MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (01/10/1996)

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, October 1, 1996

TITLES

[01] CYPRUS IS GREECE'S PRIMARY FOREIGN POLICY CONCERN, SAYS GREEK PREMIER

[02] MAIN OPPOSITION TO ELECT NEW LEADER BY THE END OF THE WEEK

[03] ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA SPYRIDON AND COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD DENOUNCE BOMBING AT PHANAR

[04] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES COMMENTS ON HIS CONTACTS IN NEW YORK

[05] CYPRIOT PARTIES ISSUE DECLARATIONS ON ISLAND'S INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION

[06] GREECE AND FYROM AGREE ON UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] CYPRUS IS GREECE'S PRIMARY FOREIGN POLICY CONCERN, SAYS GREEK PREMIER

Larnaca, October 1 (M.P.A.)

Mr. Simitis was received by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides who stated that the Greek Premier's presence in Cyprus on the day commemmorating the island's independence is an additional expression of Greece's solidarity to the Greek-Cypriot people.

Mr. Simitis emphasized that his travel to Cyprus, the second in a matter of few weeks, emphasizes the Greek government's priority to the Cyprus problem.

"Our firm position, which we emphasize towards every direction, is that the cypriot issue is foremostly a problem of foreign occupation in Cyprus and, as such, it remains our unshakeable target to find a peaceful solution through diplomatic efforts, " Mr. Simitis stated.

Moreover, the Greek Premier stated that he is returning to Cyprus with the memory of the two Greek- Cypriot unarmed civilians still fresh on his mind and emphasized that their sacrifice was not in vain but instead served as a reminder to the international community that the cypriot issue remains unsolved and its solution is imperative.

During his stay in Cyprus, Mr. Simitis will meet with Mr. Clerides and Cypriot Government officials as well as Archbishop Chrysostomos. Their discussions are expected to center around the establishment of a common strategy for the cypriot issue.

The Premier is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos, Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas, Eurodeputy Yiannos Kranidiotis and PASOK's Central Committee Secretary Kostas Skandalides.

Celebrating the Greek Premier's arrival, the Greek- Cypriots provided him with a grandiose welcome and, in turn, a military procession paraded through the city's major artery, featuring for the first time, russian fighting chariots T-80.

Tomorrow the Premier will be decorated with a high distinction by the Cypriot President while in the evening, Mr. Simitis will be pronounced honorary citizen of Nicosia and will be granted the city's golden key. The University of Cyprus will also bestow upon the Greek Prime Minister the doctorate title.

[02] MAIN OPPOSITION TO ELECT NEW LEADER BY THE END OF THE WEEK

Athens, October 1 (M.P.A.)

According to reports, former minister George Souflias has appointed the president of the party's supervising committee Achilles Karamanlis to be responsible for the election process.

Mr. Souflias is the main condender for the party's leadership, along with Miltiades Evert, N.D.'s previous president who resigned after the party's defeat in the elections of September 22, only to re-submit his candidacy for president one week later.

Meanwhile, N.D.'s Athanasios Tsaldaris, former President of Parliament, has tabled his support to Mr. Evert and has stated that the foremost concern must be the party's unity.

Among Mr. Souflias's cadres are former national economy minister Stephanos Manos and former culture minister Dora Bacoyianni, who had both initially announced their candidacies, only to withdraw them later when they allied themselves with Mr. Souflias.

[03] ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA SPYRIDON AND COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD DENOUNCE BOMBING AT PHANAR

New York, October 1 (M.P.A.)

Mr. Spyridon asked the United States President Bill Clinton to condemn the attack and asked the American political and religious leaders to also voice their indignation and to undertake action in protecting the Patriarchate from the continuous threats.

Mr. Tomaras stated that the event has provoked the ire of all Greeks living abroad, as well as to all of the Christian Orthodox community, and stated that the bombing is a serious illustration of inadequate security measures provided for the Patriarchate.

"The American SAE unequivocally condemns this latest and unprovoked act of violence and calls on the turkish state to protect the spiritual leadership of the world's over 300 million Orthodox," he stated and added that "the greek community will stand by the Patriarchate's side as always, pressuring the turkish side, as well as Greece's allies for its protection."

The organization Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front (IBDA-C) has claimed responsibility for Sunday night's explosion.

According to the turkish news agency Anadolu, the IBDA-C is an armed islamist organization that has claimed responsibility in the past for other church bombings and explosions in restaurants that serve alchoholic beverages.

[04] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES COMMENTS ON HIS CONTACTS IN NEW YORK

Nicosia, October 1 (M.P.A.)

Upon his return from New York, where he attended the United Nations 51st General Assembly, Mr. Clerides also stated that during his contacts there he realized that the murders of the two Greek-Cypriot unarmed civilians at Deryneia in August have provoked indignation and concern and as such, he added, it is imperative that the process to find a solution to the cypriot issue must be expedited.

Mr. Clerides also stated that all initiatives for the cypriot issue must be drawn under the auspice and coordination of the UN, adding that it has not yet been decided to what degree the United States Ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright will play a role in the issue.

Moreover, the Cypriot President stated that during his contacts in New York no pressure was exerted to confine Cypru's military outfitting and concurrently stated that the National Guards' military exercise "Nikiforos" will be conducted as planned, with Greece's participation.

[05] CYPRIOT PARTIES ISSUE DECLARATIONS ON ISLAND'S INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION

Nicosia, October 1 (M.P.A.)

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides stated that, until the road is opened for a solution, Cyprus will contine to strengthen its defense and will complete the application of the Greece-Cyprus Joint Defense Dogma.

The Democratic Rally party stated in its declaration that national unity, in conjunction with prudent action, are the Cypriot people's great weapons in securing their aims.

AKEL states that it approaches the Independence Day anniversary with feelings of agony for the future and calls on the Cypriot people to fight with all their strength in order to make reality the aim of a free and peaceful Cyprus.

The Socialist Party EDEK states that the presence of Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in Cyprus emphasizes Greece's involvement in the Greek-Cypriots' struggle to overturn the occupying regime and to apply the international law.

The Free Democrats Movement (KED) also speaks highly of Mr. Simitis' presence in Cyrpus and states that the bwest service to the island will be the struggle for its re-unification.

The Liberals Party expresses its conviction that "our side has exhausted all the limits of good will and concessions and is in need of untity in order to secure our national being."

[06] GREECE AND FYROM AGREE ON UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION

Skopje, October 1 (M.P.A.)

Mr. Malias relayed to Ms. Todorova the Greek Government's proposal to organize a meeting of the Faculties of Economy and Law from both countries in order to form an impetus for research projects that would inevitably strengthen cooperation between Greece and FYROM.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

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