Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-21

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 21 November 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THE GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SPOKE TO MPA ON THE EU SUMMIT MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG

Greek deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou stated to MPA that Greece is truly interested in the European course of Turkey, contrary to the public relations policy followed toward it by other European countries, adding that at the same time Athens wants certain pre-conditions to be met.

Mr.Papandreou also characterized as a Greek success the decision for the opening of accession negotiations for all 11 candidate states, among them Romania and Bulgaria.

[02] TSOCHATZOPOULOS-PANGALOS MEETING

The political leadership and other officials from the ministries of foreign affairs and defense are meeting in the Pentagon today.

The meeting is aimed at forming the Greek position, on the issue of the NATO headquarters, that will be adopted in the meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers and National Defense General Staff Chiefs that will be held in Brussels on December 2 and 3.

[03] A COMMITTEE IS FORMED IN MELBOURNE FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

The Greek community in Melbourne and leading members of the Australian public life, will form a committee aimed at the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Already, the prime minister of New South Wales, where the Olympic Games of 2000 will be held, has openly backed the return of the Parthenon Marbles and has written a letter on the issue addressed to British prime minister Tony Blair.

A statement in support of the return of the Parthenon Marbles was made by the prime minister of Victoria, who has also informed the state Parliament on the Greek government’s decision to inaugurate the Greek Archaeological Museum in Melbourne with the exhibition “Treasures of Nightingales”.

The whole effort is also being supported by former Australian prime minister Goff Whitlam, former prime minister of South Australia Don Dastan, South Australia Labor party leader Mike Rann, other political figures and leading academicians.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[04] GREECE WILL VETO TURKEY’S PARTICIPATION IN THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE

Job creation and unemployment are the issues for discussion in the EU Summit meeting that opened in Luxembourg this morning. The European leaders’ meeting is aimed at reaching an agreement for the creation of 12 million job positions in the next five years.

The 15 EU leaders made no decision in Luxembourg yesterday on Turkey’s participation in the European Conference. Nevertheless, prime minister Kostas Simitis expressed Greece’s intention to exercise its veto power in case of a decision in the next EU Summit meeting pertaining to Turkey’s participation in the European Conference.

In the dinner given in honor of the “15” EU leaders yesterday, Luxembourg’s prime minister, who presides over the European Council, had raised the issue of the European Conference and Turkey’s participation.

Later in the evening, the Greek prime minister stated in a press conference that Greece virtually exercised its veto power on Turkey’s participation even though in an informal meeting, such as the dinner of the EU leaders, there can be no talk of a veto.

Mr.Simitis stated that he said to the European Council president and the rest EU members that Greece does not agree with the participation of Turkey in the conference and requests certain pre-conditions for its participation. Those pre-conditions must secure Turkey’s cooperation with the EU countries namely, it will have to state that it respects International Law and the principles of peaceful cooperation.

Specifically, mr.Simitis said that for the European Conference to be held with Turkey’s participation there should be certain pre-conditions such as, the recognition of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in The Hague for the solution of differences between states. Moreover, countries participating in the EU accession process should be forbidden to have objections to the progress achieved in the EU accession course of another country, while the UN resolutions on Cyprus should be respected.

The Greek prime minister made it clear in the EU leaders’ dinner that there is no reason to hold the European Conference because it will have no reason, given the fact that the countries that will open accession negotiations will already by in direct contact with the European Union.

The decision on Turkey’s participation in the Permanent European Conference of the “15”, in which the countries that want to become EU members will also take part, will be possibly postponed until the December EU Summit meeting.

Meanwhile, the Greek-Turkish relations are expected to be discussed in the EU foreign ministers’ council meeting that will be held in Luxembourg on Monday. On the same day, it is likely to be held and the EU-Turkey Association Council meeting.

[05] ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN BOSNIA THIS WEEKEND

Early parliamentary elections will be held in the Serb Republic of Bosnia this weekend.

A group of OSCE specialists have threatened to penalize the Serb Democratic party of Bosnia, in view of the elections, if the posters of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadjic are not removed from the streets.

