MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (29/04/1996)

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 April 29, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER MET WITH HIS COUNTERPART FROM LUXEMBURG

The position that Greece insists on its position that in the solution of any disputes the use of force should be avoided as well as the threat for the use of force was reiterated by greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis after his meeting in Athens with his counterpart from Luxemburg. Mr.Simitis also underlined that Turkey should go to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The two Prime Ministers discussed mainly issues concerning the European Union, the role of the European Parliament, the developments on the economic and the monetary union as well as the greek-turkish relations.

In statements he made after the meeting, mr.Simitis said that regarding the greek-turkish relations, Luxemburg's Prime Minister believes that International Law must be implemented, while there should not be threat of force in the relations of third countries and in European Union member states.

He also said that if there are any disputes they should be resolved in The Hague.

[02] THE BANK OF GREECE GOVERNOR WILL ISSUE HIS ANNUAL REPORT ON THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY

Bank of Greece Governor mr.Loukas Papadimos will issue his annual report on the country's economy today.

According to information, he will point out that political and monetary fluidity create dangers and disturb the climate of stability necessary for the drop of inflation, and for dealing effectively with deficits and public debt.

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT AND THE EU OFFERED THEIR UNRESERVED SUPPORT TO THE ASSOCIATION OF BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES

The greek government and the European Union offered their unreserved support to Macedonian Press Agency's efforts aiming at establishing a Balkan News Bank in Thessaloniki and at achieving the Balkan News Agencies' link up -via satellite- through the DIAVLOS programme, two initiatives supported by all the national Balkan news agencies.

The support of the greek government and the European Union was conveyed by Minister of Transport and Communications mr.Charis Kastanidis and by Euro-Deputy and President of the Joint European Parliament Committee for Bulgaria's and Romania's association with the EU mr.Nikos Papakiriatzis during the opening of the Balkan News Agencies' Technical Directors meeting held today and tomorrow in Thessaloniki.

The greek Transport and Communications Minister expressed the belief that the European Union will support those efforts till the end and characterized as very useful the establishment of an Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) office in Brussels which will play a leading role in sending news from the European Union to the Balkan national news agencies through the Balkan News Bank in Thessaloniki.

The greek Minister of Transport and Communications characterized as an especially important step for the achievement of ABNA's targets the decisions made in Sofia last Friday by the Balkan Ministers of Communications and Postal Services. It was decided that they will meet at least once a year, while it was also decided and the formation of special Support Committees aiming at joint actions that will lead to the link up of the Balkan states telecommunications networks.

Euro-Deputy mr.Papakiriazis conveyed the EU's unreserved support to those efforts.

Next week, the General Directors of all the Balkan News Agencies will visit Brussels and will meet with members of the European Commission and the European Parliament aiming at promoting the DIAVLOS programme.

Opening the meeting today, Macedonian Press Agency's General Director Spyros Kouzinopoulos stated that through the development of cooperation, the Balkan News Agencies will be able to contribute to the restoration of the climate of peace, friendship and cooperation among the Balkan states. Macedonian Press Agency Chairman prof.Pavlos Petridis mentioned that MPA's activities will continue and intesify.

ABNA's Executive Secretary and General Director of bulgarian news agency BIP mr.Stefan Velev welcomed MPA's initiatives and activities which, as he said, have the unreserved support of all the Balkan national news agencies.

In the meeting participate the Technical Directors of the following Balkan national news agencies: ATA from Albania, BTA and BIP from Bulgaria, TANJUG from Yugoslavia, ANA and MPA from Greece, MPB from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, ROMPRES from Romania and ANADOLU from Turkey. Also, in the meeting participate the General Directors of bulgarian BIP and FYROM's MPB news agencies.

[04] STATEMENTS BY THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE PANGALOS-GONENSAY MEETING IN BUCHAREST

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commenting on the meeting of greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos with his turkish counterpart Emre Gonensay that was held last Saturday in Bucharest stated that the target of the visit was for Greece to detect Turkey's intentions adding that the greek government believes that contact with Turkey should continue.

He also reiterated that Ankara should make the first step by going to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, while he characterized as "positive element" the statements made by mr.Gonensay on avoiding the use of force.

[05] AN AHEPA DELEGATION MET WITH THE MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE AND WITH THE MAYOR OF THESSALONIKI

A 12member delegation of AHEPA's High Council headed by Chairman Spyros Makris met with Minister of Macedonia- Thrace Phillipos Petsalnikos and with Thessaloniki's mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos within the framework of their visit to Greece aiming at supporting the issues of greek national interest.

In the meeting with mr.Petsalnikos views were exchanged on national issues and on problems concerning the greek communities abroad.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/