Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-12-17

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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, December 17, 1997

TITLES

[01] GREECE�S PRESIDENT IN THE UKRAINE, VISITS ODESSA

[02] SIMITIS: ONLY PASOK POSSESES STRATEGY FOR NATIONAL MATTERS

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ADVISES COOL-HEADEDNESS TO TURKEY

[04] GREEK F. M. PANGALOS ISSUES �TOUGH� RETORT TO TURKISH COUNTERPART

[05] GREEK WORKERS UNIONS TO EMBARK ON 24-HOUR STRIKE TOMORROW

[06] GREEK-TURKISH DIFFERENCES ARE �ILLOGICAL�, SAYS US PRESIDENT CLINTON

[07] EUROPEAN UNION CIRCLES DISPLEASED WITH TURKISH THREATS

[08] BALKAN FRIENDSHIP CENTER TO BE FOUNDED AT GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDER

[09] THESSALONIKI�S TRADE FAIR TO HOLD FOOD AND CLOTHES EXHIBITION IN KIEV

[10] TURKISH PREMIER TRAVELS TO THE UNITED STATES IN SEARCH OF SUPPORT

[11] TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND UKRAINE IMPROVE

[12] KIRO GLIGOROV TO BE AWARDED MEDITERRANEAN PEACE PRIZE

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREECE�S PRESIDENT IN THE UKRAINE, VISITS ODESSA

Odessa, December 17 (MPA)

�We came to Odessa to pay our respects to the cenotaph of the Patriarch Gregory the E� and to the establishment of the Friendship Society where the flame for the revolution and Greece�s liberation was ignited,� President Stephanopoulos stated in his speech at Odessa�s City Hall.

�Odessa is always in the minds of the Greeks. A small part of its history belongs to Greece�s history. Perhaps Odessa is significant to us not only because our ancestors lived here, but mainly because this is where Greece�s liberation started from,� he added.

The President addressed the Mayor of Odessa and told him �we offer you true love, not merely friendship.�

A jubilant reception greeted the President at the City Hall where a local choir sang Greek songs.

The Mayor of Odessa pronounced President Stephanopoulos as an honorary guest of Odessa and bestowed upon him a medal which the Greek President accepted by stating �this constitutes the highest honor for me.� In an exchange of gifts, n, the Greek President was given a painting of the city of Odessa while he in turn gave the Mayor a replica of an ancient vessel.

The Mayor of Odessa stated that the Greeks were pioneers in all sectors and the citizens of Odessa remember their names with gratitude.

Moreover, he referred to the Greek businessmen who accompany the Greek President on his travel to Kiev and stated that they are the first who arrived in Odessa.

�Our city should start from the Greek square where your fellow Greeks are building a shopping mall,� the Mayor said.

The Greek President and his delegation departed from Kiev yesterday for Odessa with an aircraft that flew in from Athens at midnight. The Olympic Airways airplane that was to transport the President from Kiev to Odessa remained grounded because of mechanical problems.

After a two-hour stay in Odessa, the President will depart for Mariupolis which is the center of the Ukraine�s Hellenism and where thousands of Greek-origin individuals are expecting the Greek head of state with a jubilant reception. A.F.

[02] SIMITIS: ONLY PASOK POSSESES STRATEGY FOR NATIONAL MATTERS

Athens, December 17 (MPA)

Mr. Simitis stated that PASOK is the only party that possesses a specific policy and strategy to tackle national issues.

He added that both on national and economic matter, the country�s opposition has shown that it has no alternative proposals that will lead tot he achievement of the aims set forth by Greece.

Referring to the budget, Mr. Simitis stated that its passage is a critical issue for the government and called on the deputies to cast their votes in favor. In regards to Greece�s accession to the Economic and Monetary Union, the President of PASOK stated that this is a one-way street for Greece and, commenting on the recent decisions drawn during the European Union�s summit recently held in Luxembourg, he stated that e�15� decided on the creation of an �economic government� within the European Union.

�We did not come to power in order to become managers,� Mr. Simitis told the deputies.

�PASOK is not a party of power management. For us power is not an end in itself. For us, governmental power mean that we have a duty to undertake all those initiatives and decisions necessary for achieving the target of a strong Greece. And this is our choice. Our choice is development, our choice is the safeguarding of our sovereign rights. It is the choice of a society of humanity and social justice,� Mr. Simitis stated. A.F.

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ADVISES COOL-HEADEDNESS TO TURKEY

Athens, December 17 (MPA)

We had no intention of slighting Turkey, Mr. Pangalos added, while at the same time not ruling out the possibility of a meeting held between the experts committees of Greece and Turkey. A.F.

[04] GREEK F. M. PANGALOS ISSUES �TOUGH� RETORT TO TURKISH COUNTERPART

Brussels, December 17 (MPA)

Mr. Pangalos stressed that Greece, as all the other European countries, is a democratic state of justice, where, as in all democracies, certain of its members or authorities may break the law.

