Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-07-20

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] REPPAS : GREECE IS IN A STATE OF PREPAREDNESS

[02] THE ITALIAN MAFIA IS SPREADING TO GREECE

[03] THE PROBLEM WITH FYROM IS NOT CLOSE TO A SOLUTION

[04] MARGINAL GAINS OF 0.46% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[05] DIMITRIOS IOANNIDIS ON THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE TURKISH

[06] THE PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFISCATION OF GERMAN STATE PROPERTY HAS BEEN

[07] THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

[08] ΠΕΘΑΝΕ ΑΠΟ ΝΑΡΚΩΤΙΚΑ 20ΧΡΟΝΟΣ ΣΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ

[09] SAMARANCH NEVER IMPLIED THAT GREECE COULD LOSE THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES,

[10] "OEDIPUS" IMPRESSED THE AUDIENCE IN ROME'S COLOSSEUM

[11] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION IN MELBOURNE CALLED FOR THE REMOVAL OF

[01] REPPAS : GREECE IS IN A STATE OF PREPAREDNESS

The Turkish provocation continues with aircraft flights and parades in the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus as well as with violations of the national airspace in the Aegean by Turkish aircraft.

The Greek ambassador to Ankara will make a strong protest demarche on the national airspace violations in the Aegean by Turkish aircraft. Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated on the issue that Greece is in a state of preparedness and will face any such actions in the appropriate way.

Mr. Reppas stated that today's situation in Cyprus is an injustice for the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots and constitutes an open wound and a shame for Europe. He also underlined the weakness of the International Community to complete the missions it undertakes.

Mr. Reppas stated that today, 26 years after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, we all feel as Cypriot citizens and our thought is turned to the lost fighters, the missing, the refugees. Our thought is turned to the future. The fair future Cyprus must secure.

[02] THE ITALIAN MAFIA IS SPREADING TO GREECE

The Italian Mafia is spreading to Greece and the first indications of this have appeared in the western part of the country which is closest to the Ionian Sea coasts. The sectors of its activities are for the time being, the illegal trade of cigarettes, weapons and drugs.

The very alarming facts on the Sicilian Mafia presence in Greece are included in the 1999 annual report on the organized crime in Greece recently drawn-up by the public order ministry to be submitted to the European Union.

According to the report, that is being published by the Athens newspaper "TA NEA", it is the first time that the Italian Mafia has turned its attention toward Greece after appearing in Albania, Montenegro and FYROM.

The mobilization of the Greek and Italian police authorities confirmed the presence of the Italian Mafia in Greece. Its "star-pupils", the Albanians, who had made the "market research" in Greece on behalf of the Italian crime organization had conducted speedy operations infiltrating the sea and land borders in northwest Greece. In 1999 it was established that the Italian Mafia had been involved in the illegal trafficking of cigarettes to southern Italy, Albania, Montenegro and western Greece and it was decided that a closer cooperation of the Greek and Italian police was necessary. This cooperation led to the arrest of leading Mafia members. According to the Greek police, large warehouses with illegal cigarettes and not only in Albania but in Greece as well. As an example it is mentioned that in just one abandoned building in the north-western Greek city of Edessa were found and confiscated 169.500 packs of cigarettes and the escaped duties not paid to the state are estimated at 450 million drachmas.

[03] THE PROBLEM WITH FYROM IS NOT CLOSE TO A SOLUTION

None can say that a mutually acceptable solution to the problem with FYROM's name is near, stated high-ranking diplomatic official commenting on the latest developments in the FYROM issue after the completion of the talks between Greece and FYROM in New York on July 13-15 and in view of the new round of talks that will open on September 28-29.

The same source pointed out that in the negotiations that are taking place either officially or unofficially the political will of FYROM for a quick solution to the problem is reconfirmed. However, everyone is judged not only based on the political will they express but on their positions as well, the diplomatic source added.

[04] MARGINAL GAINS OF 0.46% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The negative climate that dominated since the opening of today's session in the Athens Stock Exchange was overturned just before closure recording marginal gains of 0.47%, while the general index was at 4.063,05 points.

