Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-03-21

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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 21, 1997

TITLES

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: TURKEY MUST ABANDON ITS TERRITORIAL CLAIMS

[02] S.E. EUROPE'S FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI IN JUNE

[03] STATE DEPARTMENT: SITUATION IN ALBANIA IS STILL TENSE

[04] SITUATION IN ALBANIA STILL CRITICAL, REBELS TO MEET AND DECIDE ON NEXT MOVES

[05] GREEK MERCHANT MARINE MINISTER TO OPEN GREEK PRODUCT EXHIBIT IN ODESSA

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: TURKEY MUST ABANDON ITS TERRITORIAL CLAIMS

Istanbul, March 21 (MPA)

Referring to the Aegean Sea, Mr. Pangalos emphasized that Ankara is constantly employing the threat of war as diplomatic tool against Greece.

He added that "there are specific problems, such as the continental shelf, for which we will perhaps, after lengthy talks, resort to a third side and ask him to distinguish between what's fair and what's unfair."

Mr. Pangalos also stated that the Turkish claims in the Aegean are an imperialist dream that emerged from Ankara.

"Initially, there were claims over the Imia islets," the Greek Foreign Minister stated, making a historical reference to Turkey's claims in the Aegean Sea.

"Another island followed and finally there was talk about 'grey zones.' Now, Tansu Ciller (Turkey's Foreign Minister) in a letter to my European allies, speaks of inadequate borders. It concerns a mistaken stance which questions Greece's territorial sovereignty and the borders in the Aegean."

Moreover, Mr. Pangalos stated that the issue can definitely be discussed if Turkey wishes to say that it wants to discuss a certain position. "But things are different when you say that there are no borders in the Aegean," he added. A.F.

[02] S.E. EUROPE'S FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI IN JUNE

Bucharest, March 21 (MPA)

Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis referred to the meeting during his address in Bucharest today. He stated also that the convention will constitute a milestone for the strengthening of relations among the Balkan peoples.

Today, Mr. Simitis met with Romanian President Emil Constantinescu, and will also be received by the leader of the main opposition party Ion Iliescu, the Patriarch of Romania Theoktistos and other political leaders.

The Premier is to return to Athens this evening. A.F.

[03] STATE DEPARTMENT: SITUATION IN ALBANIA IS STILL TENSE

Washington, March 21 (MPA)

"We continue to cooperate with the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in order to see if we can have some influence on the Albanian leaders so that they can hold talks with the southern region's rebels and, as a result, increase the government's control throughout the country," Mr. Burns stated.

The State Department official also contested a recent article published in "The Washington Post" according to which the US failed to foresee the change of currents in Albania. Mr. Burns pointed out that the Clinton Administration was quite critical of the way elections were held in Albania last May and had expressed its concern over the increasing despotism in the country by asking for improvements on its human and civil rights records.

"In personal contacts with (Albanian) President Berisha," Mr. Burns said, "we asked that the system be reviewed. An example of this message is the United States' decision not to proceed with the training program of Albanian policemen and to severely limit military aid to Albania." A.F.

[04] SITUATION IN ALBANIA STILL CRITICAL, REBELS TO MEET AND DECIDE ON NEXT MOVES

Tirana, March 21 (MPA)

Gunshots were heard throughout the night in Tirana where military vehicles appeared again in the streets surrounding the presidential mansion and public offices. A.F.

[05] GREEK MERCHANT MARINE MINISTER TO OPEN GREEK PRODUCT EXHIBIT IN ODESSA

Odessa, March 21 (MPA)

The four-day exhibit, which is organized by Thessaloniki's HELEXPO and the Athens-based Greek-Ukranian Association, will feature a wide range of produce from Greece, along with an extensive list of consumer goods.

Accompanying the Minister to Odessa is a delegation of Greek political leaders and businessmen. A.F.

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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