Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-02-11

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, February 11, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREECE IS A FACTOR OF STABILITY IN THE REGION AND AVOIDS INVOLVEMENT IN TENSIONS

Greece is a factor of stability in the region and avoids to be involved in tensions but it is obligated to protect its sovereign rights and its national interests, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referring to the speculation made to BBC by British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind according to which, a war about Cyprus between Greece and Turkey is very likely.

In the same BBC show, former assistant US Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke characterized Cyprus as the hottest spot in the world and underlined that Greece and Turkey can be in a state of war if the Cyprus problem and the Greek-Turkish disputes in the Aegean are not resolved.

The Greek government spokesman said that such statements do not contribute to the safeguarding of peace in the region and added that Turkey's policy is one that does not respect international law and violates the existing accords. Mr.Reppas concluded that those who want to avert tension should pressure Turkey into changing this aggressive policy.

[02] ARCH ESTABLISHED TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN EPIRUS, MACEDONIA, THRACE

A plan, code named "Balkanio", concerning the combat of illegal immigration from neighboring countries (Albania, FYROM, Bulgaria) has been drawn by the Ministry of Public Order.

The plan aims to establish coordinated groups from all of the government's bodies at the borderline municipalities of Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace, in order to deal with the surging wave of illegal immigrants into Greece. A similar plan has been drawn to deal with the illegal immigrants entering from Turkey. A.F.

[03] TEACHERS TO DECIDE TODAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL CONTINUE STRIKES

Greece's striking high school teachers will decide today whether or not they'll continue their strikes for a fifth consecutive week.

Education Undersecretary Yiannis Anthopoulos reiterated that the government has given all that it could to the striking teachers and did not rule out the possibility of extending the school year if the strikes continue.

Meanwhile, primary school teachers and kindergarten staff will strike until tomorrow when they are due to decide if they'll continue their protests as well.

In an announcement released today, the government calls on the academicians to return to schools for the sake of education. A.F.

[04] TEACHERS TO DECIDE TODAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL CONTINUE STRIKES

Greece's striking teachers will decide today whether or not they'll continue their strikes for a fifth consecutive week.

Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis reiterated yesterday that all opportunities for dialogue with the strikers have been exhausted and implied that the strike is perhaps fueled by political reasons.

Meanwhile, primary school teachers and kindergarten staff will strike until tomorrow when they are due to decide if they'll continue their protests as well. A.F.

[05] DEFENSE MINISTER AKIS TSOCHATZOPOULOS TO VISIT GERMANY NEXT WEEK

Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will conduct a two-day formal visit to Germany next Monday.

During his stay in Bonn, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will meet with his German counterpart Faulker Rye and will attend working luncheons with German Defense Ministry officials.

The Greek Minister will have talks over issues concerning bilateral relations, the Greek-Turkish issues, the Cyprus issue, the developments in the Balkan region and the Alliance's eastward expansion.

Also, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will meet with members of the German-Hellenic Parliamentary Group and leading members of Germany's Greek community. A.F.

[06] ATHENS, NICOSIA DISPLEASED WITH BRITISH OFFICIAL'S WAR SCENARIA

The Greek and Cypriot governments have reacted angrily to the speculations expressed by British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind and US former Undersecretary of State Richard Holbrook who stated that a war between Greece and Turkey is likely.

Both Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Greece's government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas said that such statements do not contribute to the safeguarding of peace in the region. Mr. Clerides also stated that Mr. Rifkind is probably not well informed on the positions adopted by the island's two communities. A.F.

[07] CULTURE MINISTRY STAFF EMBARK ON 48-HOUR STRIKE, MUSEUMS TO BE CLOSED

Greec's Culture Ministry employees have embarked on a 48-hour strike, demanding improved salaries and wage benefits.

As a result, the country's museums will remain closed during the work stoppage. A.F.

[08] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: EGNATIA ROAD WILL BE COMPLETED BY YEAR 2000

The Minister of Environment, Public Works and City Planning Kostas Laliotis announced in Parliament yesterday that the mammoth project Egnatia Road will be completed by the year 2000.

