MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (07/06/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency Brief News in English Directory

=81RIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, June 7 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREECE'S FUTURE LIES IN THE NORTH, SAYS PRIME MINISTER

A program of developing Thessaloniki and Northern Greece's greater region was presented this morning by Prime Minister Kostas Simtis, who emphatically stated that the country's future lies in the north.

Mr. Simitis spoke at Thessaloniki's Helexpo Conference Center where the Ministers of Environment, City Planning and Public Works, Kostas Laliotis, and Communications and Transportation Haris Kastanides presented a development program for the city and announced the promotion of infrastructure projects in the region.

Referring to Thessaloniki's role as the epicenter of the Inter-balkan Cooperation, the Premier pointed out the need for a decision-making center that will serve as the impetus for the promotion of such cooperation.

Also touching upon the government's aims to strengthen the country's currency, the Premier stated that a devaluation policy is a means that may be reassuring, yet it is misleading and does not promote business competitiveness. He added that there must be greater sensitivity displayed regarding inflation.

"The final battle will be won through improved organizations, better products and upped availability," Mr. Simitis concluded.

Last evening, the Premier presented the government's basic axes of a program to develop Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, and he singled out the region's significance by noting that Thrace, Macedonia and Epirus constitute the natural economic arena in which business opportunities are constantly being created and investments are pouring in.

Specifically, on the Egnatia Road project the Premier pointed out that 254 kilometers are currently under construction while the government is set to complete the remaining 135 until the year 2000.

Regarding the "Macedonia" airport, Mr. Simitis proposed that the best option would be upgrading its current facilities to international airport status.

Regarding the issue of the metro, the government is viewing it as a basic element of its cohesive transportation strategy and has already secured Community funds that amount to 50 billion drachmas.

The Premier also referred to the creation of an Inter- balkan Center of Technological Cooperation in Thessaloniki, in collaboration with the United States, which will aim at modernizing production in the Balkan countries.

[02] THESSALONIKI TO GET MACEDONIA-THRACE COORDINATING COUNCIL

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis announced today the establishment of the offices of four ministries In Thessaloniki, as part of the government's decentralization efforts.

Concurrently, the Premier announced the creation of a Coordinating Council of Macedonia-Thrace in Thessaloniki, which will function under the presidency of Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos and the participation of the secretaries- general from the region's three districts.

According to Mr. Simitis, this de-centralization effort will bring to Thessaloniki the central agencies of the Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Sports and an office of International Economic Relations and thereby will provide relief for the various buraeucratic tangles.

The Premier met this morning with the Ministers of Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos and Secretary- General Chrysa Manola, Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Justice, Evangelos Venizelos and Education under-Secretary George Paschalides

Also accompanying Mr. Simitis on his two-day visit to Thessaloniki are Ministers of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou, Environment, City Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis, Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas, Health and Welfare Anastasios Peponis, Culture, Stavros Benos, Transportations and Communications Haris Kastanides and the under-Secretaries of National Economy Christos Pachtas, Development Michalis Chrysochoides and Health, Franklinos Papadelis.

[03] US HAVE POINT OF VIEW ON GAVDOS, BUT KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES

The US State department has taken a position regarding the Gavdos island issue and, although it has been conveyed to Athens and Ankara, it does not intent to present this view publicly as this would not aid the existing situation, according to US government spokesperson Nicholas Burns.

Mr. Burns stated that it would not be prodoctive to give details regarding the specific island and added that the US will privately proceed on this issue and will "of course inform the governments of Greece and Turkey."

"If we can be useful in resolving the dispute we will do it," Burns added.

Also, commenting on a recently published editorial in the "Wall Street Journal", where the author assesses that there is a danger of war erupting in Cyprus, Mr. Burns categorically stated that the American government does not share that point of view.

He linearly contradicted the article by stating that "the US will benefit from the existance of peace in Cyprus" and added that his government does not believe that there is potential for war erupting on the island, not even a realistic possibility."

[04] OPPOSITION LEADER IS ON LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN TO US, EU

Main opposition party New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert has embarked on a letter writing campaign to the international community through which he appeals that Ankara is brought back to sense and conforms to international rules.

According to Mr. Evert, the purpose of his letter is not merely to illustrate the lack of merit in the issues suddenly brought forth by Ankara, but rather to point out the increasing dangers such expansionist tactics create in the region.

The New Democracy President has forwarded his letter to the European Commission President Jacques Santer, NATO Secretary-General Xavier Solana, European Parliament President Klaus Haensch, President of the European People's Party Wielfried Martens, as well as all the ambassadors of EU member- countries, the United Nations and Russia.

[05] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MEETS WITH GREEK NAVY OFFICIALS IN NICOSIA

Greek Navy officials of the "Ares" ship, which currently docked in Cyprus, were received today by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.

President Clerides expressed his satisfaction for the naval officers' visit to the island, since the training of the midshipmen includes the sea of Cyprus within the framework of the joint defense doctrine.

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