Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-03-04

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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, March 4, 1997

TITLES

[01] ARMOURED TANKS APPEARED IN SOUTH ALBANIA

[02] ARMY MOVEMENT, CITY BLOCKADES AND NIGHT-TIME ATTACKS IN GREEK MINORITY VILLAGES ARE REPORTED BY MPA'S CORRESPONDENT TO ALBANIA

[03] THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THE US ARE WATCHING THE CRISIS IN ALBANIA WITH GREAT CONCERN

[04] THE GREEK FORCES AT THE BORDERS WITH ALBANIA ARE IN A STATE OF ALERT

[05] THE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS NATIONAL UNION RECOMMENDED THE CONTINUATION OF THEIR STRIKE

[06] INFLATION WAS 6,6% IN FEBRUARY

[07] CYPRUS HAS THE RIGHT TO REINFORCE ITS DEFENCE STATED THE BRITISH UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

[08] THE BYZANTINE CIVILIZATION'S GOLDEN 2ND CENTURY IS PRESENTED THROUGH RARE EXHIBITS IN NEW YORK

[09] GREEK CULTURAL EVENTS IN STRASBURG

[10] CILLER MET WITH THE TURKISH PRESIDENT

[11] GREEK-BULGARIAN MEETING OF BUSINESSMEN IN SOFIA

[12] THE PAN-EPIROTIC FEDERATION ISSUED A WARNING TO BERISHA

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] ARMOURED TANKS APPEARED IN SOUTH ALBANIA

Tirana 4 March (MPA)

Thousands of people are heavily armed in Vlora and Agii Saranta where a group of armed citizens have occupied a warship. The Albanian authorities declared the region of the customs office in Kakavia a military zone, while according to information the villages of the Greek minority are being looted, and four stores have been destroyed, three in Argyrokastro and one in Dropolis.

Meanwhile, President Berisha removed the General Army Staff Chief, Seme Kosova from his position and replaced him by general Antem Kapani, the Albanian President's adviser on issues of national defence.

The Albanian government forced the foreign reporters in Vlora to evacuate the city, while censorship has been imposed to all mass media.

[02] ARMY MOVEMENT, CITY BLOCKADES AND NIGHT-TIME ATTACKS IN GREEK MINORITY VILLAGES ARE REPORTED BY MPA'S CORRESPONDENT TO ALBANIA

Albania 4 March (MPA)

The Greek Consulate in Argirokastro re-opened today and long lines of people were formed outside the building by citizens who want a visa in order to cross the borders to Greece.

According to accusations made, the Greek minority villages of Georgusates and Vrisera were attacked by armed gungs.

It should be noted that police units are deployed at the intersection of Argirokastro and Agii Saranta. According to information, they are expecting armed albanian citizens to arrive in the region.

Also, in Mamalje, near Tepeleni, a police roadblock is stopping the traffic toward Vlora, the epicenter of the unrest. Last night, the central police station in Tepeleni was set on fire and was still burning until this morning.

[03] THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THE US ARE WATCHING THE CRISIS IN ALBANIA WITH GREAT CONCERN

Athens 4 March (MPA)

US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns expressed his deep concern for the worsening of the situation in Albania, while he stressed the US government's opposition to the suppressive measures imposed by the Albanian government.

Concern over the unrest in Albania was expressed and by most European countries and the EU Commission.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi issued an appeal to the Albanian government for a political solution to the problem, while the Dutch EU Presidency is considering bringing the issue for discussion on an EU Foreign Ministries Political Directors level.

EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek, responsible for the EU's external relations called on the Albanians to show restraint and try to resolve their problems through peaceful means and not through violence, while his Greek counterpart Christos Papoutsis suggested that the issue be discussed in the EU Commissioners' meeting in Brussels tomorrow.

[04] THE GREEK FORCES AT THE BORDERS WITH ALBANIA ARE IN A STATE OF ALERT

Athens 4 March (MPA)

On Greece's initiative, the responsible group of the European Council of Ministers on the Balkans will meet in Brussels on Thursday.

The developments in Albania are on the agenda of the talks mr.Pangalos will hold in Washington on Thursday with ms.Albright.

[05] THE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS NATIONAL UNION RECOMMENDED THE CONTINUATION OF THEIR STRIKE

Athens 4 March (MPA)

[06] INFLATION WAS 6,6% IN FEBRUARY

Athens 4 March (MPA)

Statistics Agency sources estimate that in March the inflation rate will drop even more and will be at 6%.

