MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (02/07/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <[email protected]>

Macedonian Press Agency Brief News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, July 2, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] US SATISFIED BY ELECTION OF SIMITIS AS PASOK PRESIDENT

The United States government has expressed its satisfaction for the election of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to the post of PASOK's party President.

In an official announcement issued yesterday by White House spokesperson Nicholas Burns, the US regard Mr. Simitis' election as party president to be a positive development for Greece.

Moreover, Mr. Burns expressed the hope that the Greek government will remain a close ally of the United States.

[02] US UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE ON VISIT TO ANKARA AND ATHENS

United States Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff has embarked on a tour through Athens and Ankara, within the framework of the american initiatives for the Aegean and Cyprus.

State Department spokesperson, Nicholas Burns characterized as positive the circumstances under which Mr. Tarnoff's visit is taking place since, as he stated, there is political stability in Athens as well as in Ankara, despite the rise of the islamists.

During his visit to Ankara, Mr. Tarnoff will conduct talks with Turkish president Suleiman Demirel and he may meet with new Prime Minister Netsmetin Erbacan.

According to Mr. Burns, the US aim at having a harmonious cooperation with the Erbacan government, although it was made clear to Ankara that the US are not willing to accept Turkey's steering away from its western direction.

[03] ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH BULGARIAN PRESIDENT AND PREMIER

Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs George Romeos will meet today with the Bulgarian President Zeliu Zelev and Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, within the framework of his three-day working visit to Sofia.

Mr. Romeos' visit will focus on the relations between Bulgaria and the European Union and Greece's role in promoting these ties.

The alternate Foreign Minister has met with the Bulgarian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Irina Bokova and is also scheduled to meet with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski.

[04] "PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE" COUNTRIES TO PARTAKE IN NATO EXERCISE

Four "Partnership for Peace" countries, Bulgaria, Malta, Moldova and Romania, will participate in NATO's military exercises to be held on July 4-12, according to a communique issued by the Alliance.

Greece, Turkey and the United States will also participate in the army exercise which is named "Cooperative Determination '96." The exercise will take place in Bulgaria's Belene training camp and its aim is to train forces for peacekeeping, humanitarian and disaster rescue missions.

The operation will be commanded by US Admiral Leighton Smith, who is the commander of southern Europe's allied forces, and will be coordinated by Greek General Dimitrios Spyridon.

[05] HAN SUNG JU BEGINS TOUR OF EUROPEAN CAPITALS

United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Cyprus Han Sung Ju embarks today on a tour of european capitals, aiming at the coordination of the efforts of all those countries which are involved in solving the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Ju is accompanied by the alternate special envoy Gustav Feischel, who stated that the all- embracing approach remains the UN's choice, and clarified that was is sought now is a starting point for a total settlement.

Concurrently, Mr. Feischel pointed out that a way must be found to examine the various ideas that are presented, and supported that the two sides of the island are not yet ready to proceed to a compromise.

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