MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (13/06/1996)

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 13, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO GREEK COMMUNITY IN GERMANY

Greek President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, stated today that "Greece is in a position to defend itself, although I hope that we will not need to do so," during his address given to the greek community living in Germany.

President Stephanopoulos, who is concluding his official visit to Germany today, emphasized the significance of a united Greece during these hard times, noting that the problems the country is facing are somebody else's doing.

"When did Greece wrong Turkey? When did Greece persecute turkish priests?" the President asked.

Mr. Stephanopoulos emphasized that Greece does not wish for a military confrontation, and pointed out that "we have proposed the only way there is to resolve differences between civilized countries."

"There are, of course, uncivilized countries as well," he continued. "We have suggessted to resort -together if they wish- to the International Justice Court at The Hague. That is because we are certain we are right and we will be justified. And the Turks know that which is why they are resisting (the resort)."

President Stephanopoulos emphasized that Greece expects solidarity from its European Union allies.

"We do not wish to upset the long-standing friendship between Greece and Turkey, however, beyond interests -economic and others- there are certain principles that must remain intact."

The President emphasized that Greece wishes for Turkey's approach with Europe, however not at the cost of the greek situation with Turkey.

"Greece will not accept offensive behavior," he stated.

[02] US PRESIDENT: WE HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME IN GREEK- TURKISH RELATIONS

Expressing his heightened concern over greco-turkish relations, United States President Bill Clinton stated yesterday that the future that lies ahead will be improved if both sides aim to resolve their differences.

Speaking at a White House joint press conference with the European Commission President Jacques Santer and the President of the European Council, Italian President Romano Pronti, President Clinton stated that he considers the resolving of the problems between Athens and Ankara to be a "decisive factor for building the future we want for Europe and, more specifically, for the Mediterranean region."

The US president added that on the issue of resolving the greek-turkish differences, the US have invested a lot of time and he expects to further do so in the upcoming months, as well as in the following years, "if the people decide so."

[03] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS MEET IN BRUSSELS TODAY

NATO's 15 Defense Ministers will meet in Brussels today where, in a brainstorming session, they will discuss the multinational peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and the upgrading of Europe's role in the Alliance.

Greek Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis met this morning with his German counterpart Volker Ruhe and Britain's Michael Portillo, whom he briefed on the recent developments in greco- turkish relations and Greece's positions on national issues.

Mr. Arsenis made it clear that Greece is willing to face the turkish provocations in every way and added that Greece will not tolerate the questioning of greek sovereignty in its islands and islets.

Moreover, Mr. Arsenis gave special emphasis to the Gavdos island issue, by pointing out that Turkey has exceeded the limits by questioning the legal status of an inhabited greek island.

This afternoon, the Greek Defense Minister will meet with his counterpart from the United States William Perry and French Defense Minister Charles Million.

[04] EUROPEAN COMMISSION SAYS GREEK ECONOMY IS ON RIGHT TRACK

Upon examining the fiscal economies of the countries that benefit from the Cohesion Fund, the European Commission has concluded that Greece, along with Spain and Portugal, is on the right economic path.

The Commission has concluded that the three aforementioned countries have closely followed the debt reduction targets, as they were set by the Council, and, as such, no punitive measures will be taken, such as the cancellation of new funding.

Specifically for Greece, the GNP deficit rate for 1995 fell to 9.2 per cent, well below the Cohesion Fund's ceiling rate of 10.7 per cent.

[05] GREEK-BULGARIAN MAYORS TO DISCUSS BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE

A greek-bulgarian meeting, at a mayoral level, regarding the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, will be held on June 15 following a relevant initiative proposed by Souflio Mayor P. Christodoulou.

The talks will focus on the pipeline's construction and, according to Sofia's Russian Ambassador A.Avdeev, experts are currently preparing new studies examining the oil pipleline's productiveness. According to the Russian ambassador, the project has proven to be more complex than was expected, thereby resulting in delays.

