Macedonian Press Agency: News in Brief (96-10-25)

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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 25, 1996

TITLES

[01] PM IN MOSCOW TO ATTEND CONFERENCE OF BLACK SEA COUNTRIES

[02] PREMIER SIMITIS: "IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE I COULD MEET WITH SULEIMAN DEMIREL"

[03] GREECE-FYROM NAME TALKS REPORTED TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 6 IN NEW YORK

[04] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER MILTIADES EVERT TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TODAY

[05] BULGARIA'S CENTRIST-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE STOYANOV SPEAKS TO MPA

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PM IN MOSCOW TO ATTEND CONFERENCE OF BLACK SEA COUNTRIES

Moscow, October 25 (M.P.A.)

The Premier is accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and a delegation of officials from the Foreign and National Economy ministries.

Mr. Simitis will meet today his Russian counterpart Victor Cernomyrdin. The two leaders are expected to discuss issues of bilateral interest, and in particular the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project and the natural gas line currently constructed in Greece.

Present at this summit meeting will be the presidents or premiers of BSEC's 11 countries-members which are Russia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, the Ukraine, Georgia, Moldavia, Armenia, Albania and Azerbaijan.

The "11" are expected to sign a manifesto which will confirm their intent to deepen cooperation among them, especially in the economic sector.

The two basic issues of concern to BSEC are, first, to what degree must priority be given to cooperation among the countries- members and, second, if and when must SEC be established into an international organization.

Greece supports that the strengthening and intensification of the already-existing economic cooperation within BSEC must be given priority status. Moreover, both for BSEC's expansion and its transformation into an international organization, the greek side proposed that a task group be formed in order to study the relevant consequences prior to undertaking any decision.

Siding with the greek proposals are Bulgaria, the Ukraine and Armenia, which have submitted, along with Greece, a relevant proposal to be discussed in Moscow.

Also, Greece would be willing to consent to BSEC's expansion if Cyprus was included among other countries, a proposal which has met Turkey's opposition.

Two other issues are expected to be tabled in Moscow from the greek side. First, the Bank of Commerce and Development of the Black Sea, based in Thessaloniki, whose first President would be Mr. Volkan, Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller's advisor, and second, the International Center of Studies of the Black Sea which will be permanently established in Athens.

[02] PREMIER SIMITIS: "IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE I COULD MEET WITH SULEIMAN DEMIREL"

Moscow,October 25 (M.P.A.)

Upon his arrival in Moscow last evening, Mr. Simitis stated that he will meet all the premiers and leaders of the countries that are to participate at the conference and, as such, "it is quite possible I could meet with Mr. Demirel."

When asked if he plans to hold substantive talks with the Turkish leader, Mr. Simitis responded that "substantive talks cannot be held during a conference. Nevertheless, it is prudent and appropriate that at such an opportunity one meets other people, exchanges points of view and examines what can be done in the future."

In regards to BSEC's potential, the Premier stated that the organization provides an opportunity for improved cooperation among the member-countries.

"It constitutes an outlet for interpersonal commucation and is an effort to exchange information on issues such as the Bank of Commerce and Development of the Black Sea, based in Thessaloniki," Mr. Simitis stated.

Moreover, Mr. Simitis clarified that the BSEC is not like the European Union, but rather is the result of the countries' effort to resolve issues, and it should be continued as such.

[03] GREECE-FYROM NAME TALKS REPORTED TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 6 IN NEW YORK

New York, October 25 (M.P.A.)

Greece's ambassador Christos Zacharakis and FYROM's Ivan Tosevski are to meet under the auspice of United Nations mediator Cyrus Vance.

[04] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER MILTIADES EVERT TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TODAY

Thessaloniki, October 25 (M.P.A.)

Upon his arrival, Mr. Evert stated that the resistance of the Greek people to pressures expected to be exerted in regards to national issues should stem from Thessaloniki.

Mr. Evert's visit to Thessaloniki marks Mr. Evert's first travel outside Athens following last month's elections. The opposition leader, who is also a Thessaloniki parliamentarian, will give a speech in town, addressing the over-one-thousand members of New Democracy's local committees.

According to reports, Mr. Evert will also refer extensively to the reasons that drove him to resign the night of the elections, hours after his defeat was clear, as well as his decision to claim the party's leadership back one week later.

[05] BULGARIA'S CENTRIST-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE STOYANOV SPEAKS TO MPA

Sofia, October 25 (M.P.A.)

The two major contenders coveting the presidential seat are Peter Stoyanov, Deputy Chairman of the centrist United Democratic Forces (UDF) and Minister of Culture Ivan Marazov, a nominee of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

The up-to-date polls give a clear lead to the 44-year-old Stoyanov and, although he represents the right-wing tandem, social welfare is the core of his canvassing.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Stoyanov, criticized the ruling Socialist Party headed by Premier Jean Videnov of driving the country to catastrophe and expressed his certainty that his tandem looks forward to an avalanche victory, confident of garnering over 50% of the votes.

Yet, many Sofia-based analysts assess that the race will enter a critical stage during run-offs, given the fact that aside from these two candidates, 11 others eye the presidential seat, of whom three or four are expected to gather impressive rates.

"The President is strong when he has political strength and social support," Mr. Stoyanov states in his pre-election campaign leaflets.

"We have this support, given that we are backed by the united democratic forces. We managed to unite the Bulgaria opposition. We believe that we will unite the Bulgarian people in order to put an end to the country's decadence," he adds.

According to Stoyanov's campaign manager Ivan Stanev, the UDF slogan "Don't miss" stands on three pivots: that Bulgaria should join NATO and the European Union and that there should be early parliamentary elections.

In regards to Bulgaria's accession to NATO, Mr. Stoyanov believes that Bulgaria is a small nation which needs to provide for its national security.

"In this context, participation in the Alliance is a guarantee for Bulgaria's national security. NATO is not merely a military coalition but it currently constitutes the only power that regulates issues correctly. And this is something that is not easily understood by a section of the Bulgarian populace which has been subjected to brainwashing for over 50 years now, through the previous regime's propaganda that said 'NATO is the tool of imperialism and a threat to national security and social welfare'," according to Mr. Stanev.

In regards to Bulgaria's relations with its Balkan neighbors, as Stoyanov would like to see them, Mr. Stanev elaborated that these ties are of primary importance, especially when it comes to Greece.

"For us Greece is an example of Balkan welfare," stated Mr. Stanev. "Our relations with Greece have special significance since we Bulgarians have a lot to learn from Greece, given that out of all our Balkan neighbors, Greece is the most compact, most democratic and most developed economically, as well as the only country-member of NATO and the EU."

Mr. Stoyanov's way to the presidential nomination was not smooth. He was nominated for President during a United Democratic Forces conference last March by a secret ballot. The Popular Union coalition nominated the incumbent President Zhelyu Zelev for another term in office. In the primaries of June 1, 1996, Mr. Stoyanov garnered 574,636 votes and Mr. Zhelev 295,089. After claiming that Stoyanov's victory was a "big manipulation", Mr. Zhelev stated that he would not be among the candidates on October 27.

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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