[07] CYPRUS HAS THE RIGHT TO REINFORCE ITS DEFENCE STATED THE BRITISH UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Nicosia 4 March (MPA)

Mr.Davis reiterated that the Cypriot government has every right to reinforce its defence but expressed his opposition to the recent agreement for the purchase of the Russian missiles.

Referring to Cyprus' accession course he said that no one except the EU members has the right to veto Cyprus' application for membership, adding that the Turkish-Cypriot side must be encouraged to realize the benefits it will have from Cyprus accession into the EU.

[08] THE BYZANTINE CIVILIZATION'S GOLDEN 2ND CENTURY IS PRESENTED THROUGH RARE EXHIBITS IN NEW YORK

Thessaloniki 4 March (MPA)

In the exhibition are presented about 350 works of art from 24 countries, while also on exhibition are 119 private collections. Among them are works of art from the largest museums of the United States, Greece, Russia, the Vatican, France, Germany, Turkey, Britain, Hungary, Denmark, Belgium and Spain. Also, are presented exhibits from Christian Orthodox Monasteries in Mount Athos, the island of Patmos and Mount Sinai, which have never been presented before to the wide public.

[09] GREEK CULTURAL EVENTS IN STRASBURG

Thessaloniki 4 March (MPA)

The events, exhibitions and concerts, are organized by the local Greek community with the support of the Council of Europe, the municipality of Strasburg, the Greek ministries of Culture, Foreign Affairs and Press as well as the Euro-deputies of the Greek parties of PASOK, New Democracy and Coalition of the Left.

[10] CILLER MET WITH THE TURKISH PRESIDENT

Ankara 4 March (MPA)

With her statements ms.Ciller in way responded to the rumours that are being broadcast since last night by the Turkish mass media, according to which the True Path party is possible to withdraw from the coalition government.

Ms.Ciller, who is also the government's vice-President, underlined that the cabinet will examine the proposals made by the National Security Council. She also referred to the talks over the danger facing the secular state, stressing that no one has the monopoly on the views over the secular state, while she also stated that religion must not be politicized.

According to information, last night ms.Ciller met with Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan and asked him to take over the Premiership next July instead of the spring of 1998, as provided by the cooperation protocol between Erbakan's Welfare party and Ciller's True Path party.

[11] GREEK-BULGARIAN MEETING OF BUSINESSMEN IN SOFIA

Sofia 4 March (MPA)

According to an announcement by the Bulgarian Economic Chamber, a meeting of representatives of medium sized businesses will be held on March 6.

[12] THE PAN-EPIROTIC FEDERATION ISSUED A WARNING TO BERISHA

Clearwater - Florida 4 March (MPA)

In the joint decision adopted, the representatives called on the Albanian leadership to take all necessary measures for the country to return to the democratic principles and the economic stability by holding new and fair elections that will replace the results of the May 26 voting which was described by international observers as the worst held in the post-communist era.

This position is being reinforced by the US State Department statement on Albania, issued immediately after the end of the Conference, in which the Berisha government is strongly criticized. According to the statement, Albania in order to get out of the present crisis must take certain basic measures, among which are included a comprehensive constitutional procedure followed by free and fair parliamentary elections.

US House Representative John Porter, vice-president of the US House Appropriations Sub-Committee, stated to the Conference participants that everyone in Washington agrees that only a government of national unity can put an end to the unrest in Albania that started in the beginning of the year with the collapse of the "pyramid" investment schemes that had the government's approval.

Among the politicians attending the conference were Greek Minister of Interior and Public Administration Alekos Papadopoulos, Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis and the Greek-American House Representative Michael Bilirakis, co-chairman in the US House Greek Affairs Committee.

From the Greek minority regions in Albania attended, OMONIA's President Giorgos Labavitiades, Albanian Parliament members Evangelos Doulis and Thomas Mitsou and Prefect of Argirokastro Ioannis Dakos. In the formal dinner that followed, mr.Porter and mr.Bilirakis stated that the US Congress has pledged to support the rights of the Greek minority and stated that Albania will not take its place among the democratic states if discrimination against the Greeks does not stop.

Former President of the Federation, mr.Nicolas Gage stated that Tirana try to push the Greeks out of Albania in order to erase the Greek identity of Northern Epirus. He said that for the sake of stability in southern Balkans and mainly, for the sake of human dignity, everything possible must be done in order to secure the survival of the Greek community in Northern Epirus.

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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