NEWS IN DETAIL

He was speaking immediately after his meeting with his counterparts from Balkan countries, who arrived in Thessaloniki on the occasion of the start to events entitled "Thessaloniki-Cultural Capital '97."

It was unanimously agreed during the meeting to have a "cultural visa" issued with the purpose of facilitating artists to travel, as well as individuals involved in cultural activities.

Specifically, the proposed "Balkan Countries Cultural Network" will function through a secretariat, which will collect information and exchange proposals.

Among others, talks focused on the concept of Balkan cultural identity and its inclusion in a "European cultural identity", preparation of joint cultural programmes and their funding by European Union, UNESCO and Council of Europe funds within the frame work of a European cultural identity.

The meeting of Balkan national culture ministers was attended by Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Culture Minister Unkovski, who held talks with Mr. Venizelos on the issue of promoting cultural exchanges for communication, given that, as Mr . Venizelos said afterwards, the issue of the state's name remained open.

Greece welcomes CoE resolution on Cyprus, hopes for improvement

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, however, that there was "always room for improvement...so that the positions of international bodies are identical with our own."

The Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly said in the resolution that Cyrpus' membership in the EU would entail significant economic and political advantages for the two communities on the divided island.

"It will be a major factor of stability," the resolution stated.

British envoy for Cyprus rejects Turkish claims

"Turkey's view, based on its own interpretation of the Zurich Agreements, that Cyprus cannot be a member of an international organisation or coalition, such as the European Union, is not shared by the rest of the members of the international community as far as I know," Sir David said.

Asked to comment on the Cyprus government's decision to purchase Russian- made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, Sir David said: "the legality of this act is not disputed, but (what is in dispute is) whether it is right at this present time."

US faults Turkey for worsening human rights record

"The government was unable to sustain improvements made in 1995 and, as a result, its record was uneven in 1996 and deteriorated in some respects," the US State Department said in its 20th annual report on human rights worldwide.

"Serious human rights problems continued," it stated.

Despite such failings, the United States opposes European efforts to require improved human rights as one condition for approving Turkey's bid for membership of the European Union.

"There is a strong case to be made by the United States that Turkey should be more fully integrated into Europe despite the fact that there are p roblems on human rights," US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said on Wednesday.

Mr. Burns spoke after Europe's "big five" powers had told Turkey it could aspire to full membership in the European Union but must make progress on human rights, the Kurdish issue and its disputes with Greece.

The human rights report cited the situation in southeastern Turkey, where most of the Kurdish population lives, as an area of "particular concern (because Ankara) has long denied its Kurdish populationIbasic cultural and linguistic rights."

The State Department accused Ankara of forcibly displacing an estimated 560, 000 non-combatants in its campaign against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a separatist movement known as the PKK, which the United States and Turkey claim is a terrorist group.

The report said Ankara's efforts to compensate Kurdish non-combatants displaced inside Turkey "remained inadequate".

Also, "there are credible allegations that serious security force abuses during the course of operations against the PKK continue," the report said.

It said the government organises, arms and pays a civil defence force in the region known as village guards and this often leaves villagers caught between the two opposing sides.

More broadly in Turkey, the United States charged that "extrajudicial killings, including deaths in detention, from the excessive use of force, in safe house raids, and mystery killings continued to occur with disturbing frequency."

It said police often abused detainees and used torture during periods of incommunicado detention and interrogation.

In the freedom of speech area, "officials of various government agencies continued to harrass, intimidate, indict and imprison human rights monitors, journalists and lawyers for ideas they expressed in public forums," the report said.

The report also noted the continued ban on the operation of the Theological School on the island of Halki despite appeals by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, adding that the Greek Orthodox Church is in danger of losing some of its buildings.

Greece`s candidacy for 1999 Security Council seat explored

Mr. Zaharakis will brief Athens on the initial results of these contacts, which are considered positive. He will embark on a second round of meetings with individual groups representing an entity of countries at the UN.

More Turkish violations of Greek airspace

The sources said two pairs of Turkish F-16 and F-4 aircraft infringed FIR rules on seven occasions, while violating Greek airspace twice between Hios- Lesvos and Lesvos-Limnos.

In all instances, Greek Mirage 2000 and F-16 fighters identified and intercepted the Turkish violators.

Tension reduced in farmers' protests

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas cited the example of farmers who had travelled to the village of Mikro Vouno in Karditsa prefecture to protest at the nearby railway line.

Mr. Reppas said the farmers withdrew when they saw that the location was being guarded by police. Describing the withdrawal as "a positive sign", Mr. Reppas said it showed that "all sides wish to defuse the climate".

Local police have been reinforced with extra officers, as well as riot squad detachments, in order to avert a repetition of last December's blockade of the main Patra-Athens highway and railway line.

EU Mediterranean regions meeting on Crete

The committee, currently presided over by general secretary of the Crete region, Stavros Kanbelis, is comprised of regions of Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.

Possibilities for the utilisation of EU programmes, regulations and initiatives, such as MEDA and Interreg IIC are to be discussed during the meeting, as will be the necessity for forming a joint position and policy aiming at reinforcing Mediterranean areas.

Those participating in the meeting include representatives of the European Commission, Greek ministries, Mediterranean EU regions and representatives of non-EU Mediterreanean countries. Greek Eurodeputies, deputies and local authorities from Crete have also been invited.

International travel agents conference opens in Athens

The main objective of the two-day conference is to brief delegates but it is expected to provide an opportunity to promote Greece, prior to the new tourist season, since ASTA, with over 28,500 members, has a great influence on tourism developments world wide.

Major power project between Greek firm and FYROM

The agreement concerns a hydroelectric project with an estimated capacity of 100MW and valued at US$115 million, scheduled to be built on the Tresk River, a tributary of the Axios (Vardar) River running through Skopje.

The project will be called Kotjak Power Station and will begin in early March and will be completed in two and a half years with a loan to be paid off in 10 years.

East Power Corp. was formed with joint Greek-Russian capital, with the majority of shares held by the Elliniki Energiaki Techniki firm.

Presidential draft decree on residency permits for aliens

The draft decree is expected to be tabled in Parliament in two months' time, after being sent to other competent ministries.

Its basic provisions are as follows:

- Illegal immigrants will be invited to submit to the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) information, including name of employer, within two months - with a possible extension - of the decree coming into force. Those not recorded will be liable to summary deportation if detained.

- Recorded aliens will be issued with a temporary provisional residency card, which will also double as a work permit. It will be valid for six months, with possibility of being extended for a further three.

- Those issued with the card will possess the same rights and obligations as Greek citizens as regards employment (insurance contributions, taxes, equal pay etc.) Employers who report their alien employees for recording will be exempted from fines for p revious evasion of social security payments.

Mr. Papaioannou said a second presidential decree, now in the stage of preparation, will introduce a card of residence and work of limited duration, which will grant legal status to aliens for at least nine months.

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