Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-04-15

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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, April 15, 1997

TITLES

[01] GREECE SENDS FIRST TROOPS TO ALBANIA TOMORROW

[02] G. PAPANDREOU TO MEET WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART IN MALTA TODAY

[03] MOSLEMS IN JERUSALEM EXTEND MOSQUE INTO GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SPACE

[04] ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON VISIT TO ANKARA

[05] BULGARIANS RESIDING IN N. GREECE CAN VOTE AT THESSALONIKI'S CONSULATE

[06] 24-HOUR TRAIN STRIKE HELD TODAY, 13 OUT OF 300 ROUTES TO BE CONDUCTED

[07] ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY SHUFFLES ITS LEADERS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREECE SENDS FIRST TROOPS TO ALBANIA TOMORROW

Athens, April 15 (MPA)

The first troops will fly from Thessaloniki for Tirana with C- 130. The second part of the battallion will arrive in Vlore on April 17 by a tank landing ship, while the remaining troops will depart for Albania by the end of this week. In all, the Greek battallion comprises 760 soldiers, 17 armoured vehicles and 20 jeeps.

Eight countries will participate in the mission assigned to Albania and 1,200 Italian, French and Spanish troops are expected to arrive in Durres today.

According to the French Press Agency, the Italian information services told officials in Rome that they have received reports of terrorist threats against the mission. A.F.

[02] G. PAPANDREOU TO MEET WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART IN MALTA TODAY

Athens, April 15 (MPA)

Mr. Papandreou has stated that the meeting is simply a typical one, wherein the two officials will merely exchange points of view. He added that in order for such meeting to be substantive, Ankara must display a sense of good will to resolve the pending issues.

The Greek alternate Foreign Minister himself requested such meeting and clarified that Turkey's response to the Dutch-held EU Presidency's proposal for the formation of a committee of wise men will be given through the Presidency which has undertaken the role of mediator on all matters concerning relations between Greece and Turkey.

Regarding today's meeting, the participants will focus on matters concerning the future of European cooperation in policy issues and security, as well as free trade. A.F.

[03] MOSLEMS IN JERUSALEM EXTEND MOSQUE INTO GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SPACE

Jerusalem, April 15 (MPA)

The mosque is located adjacent to the Orthodox Church of the Holy Tomb.

[04] ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER ON VISIT TO ANKARA

Tirana, April 15 (MPA)

The two men are to discuss military cooperation between their countries and Turkey's participation in the multinational peacekeeping force to be assigned to Albania.

Mr. Vukai is also expected to be received by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel. At the same time, a delegation of the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee is curently in Tirana where it is to be received by the President of the Albanian Parliament Pieter Arbnori and members of the Albanian Parliamentary Committee of Defense and Foreign Affairs. A.F.

[05] BULGARIANS RESIDING IN N. GREECE CAN VOTE AT THESSALONIKI'S CONSULATE

Thessaloniki, April 15 (MPA)

According to Bulgaria's Consu-General in Thessaloniki Ilko Sivacev, a cross-party eLectorate committee will also be present at the consulate.

Mostly Bulgarian women who have wed Greeks reside in northern Greece, as well as businessmen who engage in trade activity between the two countries. Two hundred and twenty Bulgarians voted from Thessaloniki during last year's presidential elections. A.F.

[06] 24-HOUR TRAIN STRIKE HELD TODAY, 13 OUT OF 300 ROUTES TO BE CONDUCTED

Thessaloniki, April 15 (MPA)

Only 13 out of OSE's 300 programmed routes will be conducted, although some routes are maintained for those interested in travelling abroad by train. Specifically, passengers can travel to Belgrade and to Budapest from Thessaloniki and back, by train connections. A.F.

[07] ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY SHUFFLES ITS LEADERS

Tirana, April 15 (MPA)

About forty party deputies openly questioned the Democratic Party and directly held former Premier Aleksander Mecsi as the man responsible for the crisis, not to mention their opposition to President Sal Berisha, as well as party leader and former Foreign Minister Tritan Sehu.

Former ministers Diasiamir Siexi, Bashkim Koplicou and Dylber Vrioni were removed from the party's leadership. These three members of the Democratic Party's National Council had signed the common statement issued by 13 deputies wherein they distanced themselves from President Sali Berisha and hold him as being responsible for today's crisis. This common statement was rejected by the National Council. Also, the party's secretary-general Mr. Giugetsai resigned and was replaced by G. Polo.

During the session, the parliamentarians asked the party's National Council to table a censure vote against the party's leadership, which in turn accused them of corruption and collaboration with the Sigurimi, the country's former secret services. Also, the Democratic Party leadership turned against the dissenting deputies and held them equally responsible for today's crisis since, it said, they too are part of the government. 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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