Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-05-23

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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, May 23, 1997

TITLES

[01] GREEK PREMIER ATTENDS EU EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL IN HOLLAND

[02] GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON GREEK-TURKISH ISSUES AND ALBANIA

[03] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER COMPLETES HIS VISIT TO BELGRADE

[04] NICHOLAS BURNS NEXT US AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS, TO REPLACE THOMAS NILES

[05] PANGALOS, CILLER TO MEET ON SIDELINE OF NORTHATLANTIC COUNCIL

[06] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS HELD AT UNESCO'S HEADQUARTERS

[07] ALBANIA: JUNE 29 ELECTIONS TO BE HELD, FINO TO FORM ELECTION COMMITTEE

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK PREMIER ATTENDS EU EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL IN HOLLAND

Athens, May 23 (MPA)

Representing Greece is Prime Minister Kostas Simitis who will aim at securing a vow on behalf of Greece's EU allies to protect the member-states' territorial integrity.

Today's conference s deemed as decisive for the future of the European completion, as the EU's "15" will try anew to discuss the revised Treaty's finalized form.

Also, the newly-elected British Premier John Blair will participate at the conference for the first time. Mr. Blair has vowed that his country will approach its European allies in a more constructive manner.

The basic issues that concern the EU's member-states in light of the IGC are the Community's expansion, its foreign policy, its relations with NATO, the promotion of the majority principle in drawing critical decisions, the European Parliament's authority and the European Commission's composition.

Today, the "15" are to discuss foreign policy-related matters, such as the Cyprus issue, the developments in Zair, the lack of approach betwen Israelis and Palestinians and the Turkish Army's persistence to justify its power in Turkey, taking advantage of the lenghty war in Turkey's southeastern region and Iraq against the Kurdish minority. A.F.

[02] GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON GREEK-TURKISH ISSUES AND ALBANIA

Athens, May 23 (MPA)

Mr. Pangalos stated that the Greek government is in favor of extending the military flights moratorium in the Aegean between June 15 and September 15.

"We support this view," Mr. Pangalos said, it is something which that we do not feel that significantly reduces the country's defense capability and it is good for the area's living conditions and tourism."

Moreover, Mr. Pangalos stated that the Greek committee of experts will forward to the EU's Dutch-held presidency its documents on Greece's positions.

Regarding the Albanian press reports that bring the Italian Ambassador to Tirana Paolo Foresti as having interfered in Albania's domestic affairs, specifically having taken efforts to undermine the democratization process in Albania on behalf of nationalist circles in Serbia and Greece, Mr. Pangalos stated that the Italian Ambassador to Athens was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, was asked for explanations and he refuted all of the aforementioned reports. A.F.

[03] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER COMPLETES HIS VISIT TO BELGRADE

Belgrade, May 23 (MPA)

In a joint press conference, the Greek Defense Minister and his Serbian counterpart stated that their views and assessments concide on the need to strengthen the opportunities for peace, stability and cooperation among the Balkan countries. A.F.

[04] NICHOLAS BURNS NEXT US AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS, TO REPLACE THOMAS NILES

Washington, May 23 (MPA)

Mr. Burns, 41, will replace Thomas Niles, once his appointment is approved by the US Senate.

He has served as State Department spokesperson since January 1995. Before then, Mr. Burns, a career diplomat, was senior adviser at the US National Security Council on Russia and has also served at the American consulates in Cairo and Jerusalem.

Mr. Niles was received by the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis yesterday, with whom he discussed national matters, while today be will meet with the Greek government's spokesperson Dimitris Reppas. A.F.

[05] PANGALOS, CILLER TO MEET ON SIDELINE OF NORTHATLANTIC COUNCIL

Ankara, May 23 (MPA)

According to Turkish press reports, Ms. Ciller is expected to meet with her Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos on the sidelines of the conference.

Also, the Turkish press does not rule out a meeting between Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Greek Premier Kostas Simitis during their stay in Paris on Tuesday, May 27, where they will attend the signing of the NATO-Russia agreement on the Alliance's eastward expansion to include former Soviet block countries. A.F.

[06] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS HELD AT UNESCO'S HEADQUARTERS

Paris, May 23 (MPA)

In an effort to make Kazantzakis' works better known throughout the world, over 400 participants analyzed the Greek author's books and notes and also referred to Kazantzakis' political ideas and his philosophical influence.

The Symposium, the first ever held by UNESCO for a Greek author, was held under the auspice of UNESCO's President Federic Mayor and was organized by the permanent Greek representation in UNESCO and its President Vassilis Vassilikos, the President of the international organization "Friends of Kazantzakis" George Stasinakis and the Kazantzakis Museum, which is located in Crete, the author's birthplace. A.F.

[07] ALBANIA: JUNE 29 ELECTIONS TO BE HELD, FINO TO FORM ELECTION COMMITTEE

Tirana, May 23 (MPA)

Albanian President Sali Berisha has yielded to the warnings of western countries and will allow the Premier Bashkim Fino to form the highest electorate committee. He also said that he will allow for the replacement of the officials working at the state- owned radio and television stations. 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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