Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-15

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 15/06/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• US Ambassador: Denktash and Turkey responsible for Cyprus impasse
• Simitis holds talks with Blair ahead of Cardiff summit
• Patriarch officially invited to Athens by Christodoulos
• First conference of Balkan state broadcasters concludes
• Two Greek F-16s to participate in NATO exercise over Albania, FYROM
• New ONNED president elected
• 'Teen deputies' hold sessions in Parliament
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

US Ambassador in Athens Nicholas Burns said he considered Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, personally, and Turkey responsible for the impasse in the Cyprus peace talks, adding that the US would not recognise Denktash as a head of state.

He also said the four islands in the Aegean recently disputed by Turkey were clearly Greek, and praised Greece's foreign policy in the Balkans, particularly on the Kosovo issue.

In an interview with the Athens daily "Exousia" published today, Burns further expressed great respect for Greek prime Minister Costas Simitis and his government, said he had a close cooperation with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, and reiterated the US position that the European Union should keep its door open to Turkey, although, he added, Turkey would have to fulfill the EU requirements for membership.

Burns, a former US State Department spokesman who took up his Athens post six months ago, said the US and Greece were making progress in the building of "a good and successful relationship of confidence" at political, economic and mlitary level, noting recent visits here by the US Secretaries of Commerce and Defence, an expected visit by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright later this summer, and Greek defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' scheduled US visit on July 3-10, during which he would be received in Washington "with the highest honours".

Burns said the US was closely collaborating with Greece on all problems in the eastern Mediterranean.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, "we (the US) beleive that Cyprus must remain a united island. We believe in a unified Cyprus on a bi-zonal, bi-communal basis and we have not altered our views," Burns said.

He said the US was "very disappointed with Mr. Denktash's reaction, and also that of the Turkish side, to the proposals tabled by Richard Holbrooke", the US Presidential emissary for Cyprus.

"There is no doubt that the Turkish side was responsible for the collapse of the talks," Burns said, adding US disappointment over the TUrkish side's views that Cyprus' EU candidacy should be postponed or annulled and that the US side should recognise Denktash as a head of state.

"We shall not recognise Mr. Denktash as a head of state. WE hope very much that the Turkish side will be more open to a constructive discussion with the Cyprus government on this problem," Burns said.

With regard to Greek-Turkish relations, he said the US was an ally of both Greece and Turkey in NATO, and "we have a very deep friendship with both countries and wish to help those two countries if they can resolve some of the problems between them".

In that spirit, he added, "we are particularly pleased that NATO secretary general Javier Solana succeeded in an agreement on promoting Confidence- Building Measures in the Aegean. This is very important".

"The US is also pleased that, as a part of that agreement, there will be a moratorium on military exercises in the Aegean this summer," Burns said, adding that this was a positive development which the US hoped would greatly help the situation and promote a "strong and productive tourism season for Greece in the Aegean".

Simitis holds talks with Blair ahead of Cardiff summit

Prime Minister Costas Simitis emerged satisfied from an hour-and-a-half- long meeting with British counterpart Tony Blair in London on the weekend, ahead of the EU summit that opened in Cardiff today.

"We had a very friendly and cordial discussion, touching on all issues to be discussed in Cardiff on Monday: the state of the economy in the EU, issues of the 'Agenda 2000' and financing of the various funds, the international situation and the Kosovo problem. Of course, we also discussed Greek-Turkish relations and the situation in the SE Mediterranean. Greece's positions are well-known, we reiterated them and we shall persist with them," Mr. Simitis said.

The two premiers later attended a military parade on the occasion of the British monarch's birthday.

On behalf of Mr. Blair, a Downing Street spokesman described the discussion as "positive and constructive", noting that "the Greek Prime Minister made clear his firm view that the Cardiff Summit should not go beyond the Luxembourg statement."

He added "the British Prime Minister made clear he believes that the EU should try to re-open fruitful discussions with Turkey and has found widespread support to this view."

Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, Greece's ambassador to Britain Vassilis Zaphiropoulos and British envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay were also present at the meeting. of the Colour.

Mr. Simitis flew to Cardiff in Wales yesterday for the European Union summit, marking the end of Britain's tenure in the rotating six-month EU presidency.

Patriarch officially invited to Athens by Christodoulos

Visiting Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos yesterday extended an official invitation to Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos to visit Athens.

During their meeting at the Phanar, the two Orthodox leaders exchanged views on a number of ecclesiastical issues, including ways to advance their work and perform their duties. They also officiated at a joint service at the Agios Georgios Cathedral in Is tanbul.

Archbishop Chistodoulos observed that relations between various Orthodox churches, even the autocephalus ones, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate were "protecting them from the temptation of becoming simply conventional institutions".

"The Church of Greece is looking forward to a more effective and extensive cooperation with you, and is ready to respond to your challenges and initiatives for humanity's better future," the Archbishop replied to Patriarch Vartholomeos' welcoming address yesterday.

Vartholomeos underlined the Patriarchate's great pleasure in welcoming the Autocephalus Church of Greece's new Archbishop,in his first visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which started on Saturday.

The Archbishop's visit, the first abroad since his election last April, puts an end to several years of cool relations between the Patriarchate and the Autocephalus Church of Greece, according to reports.

First conference of Balkan state broadcasters concludes

The first conference of Balkan nations' state broadcasters, organised at the initiative of the Greek Radio and Television (ERT), ended in Halkidiki on Saturday with participants unanimously approving a text on promoting cultural, economic and ed ucational relations among such agencies.

Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas said the historical and cultural heritage of Balkan peoples should become a criterion of knowledge and responsibility, in order to allow the "successful turning of a new page in history."

Participants also decided that such a conference be organised annually in a Balkan state, with Romania's state broadcaster undertaking to host next year's event.

Two Greek F-16s to participate in NATO exercise over Albania, FYROM

Two Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter jets will take part in today's NATO exercise over Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), according to reports.

In total, 40 planes (fighters, interceptors, refuelling and early warning planes, etc.) as well as helicopters will be involved in the exercise.

AWACS planes stationed at the NATO base in Aktio may also participate, a decision resting with the commander of the alliance's south Europe wing.

According to reports, the two Greek warplanes will either fly to Italy and be stationed at a NATO base there, or will take off from the Nea Aghialos base to join other NATO jets in carrying out the mission before returning.

New ONNED president elected

Yiannis Economou was elected as the new president of New Democracy's Youth Group (ONNED) with an overwhelming majority against rival Eftychis Vardoulakis, during the group's 4th congress over the weekend in Patra.

"This congress has neither winners or losers, but co-fighters for ONNED's new course, for making ONNED active", Mr. Economou said after the announcement of results on Saturday.

Yesterday afternoon participants at the congress took a vote to elect the group's new central committee, as well as its representation on main opposition ND's central committee and the election of ONNED delegates to the ND congress.

Results were expected this morning, but according to estimates, candidates on the side of the newly elected president are likely to dominate.

'Teen deputies' hold sessions in Parliament

Major national issues as well as education, the environment and the economy were some of the issues young students considered in yesterday's sessions of the "Youth Parliament's" committees.

Most prominent among the young deputies were those hailing from border regions, northern Epirus, Cyprus and expatriate Greek communities.

Concerns over various sectors of public life dominated discussions, even touching on the issues of tourism, agriculture and shipping. Committees are scheduled to continue sessions this morning.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(L.G.)

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