MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (17/09/1996)

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, September 17, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] POLITICAL LEADERS CONTINUE RACE, PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FEVER INTENSIFIES

Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis continues his pre-election campaign today with an evening tour of Larisa.

In a press conference yesterday, Mr. Simitis accused the main opposition party New Democracy of engaging in black propaganda and emphasized that N.D. does not have the necessary arguments to address the problems faced by the Greek people.

Mr. Simitis referred to the Imia crisis and stated that the issue closed when the armed forces leadership was changed.

New Democracy President Miltiades Evert, who this evening will tour Kalamata, once more striked against the Government for its handling of the Imia crisis.

Mr. Evert also announced that he has opted for a press conference instead of his major pre-election campaign rally scheduled to be held in Athens on Thursday.

Minor opposition party leader, Political Spring's Antonis Samaras will address an open rally this evening in Athens.

Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Paparega will also speak in Athens this evening, addressing her party's central gathering.

The President of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) party Nikos Konstantopoulos is visiting the island of Lesvos.

[02] PREMIER SAYS THE IMIA ISSUE HAS CLOSED ONCE AND FOR ALL

"The Imia issue has closed with the crises in the leadership of the armed forces and I will not be going back to it," stated the Prime Minister Kostas Simtis, noting that the statement made by the Greek Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis represents the Government.

During a televised interview, Mr. Simitis added that the armed forces are well-trained and are able to face any type of threat, pointing out that continuing to make an issue of their handling of the Imia crisis serves no purpose.

Respondng to a relevant question, Mr. Simitis stated that the Imia islet is not a "grey zone."

"It is a Greek island and its use is the same it has been for years now," the PASOK President stated, adding that the question tabled by the main opposition New Democracy's president Miltiades Evert on whether or not the Greek army can actually go onto the Imia islet, does not stand snce there are many other islets in the Aegean Sea on which there is no Greek army, without this bearing any significance.

"If the Government were to send its armed forces on the Imia it would mean that there is doubt over (the islet's) sovereignty," he explained.

Mr. Simitis criticised N.D. by stating that the main oposition party engages in black propaganda against PASOK and is personally attacking him in a slanderous manner.

Moreover, he characterized as "comical" the claims made by N.D. that Turkey's provocativeness is due to the Greek Government's compliance.

[03] UNDERSECRETARY OF HEALTH UNDERGOES SURGERY, CONDITION IS STILL CRITICAL

Critical remains the condition of Greek Undersecretary of Health Franklinos Papadellis who suffered a stroke on Sunday night while he was campaigning in the island of Limnos.

Mr. Papadellis underwent a successful neurosurgical operation where a haematoma was removed. While the following two days are thought to be critical, the chief of the treating phycisians has expressed his hope for a positive outcome.

[04] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER GOES ON A ONE-DAY FORMAL VISIT TO SYRIA TODAY

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos departed this morning for a one-day visit to Syria.

During his formal visit, Mr. Pangalos is scheduled to meet in Damascus with the Syrian political leadership as well as with his counterpart Faruk Al Sarah, with whom he will discuss bilateral issues, the recent developments in northern Iraq and issues regarding the Middle East.

The Greek and Syrian governments recently signed a defense agreement.

[05] EUROPARLIAMENT'S SOCIALISTS ACCUSE CILLER OF FUNDING "GREY WOLVES"

The European Parliament's Socialist Group President Paukine Green has accused Turkey's Foreign Minister and ex-Premier Tansu Ciller of being the instigator in the recent episodes in Deryneia.

Ms. Green stated that Ms. Ciller funded the ultra- right wing "Grey Wolves" to go on a mission to Cyprus and organize the violent episodes where two unarmed Greek- Cypriots were killed in cold blood.

According to Ms. Green, the whole operation cost 65 milion turkish liras, approximately two billion GRD. The Socialist Group President also condemned the "Grey Wolves" members for their involvement in attacks and murders in Cyprus.

Moreover, Ms. Green characterized as unacceptable the Europarliament's tactic in regards to its imminent talks regarding Cyprus and Turkey. On Thursday, the European Parliament is scheduled to hold a brief discussion (with only a few minutes dedicated to the subject) on the Cyprus issue, a country which has submitted a request of accession to the European Union, while, on the other hand, a whole session will be dedicated to Turkey on Wednesday.

Ms. Green stated that "our relations with Turkey are affected by the fact that it maintains occupying forces in Cyprus."

[06] "TEST TUBE BABY" PIONEERS TO VISIT THESSALONIKI IN REPRODUCTION SEMINAR

The doctor who pioneering the "test tube baby" reproduction method, Belgian Andre Van Steirteguilme, will visit Thessaloniki on September 20-21 where he will speak at the conference of the European Association of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Dr. Steirteguilme was the first physician who successfully performed in-vitro fertilization. His method, which revolutionized sterility therapies and constitutes a further application of artificial insemination, is mostly used in cases of infertility due to sperm-related problems.

Also present at the ceonference will be Robert Edwards, a British professor who is the father of the first "test tube baby".

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