MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (96-10-15)

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, October 15, 1996

TITLES

[01] CYPRUS MOURNS LATEST VICTIM OF TURKISH ATROCITY, FUNERAL HELD TODAY

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO TOUR SARAJEVO, BELGRADE, ZAGREB THIS WEEK

[03] HUNGARY'S FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED BY GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER

[04] BRITISH ENVOY TO CYPRUS SIR DAVID HANNAY TO MEET WITH RAUF DENKTASH

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] CYPRUS MOURNS LATEST VICTIM OF TURKISH ATROCITY, FUNERAL HELD TODAY

Nicosia, October 15 (M.P.A.)

The autopsy performed yesterday evening in Cyprus showed that the tragic man had been killed execution-style, shot at close range in the chest.

The outcry to the cold-blooded murder is resounding in Cyprus and Greece, although the international community's reaction has so far been lukewarm.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has accused the international community of displaying a "peculiar tolerance" on the matter and stated that this behavior indirectly encourages Ankara.

In Cyprus, Ambassador Nikos Agathocleous, the Cypriot Permanent Representative to the United Nations will lodge protests to the Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and to the President of the Security Council whose members are expected to hold a series of informal meetings on the matter throughout the day.

From New York, Silvana Foa, the representative of the UN Secretary-General, has relayed Butros Ghali's regret for the episode.

UN peacekeepers in Cyprus have also protested to the turkish forces for the cowardly murder. According to the statement issued, UNFICYP is deeply concerned that once again an innocent life was lost as the result of the deplorable and unnecessary use of lethal force.

UNFICYP's commanding officer has, in the strongest possible terms, requested from the commander of the turkish forces to instruct the soldiers under his command not to shoot unless their own lives are threatened.

Turkey's opposition parties are also reacting to the murder of the Greek-Cypriot unarmed civilian. Opposition members ask that the turkish soldiers become better trained and have stated that the Greek-Cypriots who enter the occupied territory should be arrested but not punished.

The Greek Pentagon is observing closely the turkish military exercise "Tavros" which is taking place today in the occupied territory of Cyprus.

Currently, approximately 200 students have gathered steps away from the demarcation line in Nicosia outside a hotel, along with a strong police force that aims at averting any episodes from taking place or barring the students from entering the buffer zone and into the occupied territory.

One hundred meters away, a group of Turks has also gathered, all dressed in civilian clothing.

Today, the European Investment Bank approved a 130 MECU loan to Turkey for funding of energy and environmental protection programs.

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO TOUR SARAJEVO, BELGRADE, ZAGREB THIS WEEK

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will travel to the cities of Sarajevo, Belgrade and Zagreb this week, in an effort to display Greece's active involvement in the Balkans and its interest in promoting bilateral relations with Bosnia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia.

Starting with Sarajevo tomorrow, Mr. Pangalos will address issues of bilateral relations between Greece and Bosnia- Herzegovina as well as Greece's participation in Bosnia's reconstruction projects.

In Belgrade, where Mr. Pangalos' visit is awaited eagerly as it marks the first time a high-ranking official is visiting the city after sanctions imposed on FRY where lifted a few days ago, a cooperation agreement will be signed between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. Before the end of the year, Greece and FRY will also sign bilateral agreements regarding investments and the avoidance of double-taxation.

In Zagreb, Mr. Pangalos will meet with his Croatian counterpart and is also scheduled to meet with Croat President Franjo Tudjman.

The Greek Foreign Minister is expected to stress the importance of these countries' equitable participation at the Interbalkan Conference which will be held in Thessaloniki in June of 1997.

[03] HUNGARY'S FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVED BY GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER

Athens, October 15 (M.P.A.)

The two men discussed issues concerning the potential expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as the new regimes of cooperation and security in eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos assessed that both NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will draw the appropriate decisions during their meeting in December regarding matters of extending their cooperation with eastern Europe. He also briefed the Hungarian Minister on the current developments in the eastern Mediterranean and on Turkey's aggression which serves as a factor of instability in the region.

In turn, Mr. Kovacs reiterated his country's request to join NATO and other European and Atlantic institutions.

The Hungarian official also emphasized that it is very sigificant to see an approach between Russia and NATO, but added that Russia should not have a say on which countries will participate in the Alliance's expansion.

[04] BRITISH ENVOY TO CYPRUS SIR DAVID HANNAY TO MEET WITH RAUF DENKTASH

Nicosia, October 15 (M.P.A.)

The two men will discuss, among other topics, the recent murder of the Greek-Cypriot civilian, 58-year-old Petros Kakoullis, who was killed by turkish occupation troops on Sunday morning.

Earlier in the day, Sir Hannay also met with the Cypriot Speaker of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou.

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/

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