�As such,� Mr. Pangalos stated, �those who are wronged have the ability to resort to the courts, even to the European Court of Human Rights, in Strasbourg. But Turkey is not a state of justice and systematically violated human rights. European countries are states of justice and any country that is not a state of justice as well, will have a hard time in acceding to their (EU) community.�

Referring specifically to the Moslem minority living in Thrace, Mr. Pangalos pointed out that this is an open society �where both Greeks and foreigners live and misbehave and no one controls or obstructs them over this.�

In his meeting with Mr. Cem, held yesterday in Brussels, Mr. Pangalos outlined the firm Greek positions regarding Turkey�s ties with the European Union. However, he stated that the did not want to discuss the Cyprus issue with Mr. Cem since it does not concern a matter of Greek-Turkish relations, but is rather an international issue.

Also in Brussels, Mr. Pangalos met with the US Assistant Secretary of State Mark Grossman with whom he reviewed various international issues. A.F.

[05] GREEK WORKERS UNIONS TO EMBARK ON 24-HOUR STRIKE TOMORROW

Athens, December 17 (MPA)

The striking workers are demanding that their salaries be increased and fortified against inflation, while they also ask that the government index to a greater degree the income-tax brackets to inflation and raise tax exemptions to GRD two million.

Moreover, they ask that pensions be increased to amount to 80% of their salaries.

The sector to bear the brunt of the strike will be that of mass transportation which is to paralyze between midnight tonight and 24 hours thereafter, while air traffic controllers and workers in the country�s ports are to also participate in the mobilization. A.F.

[06] GREEK-TURKISH DIFFERENCES ARE �ILLOGICAL�, SAYS US PRESIDENT CLINTON

Washington, December 17 (MPA)

In a press conference granted by Mr. Clinton, he stressed that �Greece and Turkey need to remove their blinders and to work towards resolving their differences.�

Moreover, the American President added that both countries need to understand that the benefit would be much greater if a formula of mutual understanding is achieved.

Mr. Clinton vowed that he will exert every effort in order to resolve these differences which, he stated, �are essentially illogical.�

Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Clinton reiterated that he will work tirelessly for the finding of a solution.

Moreover, he added that the United States would like to see Turkey participate in the European institutions which will enable the country to establish democracy. A.F.

[07] EUROPEAN UNION CIRCLES DISPLEASED WITH TURKISH THREATS

Brussels, December 17 (MPA)

French Foreign Minister Yber Verdrin stated that Ankara may be disappointed with the decision drawn by the�15� (to not include Turkey in the 11 countries that have been invited to start EU membership talks) but this does not give her the right to proceed to retaliation.�

Moreover, the French official stated that this �was a hope of Turkey that was defeated, not a right that was violated� and added that �I hope these feelings are not to produce negative consequences, especially for Cyprus.�

England�s Foreign Minster Robin Cook was tougher in his statements regarding the same issue, warning Ankara �not to even think about attempting to annex Cyprus�s northern part, something which,� as he stated, �would be contrary to international law.

�If Turkey wishes to become a member of the EU it is not going to achieve it by attempting to block the accession of another country,� Mr. Cook stated. A.F.

[08] BALKAN FRIENDSHIP CENTER TO BE FOUNDED AT GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDER

Thessaloniki, December 17 (MPA)

The first official visit between the Greek delegation and their Bulgarian counterparts is to be held tomorrow morning at the Bulgarian village of Malco Gradice where they will sign a protocol for cross-border cooperation. The cooperation program includes the organization of seminars for popular culture and artistic events. A.F.

[09] THESSALONIKI�S TRADE FAIR TO HOLD FOOD AND CLOTHES EXHIBITION IN KIEV

Kiev, December 17 (MPA)

In statements made following the signing of the agreement. Mr. Kourtis expressed his gladness for the positive outcome of this event. A.F.

[10] TURKISH PREMIER TRAVELS TO THE UNITED STATES IN SEARCH OF SUPPORT

Ankara, December 17 (MPA)

According to the itinerary of his visit, Mr. Yilmaz is to meet with US President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, five Secretaries and with the chiefs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

According to the Turkish daily �Milliyet�, Mgrs. Yilmaz and Gore are to meet on December 19 and will proceed to the signing of an $850 million agreement concerning the purchase of 49 Boeing aircraft.

The Turkish Premier will next meet with President Clinton, who is expected to bring up the issue of human rights, while also setting forth as priority matters both the Cyprus issue and the situation in the Aegean Sea. A.F.

[11] TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND UKRAINE IMPROVE

Kiev, December 17 (MPA)

According to the present views, Ukraine is to carry out a leading role in diplomatic and economic developments of the Black Sea�s region, if only it successfully completes the economic restructuring it is currently undergoing and which is impeded by the high level of corruption that plagues the country�s public services. A.F.

[12] KIRO GLIGOROV TO BE AWARDED MEDITERRANEAN PEACE PRIZE

Skopje, December 17 (MPA)

Mr. Gligorov will be the first laureate of this prize. The decision to bestow it upon Mr. Gligorov was drawn by the Forum for Europe and the Mediterranean, which was held in Naples in the presence of Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, representatives of the European Commission , the European Parliament and 30 Mediterranean states.

According to an announcement issued by the �Mediterranean Laboratory�, the President of FYROM will be honored for his contribution to the safeguarding of political stability in relations with the other countries, his policy of equal distance and his efforts to gain his country�s accession to the European Union. A.F.

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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