[01] PRIME MINISTER-ELECT ABOUT TO FORM NEW CABINET, OLD MEMBERS RESHUFFLED

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER:GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE ON CYPRUS IS INCONCEIVABLE

[03] MAIN OPPOSITION'S HONORARY PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH BRITISH AMBASSADOR

[04] WASHINGTON SALUTES ELECTION OF PRIME MINISTER KOSTAS SIMITIS

[05] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD SALUTES VICTORY OF PRIME MINISTER-ELECT

[06] TURKISH STANCE ON CYPRUS MUST CHANGE, SAYS CYPRIOT PRESIDENT

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PRIME MINISTER-ELECT ABOUT TO FORM NEW CABINET, OLD MEMBERS RESHUFFLED

Prime Minister-elect Kostas Simitis has conducted successive meetings with his closest associates today, in light of the Cabinet's imminent reshuffle after Sunday's elections.

According to sources, Mr. Simitis is expected to present the new government tomorrow and is said to be leaning towards a smaller-sized Cabinet, albeit with more undersecretaries placed in the Ministries.

The same sources state that the National Defense Ministry will be taken over by Akis Tsohatzopoulos, whereas the up-to-now Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis is slated to become Education Minister.

Theodoros Pangalos and Vasso Papandreou are said to likely remain in their seats, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Development respectively, while former Education Minister George Papandreou is a likely candidate for the position of alternate Foreign Minister.

Evangellos Venizelos will likely retain his seat as Justice Minister and Dimitris Reppas is expected to return to the Ministry of Press and Media.

The day after the new Cabinet will be formed, it will be sworn in office by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER:GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE ON CYPRUS IS INCONCEIVABLE

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has stated that a dialogue between Greece and Turkey is not conceivable since the Cypriot problem is one that lies between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus.

Currently in New York attending the 51st General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Pangalos made the statement in response to a reporter's question regarding the new proposal tabled by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller on holding a dialogue between the two neighboring countries regarding the issue of the divided, occupied island.

Mr. Pangalos emphasized that the United Stated is one of the countries that can play a role, which, if undertaken, Greece will consider cooperation in promoting a solution to the problem, "a solution that is fair, viable and lasting."

When asked if he plans to discuss with his counterparts in the European Union the issue of Turkey, Mr. Pangalos responded that the EU has already adopted a position on many levels regarding Turkey's behavior towards Greece, on Cyprus and concerning human rights.

Moreover, Mr. Pangalos added, Ms. Ciller has promised an answer to the EU, one that has yet to be given.

"I assume that my colleagues at the Ministerial Council will ask her, of course, to respond to this common position," Mr. Pangalos stated, adding "also the European Parliament, with an overwhelming majority decided to freeze all funding to Turkey. I think that Ankara must give a satisfactory response to all these issues."

Yet, when it was pointed out that Washington does not appear to adopt this view, Mr. Pangalos stated that there is a relevant announcement in Athens.

[03] MAIN OPPOSITION'S HONORARY PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH BRITISH AMBASSADOR

The honorary Preisdnet of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Konstantinos Mitsotsakis is scheduled to meert with the British Ambassador to Athens today.

Meanwhile, following the resignation of the party's president Miltiades Evert after his defeat in Sunday's general elections, the Secretary-General of N.D.'s Parliamentary Group Stavros Demas continues his correspondencce today to the party's prefectural assemblies throughout the country in order to vote on the electoral body which, once it is formed during the upcoming weekend, will convene in order to elect the party's new president.

So far, two N.D. officials have submitted their candidacy for the party's presidential seat, Stephanos Manos, former Minister of National Economy, and mp Dora Bacoyianni, daughter of Mr. Mitsotakis. Expected to put forth his bid for candidacy today is parliamentarian George Souflias, while N.D. vice-president Yiannis Varvitsiotis and mp Kostas Karamanlis are to announce their final decisions later today.

[04] WASHINGTON SALUTES ELECTION OF PRIME MINISTER KOSTAS SIMITIS

With a flurry of telegraphs asnd congratulatory messages, Washington has saluted the re-election of Prme Minister Kostas Simitis in Greece's general elections.

United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher and U.S. President Bill Clinton's representative Mike McKerry have congratulated Mr. Simitis on his victory.

State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns has characterized Greece as a significant U.S. ally and emphasized that Washington desires cooperation with Mr. Simitis on a series of issues, especially the Cypriot.

Referring to the meeting held yesterday between Mr. Christopher and Tansu Ciller, Turkey's Foreign Minister, Mr. Burns relayed Ms. Ciller's statement that with the re- election of Mr. Simitis there is at least hope of holding talks on the Cyprus issue between Greece and Turkey.

To this, Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who is in New York attending the United Nations 51st General Assembly, responded that is "inconceivable."

[05] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD SALUTES VICTORY OF PRIME MINISTER-ELECT

The Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) has met the re- election of Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis with gladness and a strong dose of hope that the policies created by the previous government will be adopted by the new one.

"We are convinced that the new Cabinet, under the leadership of Kostas Simitis will continue the Greek state's policy towards the Greek communities abroad," told the Macedonian Press Agency the President of the Regional SAE of the United States, Christos Tomaras.

[06] TURKISH STANCE ON CYPRUS MUST CHANGE, SAYS CYPRIOT PRESIDENT

The road to a solution for the Cyprus problem will be opened only if Turkey's stance on the cypriot issue's basic aspects changes, stated the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides today, upon his arrival in New York where he is set to address the United Nations 51st General Assembly.

Referring to statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, wherein she proposed talks between Greece and Turkey on the Cypriot issue, Mr. Clerides pointed out that Ms. Ciller's proposal was presented during Greece's pre-election period, and only aimed to create the impression that she was ready for a solution.

Mr. Clerides also stated that in order for a solution to be found on the Cyprus problem, the efforts must be directed towards Ankara and not Cyprus, adding that even if the leader of the Turkish occupying regime in Cyprus Rauf Denktash wished to shift from his known positions, a solution would be unattainable without a move from Turkey's behalf.

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/