Mr. Laliotis stated that 420 of the project's 680 kilometers will be completed within this year, at a cost of 430 billion GRD.

The Minister also gave special emphasis to Thessaloniki's "Macedonia" airport which, he said, is developing into a modern, international hangar. A.F.

[09] KARAKOSTANOGLOU: EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO PRESSURE GREECE WITH SCENARIOS OF WAR

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Scientific Associate mr.Veniamin Karakostanoglou stated to MPA that efforts are being made to exert pressures on Greece with "scenarios of war" that are reported from time to time by foreign mass media and originate from foreign politicians. Mr.Karakostanoglou recently returned from Sokolac in Bosnia where he was an OSCE observer for the implemetation of the Dayton accord.

The statements by mr.Karakostanoglou were made on the occasion of the interview of British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind to BBC who stated, among others, that a war between Greece and Turkey is very likely. He pointed out that lately there is a rush on behalf of the United States, the European Union and United Nations to incorporate Turkey into the european structures and to limit the risk of fundamentalism which becomes more and more obvious with the government of Prime Minister Erbakan.

Mr.Karakostanoglou stated that there is a firm belief that a solution should be found to the Cyprus problem but foreign politicians are seeking the simultaneous settlement of the Greek- Turkish disputes. He said that they use the "scenarios of war" because they want to exert pressure on Greece, which they regard as weaker, in order to persuade it to participate in negotiations.

He underlined that under no circumstances he is a supporter of the international conspiracy theory, but observed that there is a fragile balance. He did not rule out a hot incident in the Aegean or Cyprus which will bring Greece to the negotiating table immediately.

Referring to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's letter to Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in which there is referrence made to leaders of two communities in Cyprus, mr.Karakostanoglou characterized as very alarming the fact that the UN Secretary General avoids to use the title of the Cypriot Republic President when referring to mr.Glafkos Clerides.

Mr.Karakostanoglou also pointed out that he regards as very correct the decision of the Greek and the Cypriot government to look for support in other countries while he underlines the rightness of the decision for the purchase of the Russian missile system.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTIES INSTITUTES' WILL MEET IN ATHENS ON FEBRUARY 14

The representatives of the European Socialist parties Institutes' and the Committee of the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity will meet in Athens on February 14-15 aiming at coordinating their activities and determining their priorities in the 21st century.

The representatives of "Andreas Papandreou" Institute for Strategic and Development Studies that organized the meeting will raise the issue of the expansion of cooperation with corresponding institutes and political parties in Balkan and Eastern European countries and will bring for discussion the european Left's prospects for dialogue.

[11] TURKEY AND RUSSIA ARE PLANNING CO-PRODUCTION OF KALAZNIKOVS

Turkey and Russia are planning co-production of Kalaznikov submachine guns, according to a French News Agency report.

Representatives of the Russian export company and the Kalaznikov company have agreed on the cooperation with Turkish Ministry of National Defence officials. The French News Agency mentioned that a pre-condition for the formal signing of the agreement is the overcoming of the differences in the Cyprus problem.

In case the agreement is signed it will be the first time that weapons will be manufactured by a NATO member-state with a Russian permission.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkey was the first NATO country that bought 19 "Mi-17" helicopters, armoured tanks and automatic weapons with a total value of 114 million dollars.

[12] GERMAN MASS MEDIA: RUSSIA'S MILITARY COOPERATION WITH GREECE AND TURKEY

The German mass media covered extensively the likelihood of a military cooperation between Greece and Russia and also the likelihood of a similar cooperation between Russia and Turkey.

Specifically, it is mentioned that Greece and Russia are examining the possibilities for Greece to move ahead with the purchase of Russian weapons systems and also that it is likely that the two countries will proceed with the establishment of an economic cooperation for the production of defense material.

As far as the cooperation between Russia and Turkey is concerned, the German mass media stress that based on diplomatic information the two countries are planning the co-production of the Kalaznikov submachine gun. According to the information, several thousands of Kalaznikovs are about to be produced in Turkey with a Russian patent, under the pre-condition that the recent disagreement over the purchase by Cyprus of the Russian S- 300 missile system will be overcomed.