[06] MERCHANT MARINE IS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE FOR GREECE

Merchant marine minister Stavros Soumakis stated that the Greek shipping is of national importance, speaking in New York within the framework of his tour to the United States.

He underlined that shipping is one of the most significant Greek industries that have a small cost for the state but bring great benefits to the country’s economy.

The minister stated that the government shows great interest in the sector and mentioned characteristically that the prime minister and himself will have interesting meetings in London next week with representatives of international companies and the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee.

[07] CORDOVEZ’S CONTACTS IN CYPRUS

UN secretary-general special adviser Diego Cordovez, after his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, expressed disappointment over Cyprus’ continuous division and stated that he will work using all his powers for the reunification of Cyprus.

Mr.Cordovez underlined his discontent over what he saw from the buffer zone and made clear that the first priority will be the restoration of a unified state.

The special adviser of the UN secretary-general met yesterday afternoon with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides for a second time, while this morning was scheduled to meet in Nicosia with the Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Mr.Cordovez will also visit Athens and Ankara.

[08] THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN TURKEY INCREASED DURING YILMAZ’S ADMINISTRATION

Human rights violations in Turkey increased during the administration of the new coalition government headed by prime minister Mesut Yilmaz. The above were pointed out by Human Rights Union representative Ms.Meral Bear during the presentation of a human rights report for the month of October.

According to the report, during the previous month have been recorded 14 mystery murders, 5 executions after summary procedures, 16 murders and 37 injuries of citizens. Also, 472 people have been fired from their jobs, while 29 were tortured. Other 25 people working in the mass media were arrested and 3.687 people were held by police without formal accusations filed against them.

[09] THE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CYPRUS WERE PRESENTED IN THE UN

Greece’s representative in the United Nations Ambassador Dionisios Kodelas presented to the responsible UN committee the human rights violations committed by Turkey in Cyprus.

Turkey’s representative, from his part, justified the 1974 invasion of Cyprus saying that it was based on Turkey’s rights as a guarantor power.

Cypriot representative, mr.Korniliou responded to the Turkish “arguments”, stressing that the international community has condemned Turkey and reminded the UN resolutions as well as, the decision issued by the European Committee on Human Rights.

In his response, the Greek ambassador underlined that Turkey’s arguments do not convince anybody and that Turkey is the one condemned by the UN, adding that in spite of the tens of binding decisions on Cyprus Ankara continues to defy International Law.

[10] EU’S SUMMIT CONFERENCE TAKES A POSITIVE STEP CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT

The basic conclusion that came out from the extraordinary European Summit Conference in Luxembourg, concerning Employment, is that the leadership of the European Union decided to take a positive step towards the confrontation of the joblessness that plagues 18 million people all over the continent. The success of this first step, which is considered to be positive, will depend upon the practice in every member-state connected to the particularity that each country presents. However, the Greek Premier, Kostas Simitis, stated that one of the issues that occupy the Summit Conference is the lack of credibility from the European Union and the way of confronting it. E.K.

[11] THE 38TH CINEMA FESTIVAL OF THESSALONIKI WAS INAUGURATED

The 38th Cinema Festival of Thessaloniki was inaugurated today by the Minister of Culture, Evangelos Venizelos. Mr. Venizelos stressed, among other things, that the Festival is entering today a new era with the best possible potentials. Meanwhile, he stressed that the Cinema Festival of Thessaloniki, the Greek as well as the international, has the necessary prerequisites in order to survive and strengthen its position, as one of the most important European festivals of cinema, with particular Balkan, Mediterranean and Black - Sea references and sensitivity. E.K.

[12] TURKEY PREPARES CHANGES FOR THE STRAITS

Turkey informed Russia of its intention to move on to changes in the articles of association controlling the passage through the Straits that have been in effect since July 1995. According to the Turkish Press, the subject was posed by the assistant to the Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Inal Batou, during his recent visit in Moscow. According to the Turkish newspaper “Milliyet”, the goal of the changes in the articles of association is the safe passage. Meanwhile, Ankara aims to dissolve the criticism that Moscow expresses towards Ankara about violation of the rules concerning free navigation, provided by the Treaty of Montreaux in 1936 concerning the Straits. E.K.

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