the presidential elections are to be held in Cyprus.

In a behind-closed-doors briefing session with the members of the Parliamentary committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that “since 1995 we have seen an increase in Turkish aggression driven by Ankara’s will to establish itself as a superpower. It is noteworthy to mention that it spends two billion dollars per year in violating and invading Greece’s air space.” A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] VRANITSKI IS IN TIRANA

OSCE special envoy and former Chancellor of Austria Frants Vranitski will be in Tirana today.

During his stay in the Albanian capital he will meet with Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha. Their talks will focus on the current political and social situation in Albania.

[10] ANKARA’S STANCE WILL CHANGE AFTER THE SIMITIS-YILMAZ MEETING

Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos predicted that Ankara’s stance will change after the Simitis-Yilmaz meeting in Crete.

Meanwhile, vice-President of the Turkish government Bulent Ecevit continues the provocation with his interview to the Turkish newspaper “Milliyet”, in which he maintains that Greece seeks an armed conflict to block Turkey’s accession into the European Union.

[11] KOC: TURKEY SHOULD PROMOTE THE CUSTOMS UNION AND STOP INSISTING IN ITS ACCESSION INTO THE EU

Turkey should promote the customs union and stop insisting in its accession into the European Union stated to MPA, Turkish tycoon and President of the Greek-Turkish Business Council Rahmi Koc. Recently mr.Koc had stated that Turkey has no reason to insist in its accession to the EU given the fact that the Europeans do not want its membership.

Mr.Koc stated that Turkey can not fully harmonize with the norms set by the EU, stressing that his country does not meet the EU criteria because the inflation is 85%, the budget deficit is 30% and the population increase is 1,7%.

The Turkish business tycoon also said that his statements, made in yesterday’s press conference on the occasion of the conference “Thessaloniki: Ataturk-Venizelos”, were translated incorrectly. He said that he did not mention anything about a message from Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz.

Referring to the issue of the Ecumenical Patriarchate he reiterated that Turkey should use the advantages of the Patriarchate for its own benefit, pointing out that the Patriarchate can become for Turkey what the Vatican is for Italy and Rome.

[12] TURKISH DEPUTIES APPEALED TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AGAINST TURKEY

The Council of Europe Human Rights Committee partially accepted, in the first hearing, the appeal made against Turkey by Turkish Parliament deputies Selim Sadak, Leila Zana, Hatip Dizle and Organ Dogan of the Democratic Party (DEP).

On March 2, 1994 the Turkish National Assembly decided to lift the parliamentary immunity of those deputies based on article 83 of the Turkish Constitution, and on December 8, 1994 they were convicted and received a prison term of 15 years accused of participating in an armed organization, namely the Kurdish PKK.

The Committee will try to reconcile both parties based on the respect of human rights. If its efforts are not successful it will draw up a report which will include all the facts and its views on the case that will be submitted to the Court for Human Rights.

[13] HANS VAN DEN BROEK: TURKEY SHOULD STOP THE THREATS OF WAR

EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek called on Turkey to stop the threats of war against Greece, change its policy on the Cyprus issue and stop raising obstacles to Cyprus’ EU accession.

The statement was made to the Cypriot Radio and Television Company in view of mr.Van den Broek’s two-day visit to Ankara, on the occasion of the December Summit meeting in which will be decided if the EU ties with Turkey will be strengthened.

Meanwhile, US assistant Secretary of State Mark Grossman expressed the hope today that the imminent Simitis-Yilmaz meeting in Crete will have a positive effect on the Greek-Turkish relations.

[14] “THESSALONIKI, VENIZELOS, ATATURK” CONFERENCE GREETED BY PROTESTS

About 300 unidentified persons caused minor episodes, tension and traffic congestion in the center of Thessaloniki today when they gathered before the Trade and Industry Chamber shouting slogans and throwing coins and eggs at the organizers and attendees of the “Thessaloniki, Venizelos, Ataturk” conference.

Thessaloniki’s policemen contained the episodes but the conference’s delegates were transported to the “Macedonia Palace” hotel where the event was finally held.

City councilman Stelios Nestor told the Macedonian Press Agency that these episodes were a shame for our Democracy.

The Treasurer of the Association for Democracy in the Balkans Petros Papasarantopoulos said that these reactions were an isolated incident, but he did add that as a resident of the city he felt shame for the incident.

However, Mr. Papasarantopoulos also remarked that all of the delegates, regardless of nationality, felt a deep sense of solidarity.

The president of the Turkish Industry and Businessmen’s Association Muharem Caihan said that it was an unfortunate incident, but he did commend the security measures. A.F.

[15] NANO - MILOSEVIC MEETING IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN CRETE’S SUMMIT

The Prime Minister of Albania Fatos Nano and the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic are expected to have a tete-a-tete meeting during the Summit Conference to be held in Crete on November1-2, according to Albanian press reports.

While Mr. Milosevic’s office has yet to confirm the reports, optimism abounds in Tirana’s political circles since such meeting would fall within the framework of creating a climate of trust, sidestepping a dialogue that will be limited by terms and conditions. A.F.

[16] POLAND WON’T SIGN ACCORDS WITH FYROM AS “MACEDONIA”

Poland will not sign any bilateral agreements with FYROM for as long as that country insists on being addressed as “Macedonia” and as long as the name dispute remains pending with Greece, stated the President of Poland Alexandar Kwasnievski to the Polish Press Agency PAP.

A meeting held yesterday between the President of FYROM Kiro Gligorov and Mr. Kwasnievski resulted in a deadlock as the anticipated bilateral agreements were not signed because of FYROM’s insistence to be addressed as “Republic of Macedonia.”

The Polish government refused to use any other name but that used by the United Nations since 1993, “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.

The agreements to be signed concerned friendship and cooperation between the two countries, as well as pacts on issues related to culture and improvements on road transportation. A.F.

[17] GREEK BUSINESSMEN DISSUADED BY BULGARIA’S INVESTMENT LAW

Recent modifications in Bulgaria’s investment law are to have a boomerang effect when it comes to money being poured in by Greek investors who are unable to meet the five-million-dollar minimum necessary for doing business in Bulgaria.

According to the Greek Embassy’s trade attache in Bulgaria George Doudoumis, almost 99% of Greeks doing business in Bulgaria invest in the ballpark of 1.5 million dollars and currently represent that country’s third largest investor. A.F.

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