National participation in the pipeline is allocated at 50 per cent for Russia, 25 per cent for Bulgaria and 25 per cent for Greece.

[06] US EXAMINE THE DANGERS RESULTING FROM ARMS RACE IN CYPRUS

The United States are examining closely the dangers lurking from the rising military build-up in Cyprus, stated the US State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns today.

"Our belief is and our position is that we all need to make an effort to try to resolve the problems of Cyprus, and we've been at this for a long time, over 20 years," Mr. Burns stated, adding that John Kornblum, the US Assistant Secretary-designate to Cyprus, has made this very clear publicly, having had extensive conversations with all the parties to the conflict.

Referring to various scenaria of war, Mr. Burns reiterated that the US do not adopt such views.

"We do not believe that there is a rational reason to raise the diplomatic temperature and to talk about war games or a future of conflict. In reality, we want to turn the situation towards the other direciton," he said.

[07] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN NEW YORK, TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON

"Butros Ghali, as well as others, believes that the issue of Cyprus' accession to the European Union can serve as the catalyst in solving the Cyprus problem," stated the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, responding to questions by reporters upon his arrival in New York after his one-day stop in Switzerland where he met with the UN Secretary-General.

Referring to his meeting with Mr. Ghali, President Clerides stated that they discussed the issue of the missing persons in Cyprus, and the recent killing of the Greek-Cypriot National Guardsman at the demarcation line.

Mr. Clerides pointed out to Mr. Ghali that the situation must be dealt with very seriously since this killing marks the seventh victim in recent years.

Also, Mr. Ghali and Mr. Clerides exchanged views on the Cyrpiot problem and concluded that direct talks are not feasible between the two sides of the divided island, since, according to the Cypriot President, no common ground has been found in the problem's basic aspects.

When asked if he awaits a new US initiative to come forward following his meeting with US President Clinton next Tuesday, Mr. Clerides stated that his assessment is that at this stage the US have not arrived at a decision on proposing a specific solution plan.

Also, Mr. Clerides stated that the recent crisis between Greece and Turkey affects the Cyprus issue, just as any tension noted in Cyprus affects the greek-turkish relations, "they're communicating vessels."

In turn, Mr. Clerides referred to Europe's role in solving the Cypriot issue, and stated that the ultimate solution would be a coordinated effort on behalf of the US and Europe.

Lastly, regarding the governmental instability noted in Ankara, Mr. Clerides reminded that it has been an ever-present issue.

"The Cypriot issue was unfortunate in this regard, as there was never a time when there were stable governments in all fronts, Greece, Turkey and even Cyprus."

[08] TURKISH PRESS POINTS OUT CONTRADICTIONS IN ANKARA'S FOREIGN POLICY

"Conflict abounds in the sidelines" screams the headline of a turkish newspaper's editorial that comments on recent statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gionensay and Turkey's Navy Chief Dervisoglou regarding the Gavdos island issue.

"Hurriyet" editor-in-chief Ertugrul Ozkiok wrote that various contradictions arise from recent statements made by these two officials, illustrating a lack of coordination between the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff.

However, the columnist refers to a study compiled recently by the turkish naval forces regarding the Aegean Sea islands, where Gavdos was categorized under the "islets with unclear status." According to Ozkiok, the questions brought forth by the turkish official in NATO, who first questioned the island's greek sovereingty, were based on these instructions.

Meanwhile, another cause of concern for the turkish Foreign Ministry are the documents recently provided by Italy to the greek press, according to which Turkey verifies a document based on which the Imia islet is left to Greece. According to Ozkiok, these documents strengthen Greece's positions in Europe.

Lastly, the turkish columnist writes that the Imia crisis, and the Gavdos crisis that followed, have "cornered" Turkey, which "as a large ship can not easily make sudden manoeuvres" and points out that Ankara will be subjected to extensive diplomatic damage if it does not coordinate the moves between its Foreign Ministry and the General Staff.

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