MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (15/03/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency Brief News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, March 15 1996

NEWS IN TITLE

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK PREMIER MET WITH HEAD OF FYROM'S LIAISON OFFICE IN ATHENS

There were no statements made after the 45-minute meeting, although speculations abound that Mr. Arsovski's visits with Greek officials mark a climate of collaboration between the two countries regarding the name issue.

Yesterday Mr.Arsovski met with the President of the Hellenic Republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos..

[02] TURK PREMIER WANTS TO HOLD TALKS WITH GREECE ON DEMILITARIZATION

Upon his return from Paris, where he had attended the 17th Conference of the European Democratic Union, Mr. Yilmaz stated that "all the turkish and greek questions, including the demilitarization of islets in the Aegean Sea... could be discussed as part of a dialogue between Ankara and Athens."

According to Mr. Yilmaz, this demilitarization would also apply to the 4th Turkish Army, currently stationed in western Turkey, near the Aegean Sea coast.

Earlier this week, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos had stated that Greece could possibly have contacts with Ankara's new government on the condition that relations between Greece and Turkey returned to the status held before the Imia crisis.

[03] THESSALONIKI STOCK EXCHANGE TO OPEN ON A TRIAL BASIS

Inaugurated this week by Greek Premier Kostas Simitis, the Salonica Stock Exchange Center (SSEC) is to face high expectations as it will co-operate with other Balkan countries, thereby taking the first step into turning Thessaloniki into a Balkan stock exchange center.

The SSEC has already attracted brokerage firms from the Athens bourse who are eager to open subsidiaries in Northern Greece.

According to the SSEC President Manolis Xanthakis, who is also president of the Athens Stock Exchange, the new center will be ready to receive the first shares by April 15-20.

[04] HALKIDIKI'S GOLD MINE RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTALISTS' WRATH

The 63-billion-drachmas project, awarded to the Canada-based company TVX Gold and considered to be Greece's largest single private investment in the last 20 years, will be cancelled, albeit temporary, since the protesters are blockading the access roads to the plant, halting deliveries and disrupting the work process.

Following a meeting with Development Minister Vasso Papandreou, TVX Hellas, the company wholly owned by TVX-Gold who runs the project, has decided to enter a grace period to see whether what was said will materialize, according to TVX Hellas executive vice-president Costas Sinis.

The government has said that the project must continue and has promised to work with the Canadian firm to inform residents that it is environmentally sound.

[05] GREEK, BULGARIAN AND ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN SOFIA

The two-day meeting between Thodoros Pangalos, Georgi Pirinski and Teodor Melescanu is considered to be a continiuation of talks held between the three ministers in Ioannina last August.

In addition to their talks spanning foreign policy, the three ministers will also discuss security and co-operation in the Balkan region.

[07] GREEK MILITARY MODERNIZATION PROGRAM IN THE WORKS

The five billion dollars program, expected to be presented to Parliament by Greek Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis in May or April, will give priority to a new type of warplanes currently looked at in Europe and the U.S. Prime candidate choices are considered to be the french Rafale, the swedish JAS 39 Gripen and the american-made F-16 and F/A-18.

[08] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT DOES NOT SEE A SOLUTION TO CYPRUS BEFORE 1997

In an interview granted to the Cypriot private television station "Sigma", Mr. Klerides emphasized that he does not accept the possibility that the future state's sovereignty could stem from two communities, but, he stated, could only be granted by the people. He added that he will not accept a solution that does not secure the survival of the cypriot hellenism in the land of their fathers, an issue that he considers of utmost importance in the area of security.

The Cypriot President also stated that the various initiatives currently in development, whether they are of European or American origin, are adopting the Cypriot position for de- militarization and the establishment of a multi-national power in Cyprus, as well as that the key to the problem's solution lies with Ankara.

Concurrently, Mr.Klerides stated that at this point in time there will be no pressure exerted on either side and noted that the United States would not want to ignite the greek lobby's reaction during the current pre-election period there.

Commenting on the speculation that the Cyprus issue could be solved through a "Camp David" method, Mr. Klerides stated that no American President would be willing to involve himself in such a process if he does not first ascertain that there is a convergence of point of views from both sides and an agreement on substantial issues.

Regarding the issue of the Aegean Sea, while the Cypriot President estimated that "we may become witnesses to a heated, escalating episode" he, however, ruled out the possibility of an erupting crisis.

[09] GREEK MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY SIGNS ACCORDS WITH CYPRUS

Mr. Papantoniou stated that Greece is equipped with significant economic and political abilities that will strengthen Cyprus and provide definitive support for the cypriot interests.

Also, the National Economy Minister will sign a co-operation agreement with the Cypriot Minister of Labour Andreas Mousioutas regarding the two countries' producing sector.