[13] EU COMMISSIONER ON TURKEY AND MEDA: "OUR STANCE IS 'WAIT AND SEE' "

The European Commission has adopted a "wait and see" stance regarding Turkey's refusal to accept the EC's guidelines as required for the MEDA financing program, stated Hans Van Der Broek, European Commissioner on Foreign Affairs, responding to a question tabled by Greek Euro-deputy Yiannis Roubatis.

Turkey has repeatedly turned down the EC's proposals to finance projects that concern the improvement of living conditions in southeastern Turkey and programs that aim to promote respect of human rights. The Commission, however, is reluctant to take measures over the Turkish government's wish to determine on its own which MEDA programs will be funded. A.F.

[14] SERBIAN GOVERNMENT TO BE RESHUFFLED

The Serb President Slobodan Milosevic's proposal to uphold the opposition Zajedno's victory during last November 17's elections is also being examined during today's parliamentary session, which is expected to last long into the evening hours.

The Serbian Parliament also discussed the Cabinet reshuffle which left out of the government seven members, among them the Education Minister

Meanwhile, the opposition supporters are continuing their rallies throughout the streets of Belgrade, with another march planned for tonight. A.F.

[15] ETSEVIT: ERBAKAN'S STAY IN POWER IS A DANGER FOR TURKEY AND THE OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES

The Welfare party's stay in power is not a danger only for Turkey but for many other muslim countries as well, stated leader of the Democratic Left party Bulent Etsevit commenting on news reports according to which, an armed organization will be created within Prime Minister Erbakan's party.

The Turkish politician in a press conference he gave yesterday appealed to all political parties of the left to safeguard the principles of democracy while he added that many followers of the parties of the right have adopted the principles of the secular state and Kemal Ataturk.

[16] CYPRUS HAS THE FOURTH PLACE AMONG THE COUNTRIES IMPORTING CAPITAL TO RUSSIA

Cyprus occupied the fourth place among the countries importing capital to Russia in the first nine months of 1996, according to data provided by the Russian State Statistics Commitee. The first position is occupied by Switzerland followed by Holland and the United States, while tiny Lichtenstein is in the 9th place.

Meanwhile, Cyprus and Russia renegotiate the agreement existing between the two countries aimed at avoiding double taxation which also determines the status of Russian companies in Cyprus.

According to data, Switzerland has invested 968 million dollars in Russia, Holland 954, the United States 882 and Cyprus 434 million dollars.

[17] THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT REJECTED THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO DECLARE THE CITY OF VLORE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY

The funeral of a 33yearold man, who was killed during yesterday's bloody clashes in the southern Albanian city of Vlore, turned into a protest demonstration against the Albanian government.

About 20 thousand demonstrators gathered at the city's cemetary while a group of them set on fire President Berisha's party offices. The situation remains out of control while the government suggested that Vlore should be declared in a state of emergency, a proposal that was rejected by Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Greek government has ordered the Ministries of Public Order, Defence and Merchant Marine to take all necessary measures to avert a possible wave of Albanian illegal immigrants from entering Greece.

[18] GREEK-CYPRIOT AND TURKISH-CYPRIOT ARTISTS SEND OUT A MESSAGE OF PEACE

Thirty Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot artists are sending out a message of peace and harmonious co-existence through their joint exhibition in Nicosia on February 13-20. In the exhibition, that is regarded as the biggest inter-communal artistic event in Cyprus, will be shown paintings, sculptures and photographs and its official inauguration will be made by UN representative in Cyprus, Gustav Feissel.

In welcoming their Turkish-Cypriot colleagues in Nicosia, the representatives of the Greek-Cypriot artists stressed that art and culture unite the people and expressed the wish that this great exhibition will mark the beginning for the organizing of many similar events in the future.