The volume of transactions was small at 64.1 billion drachmas and of the stocks trading today 167 recorded gains, 151 had losses and 51 remained unchanged.

[05] DIMITRIOS IOANNIDIS ON THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

The "invisible" dictator Dimitrios Ioannidis in statements he made in the Athens newspaper "Eleftheros Tipos" referred to the intervention of the US on the day of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, to the fact that the army did not intervene and the CIA promises.

Ioannidis says that the then US ambassador to Athens Mr. Taska was the one who persuaded the army leaders to turn back the Greek forces that were sent to Cyprus. He said that either Chief of National Defense General Staff Bonanos or Chief of Navy General Staff Arapakis was the one who gave the order to the submarines heading for Cyprus to turn back to Greece.

According to Ioannidis, ambassador Taska has testified on this before the US Congress and stated that he intends to write a book telling his side of the story.

The newspaper writes that Ioannidis being "incurably naive" was convinced by the assurances given by the CIA team that the Turks were not going to invade Cyprus and that Greece was even going to get a part of Eastern Thrace. When Ioannidis found out that he was tricked he was outraged but it was too late.

Even though he has been stripped of his rank he wants everybody in the Koridalos Prison in Athens where he serves a life sentence to call him "general" and a few years ago he married in jail with a 65yearold teacher. He has an adopted son and few friends he regards as individuals with a rare personality. In prison he says "hello" only to Dertilis, the only one of the junta members who is still in prison. He reads books and he says that he does not expect to get out of jail ever.

[06] THE PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFISCATION OF GERMAN STATE PROPERTY HAS BEEN "FROZEN"

The German state appealed to an Athens court and as a result the procedure for the confiscation of the German property in Greece has been "frozen" for the time being.

A temporary order has been issued while the case will be tried on September 1. The German state maintains that Mr. Stamoulis, the attorney of the relatives of the victims in the Distomo massacre that was committed by the Nazis during WWII who won a 9 billion drachmas compensation in a Livadia court in central Greece, had no right to proceed with the confiscation of German state property in Greece as for such an action a justice minister decision is necessary. According to Mr. Stamoulis, this does not stand maintaining that the issue has been resolved with the Treaty of Rome.

Greek minister of justice Michalis Stathopoulos avoided to take a stance awaiting, as he said, for the court's final judgment. However, in an interview with a German magazine he maintained that the German war reparations must become the framework of a political dialogue between the two countries.

The Greek government spokesman recognized yesterday that this is a major issue with a big political significance that needs political handling.

[07] THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

Twenty six years ago today the Turkish forces invaded Cyprus and the Greek side expresses expectations that the dialogue between the two communities on the island can lead to the solution of the Cyprus drama, a development that is regarded as necessary for the complete normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations. Meanwhile, in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus an unprecedented 10.000 strong protest rally was held two days ago by Turkish Cypriots against the anti-democratic Denktash regime and the backing offered to it by Ankara.

In messages on the 26th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Greek state and political leadership pointed out that the elements for the solution of the Cypriot tragedy lay with the UN Security Council decisions.

Twenty six years after the invasion and while Cyprus' EU accession bid is being seen in a positive way, a new negotiation process is finally mobilized at the initiative and under the auspices of the UN secretary-general and other interested countries, pointed out Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos in his message, adding that it is a commonly shared wish to have a positive outcome based on international law and the UN Security Council decisions.

Prime minister Kostas Simitis stated that the forceful and tragic division of Cyprus affects Greece's relations with Turkey in a negative way and clarified that the normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations passes through a fair, lasting and functioning solution to the problem. He pointed out that the elements for the solution of the Cyprus tragedy are found in the UN decisions which among others provide for the creation of a two-zone and two-community federation with a single sovereignty.

Mr. Simitis stated that the Greek government believes that the Cyprus issue is at a phase of possible developments, pointing out that Cyprus' accession course becomes more and more distinct.

The Greek prime minister concluded in his message that the Cyprus issue is at the center of Greece's attention, adding that decisive and optimistic moves are being made for its solution as well as toward Cyprus' accession into the EU. Helsinki shows exactly the way that can secure a peaceful course in Cyprus, stated Mr. Simitis.

