MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (04/06/1996)

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, June 4, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK-AMERICAN LEADERS MEET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN WASHINGTON

Leading members of the Greek-American community met with United States President Bill CLinton in Washington yesterday, where during a two-hour meeting they brought forth a series of national issues of utmost concern to Greece.

The Greek-American leaders discussed with Mr. Clinton the developments in Greek-Turkish relations, especially following the Imia islets crisis, and Ankara's continuous policy of threats and provocations, which is linearly contrary to President Clinton's pleas to avoid such acts.

Mr. Clinton heard his guests complain over Turkey's continuous violations of Greece's aerial space and he was asked to exert pressure on Ankara so that it will make the first move in settling the uneasiness in the Aegean Sea by referring the Imia islets issue -as well as the continental shelf issue- to the International Court ofJustice at The Hague.

The second issue that was brought forth to the American President by the Greek-American leaders was that of Cyprus, on which he was asked to support the island's accession to the European Union as well as the island's demilitarization.

Moreover, the issue of human rights violations in Albania was the third topic discussed with Mr. Clinton.

The Greek-American leaders extensively referred to the problems faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate from the Turkish authorities, as well as the need for Washington to support the creation of an oil pipeline that will run through Russia, Bulgaria and Greece. Also pointed out to President Clinton were the significant benefits such project would bring to american companies since the complete dependence upon Turkey for oil production would be avoided.

Among the Greek-American community's leaders who met with the US President were John Katsimatides, Aggelos Tsakopoulos, Philip Christopher, Nicholas Cage and Theodoros Spyropoulos, all of whom are significant contributors to the US Democratic Party and Mr. Clinton's pre-election campaign.

[02] ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON GHALI AVERTED AT LAST MINUTE, ACCORDING TO TURKISH PRESS

Two of Turkey's largest in circulation newspapers, "Huriyet" and Milliyet", have reported that an assassination attempt against United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali was averted at the last minute.

According to the newspapers, the assassination attempt was not carried out since at the last minute a member of the assassin squad "nailed" his partners to the police because of a dispute.

Turkish police were unable to arrest any of the would-be assassins, while the member who squealed on his accomplices claimed that he belongs to the DHKP-C organization, the Revolutionaly People's Front of the Communist Party.

[03] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MEET WITH RAUF DENKTASH IN CONSTANTINOPLE

United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali will meet with Turk-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Constantinople tomorrow.

Mr. Ghali's alternate special representative Gustav Feischel, who already has met with Mr. Denktash, stated that there is no agenda for the meeting, which will mostly review the recent developments. According to Mr. Feischel, the June 11 meeting between Mr. Ghali and Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides will be held within the same parameters.

When asked if these meetings are being held in light of the american initiative for the cypriot problem, Mr. Feischel responded that the UN Secretary-General has his own orders which are renewed every six months.

[04] UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE UNABLE TO GUARD ALL OF DEMARCATION LINE

The United Nations Secretary-General's special representative to Cyprus Gustav Feischel referred today to the UN's inability to guard the demarcation line at all of its length.

Mr. Feischel stated that the Security Council has repeatedly asked that the military guards stationed at the demarcation line be unarmed.

The Cypriot government yesterday had issued a demarche to Mr. Feischel for the inability of the UN peacekeeping forces to guard the demarcation line.

The government is also expected to proceed in issuing another demarche to the Security Council through its permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Nikos Agathocleous.

British special representative to Cyprus Sir David Hunney stated upon his arrival to Nicosia that the killing of the national guardsman emphasizes the fragility of today's "status quo."

Yesterday morning, turkish soldiers shot and killed a 19- year-old Cypriot national guardsman, Stellios Panagis-Kalis, who had entered the neutral zone in the Aghios Andreas region near Nicosia.

The Cypriot Ministry of Defense announced that Panagis-Kalis entered the demarcation line unarmed and Turkish soldiers opened fire from their guardhouse and killed him.

Men from the peacekeeping forces carried Panagis-Kalis away from the scene and transported him to Nicosia General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to eyewitnesses, the Cypriot soldier entered the neutral zone unarmed, approached the turkish guardhouse and was seen talking with a Turkish soldier. Another Cypriot national guardsman called on Panagis-Kalis to return but he ignored his comrade's pleas.

The Cypriot government en masse denounced the shooting as a criminal act and immediately issued an avalanche of demarches to the United Nations and the Security Council.

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides stated that the issued demarches regard both the killing of the 19-year-old soldier, as well as the United Nations' negligence and inability to guard the demarcation line.

Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Alekos Mihaelides, gave orders to the Cypriot permanent representative at the UN to proceed in issuing a stern protestation to the UN Secretariat, as well as to the permanent members of the Security Council. Also, all of the Cypriot embassies have been instructed to issue demarches to international organizations and foreign governments.

Meanwhile, according to Cypriot authorities, current investigations reveal that before Panagis-Kalis entered the demarcation line, a civilian was seen entering the free zone from the occupied territory and fled when the shooting started. Also, the national guardsman did not activate the alarm system, as he was obliged to do.

[05] SEVEN NATIONAL GUARDSMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE PAST TEN YEARS BY TURKS ON THE DEMARCATION LINE

Seven Cypriot national guardsmen have been killed during the past ten years by turkish soldiers on the demarcation line that separates Cyprus into two parts.

They are: Christakis Georgiou, killed on September 21, 1982, Tryphonas Tryphonos, December 18, 1983, Harilaos Haralampous, May 28, 1988, Evagora Evagorou, July 31, 1988, Athanasios Cleovolou, April 8, 1993, Michalis Sophocleous, April 9, 1996 and Stelios Panagis-Kalis, June 3, 1996.

Photopraphs of the killed guardsmen are posted along the length of the demarcation line.

[06] GREEK MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER TO BE FOUNDED IN MELBOURNE

Prime Minister of the Australia's Victoria, Jeff Kennett, has reaffirmed his government's interest in creating a Greek Museum and a Greek Cultural Center in Melbourne, in a meeting he held with the President of the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens and the President of Oceania's SAE Elias Rallis.

Meeting in the Premier's office, Mr. Kennett was briefed on SAE's new targets and gave his guests a tour of Melbourne's "Old Customs House" which is being considered for housing the Greek Museum.

According to the primary plans, one of the building's floors could house the Greek Museum while another floor could be used for holding cultural events since it is noted for its vast dimensions and beautiful aesthetics.

Both of SAE's leaders, as well as the Greek Foreign Ministry's representative George Florentis -who was present at the meeting- have promised to promote the efforts for Melbourne's Greek Museum.

On another note, Mr. Kennett indicated that his government has decided not to participate at this year's International Fair In Thessaloniki.

"In cooperation with the Australian Premier John Howard, I will aim at Australia's participation in the following year's International Fair in Thessaloniki with an impressive stand in order to produce greater results from this attempt," Mr. Kennett promised.

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