Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-07-20
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 20, 2000
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS
[02] THE PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFISCATION OF GERMAN PROPERTY HAS
BEEN "FROZEN"
[03] DIMITRIOS IOANNIDIS ON THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE
TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS
[04] MARGINAL GAINS OF 0.46% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[05] THE PROBLEM WITH FYROM IS NOT CLOSE TO A SOLUTION
[06] THE ITALIAN MAFIA IS SPREADING TO GREECE
[07] REPPAS: GREECE IS IN A STATE OF PREPAREDNESS
[08] ANGELOPOULOU AND SAMARANG MEET IN LAUSANNE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] "OEDIPUS" IMPRESSED THE AUDIENCE IN ROME'S COLOSSEUM
[10] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION IN MELBOURNE CALLED FOR THE
REMOVAL OF THE TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF
VICTORIA
[11] SAMARANCH NEVER IMPLIED THAT GREECE COULD LOSE THE 2004
OLYMPIC GAMES, SAYS AN IOC MEMBER
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] 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.
[02] THE PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFISCATION OF GERMAN 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.
[03] 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.
[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] 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.
[06] 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.
[07] 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.
[08] ANGELOPOULOU AND SAMARANG MEET IN LAUSANNE
Juan Antonio Samarang expressed his satisfaction with the
organisational changed made recently within the Athens 2004
committee, following his meeting with Yianna Angelopoulou and the
new Executive Committee for the Olympics, in Lausanne. Mr Samarang
also relayed his confidence that the Athens 2004 Olympics will be
a huge success.
Ms Angelopoulou, accompanied by the undersecretary of
Culture, George Florides, in charge of athletic issues, introduced
the managing director of Athens 2004, Petros Synadinos and the
members of the Board of Directors, Mr Simitsek, Mr Kapralo and
Kostas Liaskas to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Mr Samarang stressed that the IOC supports Ms Angelopoulou
and her team, remarking that "the meeting held with the management
team of the Athens Organisational committee was an important step.
We discussed the new structure and will analyse its progress in a
few months. We are convinced that the races will be very
successful".
For her part, Ms Angelopoulou stated that "the IOC is as
interested in the success of the Races as we are. It has helped us
in the past and will continue to do so. We are all on the same
side and are trying to organise the Games as best we can, bearing
in mind the difficulties involved in all preparations".
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] "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.
[10] 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.
[11] 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.
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