The Turkish-Cypriot painters stated that they want a Cyprus where peace and freedom will prevail, a Cyprus free of bitterness, adding that they participate in the exhibition to show to the Greek-Cypriots that they are full of feelings of brotherhood and friendship.

[19] BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER FEARS GREEK-TURKISH CONFLICT ERUPTING

Britain's Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind and the United States former Undersecretary of State Richard Holbrook warned this morning in a BBC radio broadcast that there is a serious possibility of Greek-Turkish war over Cyprus.

Both officials emphasized that the Cyprus issue should be resolved before the accession talks begin between Cyprus and the European Union.

The British Foreign Minister expressed his concern over the worsening turn taken lately in Greek-Turkish relations, and blames both countries for lacking political will in the efforts to resolve their differences.

Moreover, Mr. Rifkind stated that the tension in the eastern Mediterranean is of concern to NATO.

"One would expect that Greece and Turkey would exert every effort to avoid a conflict. But the intense verbal juxtaposition that stems from both countries renders a peaceful resolution of these problems pretty difficult," he stated, adding that when the relations are good between the two countries, then, even if there are differences, they can be resolved quickly and peacefully. But when the relations are already bad and tense and difficult, then both sides appear to be looking for an excuse to make them worse and that is pretty grim."

When asked if there might be conflict between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean, Mr. Rifkind stated "it has to be a serious possibility."

Similar assessments were made by Mr. Holbrook who stated that such conflict could erupt if a solution to the Cyprus issue is not reached soon.

Mr. Holbrook characterized Cyprus and southeastern Europe as "the warmest spot in the planet" and warned that if a Greek- Turkish war were to erupt, then the consequences will be catastrophic for the whole region." A.F.

[20] US: CYPRUS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE ISLAND'S ACCESSION TO EU

The Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs at the U.S. State Department, Carey Cavanaugh, stated today that the recent visit to the US by British special envoy for Cyprus Sir David Hannay was performed for mutual briefing purposes.

Mr. Cavanaugh stated that Sir Hannay, who met with the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, made it clear to the American officials that London supports that all parties involved should participate in the talks over the Cyprus issue and emphasized the significance of the peaceful process in regards to Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

Moreover, the US official stated that Britain maintains that the Cyprus issue should be resolved prior to the island's accession to the EU and considers as very significant the orchestrated efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution.

Mr. Cavanaugh added that Washington, too, believes that achieving a solution to the island's problem is not possible without the participation of all interested parties, whom he called on to take measures so that the tension can be reduced.

"We realize," Mr. Cavanaugh stated, "that resolving the Cyprus issue prior to its accession to the EU is the most logical step for peace and welfare in the region." A.F.

[21] ALBANIA: VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE-CIVILIANS CONTINUE

The Albanian government is looking into the possibility of declaring "emergency status" to the city of Avlona, following yesteday's violent clashes between police and protesting civilians, where three demonstrators died and over 100 persons were injured. The strong police forces lined up outside the city's police station are encircled by an angry crowd of people who demand that the government return to them their money lost in the get-rich-quick schemes known as the "pyramid". A.F.

[22] RUSSIAN PROPOSAL TO MEET OVER CYPRUS ISSUE ACCEPTED BY SECURITY COUNCIL

Russian Ambassador to Cyprus, Georgi Muratov, met with the relatives of the persons missing on the island, and stated that Moscow's proposal to the Security Councils' five members that they meet over the Cyprus issue has been accepted.

Mr. Muratov stated that the meeting will include talks on demilitarization and, most of all, will look into the recent talks of initiatives over which no one has details.

When asked if European Union officials will be invited to participate in these talks, Mr. Muratov stated that the possibility is being examined. A.F.

[23] ALBANIA: RALLIES IN AVLONA CONTINUE

Tens of thousands of irate Albanians continued their protests in the streets of Avlona today, demanding that money they lost in the get-rich-quick scheme known as the "pyramid" be returned to them.

The funeral of one of the persons who died during yesterday's clashes with the police was turned into a populous rally. Participants set fire to the offices of the ruling Democratic Party. A.F.

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