[08] ΠΕΘΑΝΕ ΑΠΟ ΝΑΡΚΩΤΙΚΑ 20ΧΡΟΝΟΣ ΣΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ

Στη χρήση ναρκωτικών ουσιών πιθανολογείται σύμφωνα με τις πρώτες εκτιμήσεις του ιατροδικαστή ο θάνατος ενός 20χρονου σήμερα στη Θεσσαλονίκη.

Ο Π. Π. του Χ., κάτοικος Θεσσαλονίκης, βρέθηκε νεκρός στο σπίτι του από τη μητέρα του σήμερα το πρωί. Σχετικά με τις αιτίες θανάτου του νεαρού διενεργείται προανάκριση από την Αστυνομία.

[09] SAMARANCH NEVER IMPLIED THAT GREECE COULD LOSE THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES, SAYS AN IOC MEMBER

International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and head of the coordinating committee for the Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens, Mr. Rong in an interview with the BBC expressed his satisfaction over the efforts made by the Greek government and prime minister Kostas Simitis in the preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games.

The specific IOC member had stated that the statements made by IOC president Mr. Samaranch against the Greek Olympic Committee did not constitute an attack but on the contrary, offered service to the Greek side. He stated to the BBC that now things have changed because the Greek prime minister is using his leverage and the government has proceeded with the restructuring of the Olympic Games' Committee, while the relevant legislation has changed which is very positive.

Responding to the question on whether the change of faces in the "Athens 2004" Organization were toward the right direction, he said that there have been satisfactory changes but the decisive factor for the IOC is that the prime minister is now the one who controls the situation, adding that it remains to be seen how these changes will operate in practice.

Regarding the issue of the security in the Olympic Games, he said that the IOC sees as high priority the issue of the safety of the athletes and the visitors and categorically denied that there was any thought to take away the Olympic Games from Athens. He said that Mr. Samaranch never implied that Greece could lose the games and instead he had warned that the country was at the so-called "yellow phase", which is the phase just before the appearance of very serious problems regarding the organization of the Olympic Games. He said that Mr. Samaranch never hinted or stated that the Olympic Games will be taken away from Greece, stressing that it was a classic case of misinterpretation, while he also added that the games will be held in Greece in spite of the objections of certain circles which are against that.

[10] "OEDIPUS" IMPRESSED THE AUDIENCE IN ROME'S COLOSSEUM

A place linked with violence and martyrdom was sanctified with Sophocles' "Oedipus" yesterday. After 15 centuries, the Colosseum, Rome's famous arena, reopened with the world premiere of the Greek National Theater Company.

An audience of 700 people, among them the president of the Italian republic and leading members of the Italian political leadership "traveled" to the ancient Theva through the ancient Greek tragedy.

The culture ministers of Italy and Greece were also in Colosseum's opening night, which aspires to become a theater from an arena that it was in the past. Both ministers stressed that the restoration work that has been made is very important as it is very important the fact that Colosseum reopened with a ancient tragedy.

[11] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION IN MELBOURNE CALLED FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF VICTORIA

The Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria reacted strongly to the actions undertaken by the state transportation minister Peter Bachelor, who is pressuring the agencies of his ministry and other government ministries as well not to use the name "SlavMacedonians" when referring to the people from FYROM who live in Melbourne, in effect urging the violation of instructions issued in 1994 by the Victoria state government according to which, the people of FYROM must be called "SlavMacedonians" and their language "SlavMacedonian".

In a letter addressed to Victoria state prime minister, the Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria reminds the assurances given to it that the state government ministries will be urged to follow the 1994 instructions regarding the definition of the name and the language as "SlavMacedonian".

It is underlined that Mr. Bachelor in an official letter dated June 13, 2000 that was addressed to secretary of development Mr. Lyndsay Neilson ignores the mentioned above assurances and acts in a way contrary to what had been discussed.

In the letter that is signed by Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Australia president Mr. Dimitris Minas it is underlined that Mr. Bachelor's stance must be condemned as he makes unacceptable public statements on the issue.

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