MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (08/07/1996)

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, July 8, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PREMIER KOSTAS SIMITIS MEETS WITH MINISTER OF ECONOMY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met this afternoon with Minister of Economy Alekos Papadopoulos and discussed issues concerning public finance.

Following the meeting, Mr. Papadopoulos stated that he briefed the Premier on the budget regulations and activities during the first six months of the year.

According to the Minister, legislation is in the works and will include the necessary measures to be taken in regards to limiting public expense.

[02] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS CO-SIGN COOPERATION, FRIENDSHIP RESOLUTION

The Foreign Ministers of countries in Southeastern Europe have signed a resolution which emphasizes their common efforts to establish good- neighbourly relations in the region.

The resolution, titled "Sofia Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations, Stabilty, Security and Cooperation in the Balkans", points out that the involved countries have launched a comprehensive process of multilateral cooperation in the following areas: enhancing good-neioghbourly relations including confidence and security-building measures, development of economic cooperation through cross-border cooperation, upgrading transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures, trade and investment promotion, development of humanitarian, social and cultural contacts, cooperation in the field of justice, combat of organized crime, illicit drug and arms trafficking and elimination of terrorism.

Participating at the meeting were: Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Romania's Theodor Melescanu, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan Milutinovic, Turkish undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oymen, Albania's deputy Arian Starova, Bosnia- Herzegovina deputy Hasan Dervishbegovic and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski.

The next Summit meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Southeastern Europe countries will be held in Greece next year.

[03] SERB PRESIDENT WELCOMES GREEK, GERMAN, ROMANIAN AMBASSADORS

His interest in improving relations with Germany, Romania and Greece expressed the Serb President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic in the recent meeting he had with the new ambassadors of the three countries in Belgrade.

Mr. Milosevic expressed his conviction that the development of mutual relations and cooperation, based upon respect of equality and mutual interests, will promote peace and international stability.

Mr. Milosevic welcomed the ambassadors, who are Greece's Panayiotis Vlassopoulos, Germany's Gerhardt Srebgens and Romania's Panait Lefter.

[04] SAE EUROPEAN REGION COMPLETES SESSION IN NICOSIA

The first session of the Council of Greeks Abroad, European Region, was completed today in Nicosia.

Eight committees will meet to discuss various issues, including national matters.

The Council decided to create a nine-member body which will coordinate the SAE's activities.

[05] CYPRUS:SIR DAVID HANNAY MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLERIDES

Britain's special representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay was received today by the President of the Cypriot Republic Glafkos Clerides in Nicosia where the two men discussed security and demilitarization issues, as well as the island's accession to the European Union.

Following his meeting with the Cypriot President, Sir Hannay will also meet with the Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, and will have successive contacts with political leaders from both communities.

After the meeting with President Clerides, the British representative stated that the EU must not become involved in the Cyprus problem for the time being.

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/