MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (03/04/1996)

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 3 April 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK-AMERICANS GET READY FOR SIMITIS

Honoring the Premier's first visit to the U.S., various events are being organized by the International Council of Greeks Abroad, the American Council of Greeks Abroad, AHEPA, the United Hellenic American Congress, the Western Policy Center, the International Coordinated Commission of the Cypriot Struggle, the American Hellenic Institute and the National Coordinated Effort.

In his travel to the U.S. Mr. Simitis will be accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos, National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou, Press and Media Dimitris Reppas, and, possibly, Education George Papandreou.

The greek-american community leaders and the ministers will discuss national interest issues as well as the spectrum of bilateral relations between Greece-U.S.

The Prime Minister and his delegation will arrive in Washington late on Sunday evening and will remain at the U.S. capital until Wednesday morning when they will travel to New York. While there, Mr. Simitis will address the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce and in the evening will attend a function in Astoria.

On Thursday, the Premier will travel to Connecticut, where he will give a speech at Yale University. On Friday, Mr. Simitis will meet with the U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Ghali and perhaps with the special envoy for the FYROM name issue, Cyrus Vance. He will also meet with the Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos and will visit the Council on Foreign Relations.

[02] BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ATHENS TOMORROW

According to reports, the two Ministers will discuss bilateral relations, the proposed Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and a meeting of Balkan foreign ministers, which is being promoted by Sofia and is tentatively scheduled for mid-June.

[03] BRITISH MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN MARKET AFFAIRS TO VISIT ATHENS

The British Minister will meet with Development Minister Vasso Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos, as well as with the President of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEV) Iasonas Stratos and various businessmen.

The British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon in Mr. Freeman's honor the same day in Athens.

[04] CANADIAN TRADE MINISTER TO VISIT ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI

During his two day stay in Greece, Mr. Eggleton will meet with various ministers and businessmen in an effort to develop Canada's economic and trade relations with the European Union.

The Canadian Minister's visit to Greece is part of a "transatlantic dialogue" between Canada and the EU, within the framework of establishing an action plan on all aspects of the Canada-EU relationship.

[05] THE US WILL HELP SOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE THIS YEAR

The official, who requested anonymity, stated that while the reports are attributed to the U.S., it is not mentioned who made the statements and denied that the statements were made.

Referring to the issue of the american initiative to solve the Cyprus problem during 1996, the State Department official stated that "we can expect that this effort will materialize this year."

[06] HEAD OF GREEK LIAISON OFFICE MET WITH FYROM OFFICIAL

According to FYROM's Press Secretariat, the talks illustrated the positive trend towards the development of bilateral relations in the areas of economy and trade, which also affect the political relations.

[07] BRITISH PMS DENOUNCE TURKISH OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS

The British MPs expressed their abhorrence for Denktash's "wicked", as they characterized it, statement that all the missing Cypriots have been killed by turkish paramilitary groups.

Through the resolution, the parliamentarians expressed their sorrow for the continuous, illegal occupation of Cyprus by turkish forces.

Moreover, they point out the comments made by UN Secretary- General Boutros Ghali, according to whom the fact that the Cyprus problem remains unsolved is due to the lack of turkish political initiative.

According to the resolution, the PMs state that the concealment of information regarding the missing persons, 20 years after the invasion, constitutes a disgrace.