Subject: MPA Bulletin (29/5) Topic: mpa From: mpa-news@uranus.eng.auth.gr BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY Thessaloniki, May 29 [1] GREECE SUPPORTS A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN BOSNIA, SAYS PRESS MINISTER [2] CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS ON SUBSTITUTES TO HELP DRUG-ADDICTS [3] THE EU ECONOMIC POLICY COMMITTEE ENDED SESSION IN ATHENS. [4] JUNE, AN IMPORTANT MONTH FOR THE CYPRUS PROBLEM SAYS NICOSIA [5] THE SPRING SUMMIT OF NATO's FOREIGN MINISTERS IN HOLLAND [6] A 5.7 RICHTER SCALE EARTHQUAKE HIT CYPRUS THIS MORNING. ------------------------------------------------------------------ [1] GREECE SUPPORTS A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN BOSNIA, SAYS PRESS MINISTER Greece believes that there should be a political solution to the crisis in Bosnia, reiterated greek government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos, clarifing that the greek government is ready, as it was in the past, to offer its good services. Mr.Venizelos stated that in this framework the greek government sent a message yesterday to serb President Milosevic adding that its content must not be revealed at this time. Regarding the possibility of greek military involvement mr.Venizelos said that there is no such issue and if a greek participation is decided it will be strictly limited to the backing of the withdrawal of the UN forces and it will not create a danger of military involvement. Mr.Venizelos clarified that the AWACS from the Aktion Air Base will not be used and also will not be used military installations based in Greece. The greek government spokesman categorically stated that the greek government has expressed towards every direction the position that a possible expansion of the armed clashes in Bosnia will create serious danger in the region. [2] CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS ON SUBSTITUTES TO HELP DRUG-ADDICTS The use of drug substitutes for the treatment of addicts is not effective and makes it easier for the drug users to stay on drugs, stressed President of the Center for the Treatment of drug addicts, mr.Tsalas speaking in the 2nd European Conference under the title "Europe against drugs" that opened today in Thessaloniki. Mr.Tsalas referring to the alarming extent of drug use said that it is related to the social, ideological and economic crisis in the developed countries. President of the European Federation of the drug addicts treatment centers mr.David Tomlinson stated that the british people have a positive view regarding the objectives of the treatment centers program. Coordinator of the World Health Organization unit for the control of alcohol and drug use and smoking, mr.Cees Goos, underlined that 10% of the Europeans face problems from the alcohol abuse, while 800 thousand men and 200 thousand women have already died from the side-effects of smoking. He also stressed that the problem of drugs in Eastern Europe has got huge dimensions as a result of the social problems created after the collapse of the Communist regimes. [3] THE EU ECONOMIC POLICY COMMITTEE ENDED SESSION IN ATHENS. The informal meeting of the European Union Economic Policy Committee ended yesterday in Athens. The meeting took place on May 25-28 in the Astir Hotel in the Athens suburb of Vuliagmeni. The committee examined the reports on the labour market policy and on the relation between taxation and social services, that will be submitted to the Council of Ministers of Finance and National Economy (ECOFIN). Also, were examined economic issues in relation to the expansion of the European Union to include central european countries while it was discussed the European Commission's proposal for the establishment of long term employment programmes. [4] JUNE, AN IMPORTANT MONTH FOR THE CYPRUS PROBLEM SAYS NICOSIA The cypriot government believes that June will be an important month for the developments concerning the Cyprus problem because during this month the US-british initiative must be made clear as the intentions of the UN Secretary General, according to cypriot government spokesman, mr.Kasoulidis. The cypriot government spokesman stated that it has not been set yet the exact time of the visit by US Presidential envoy Richard Beattie to Nicosia and insinuated that is given a special importance to this visit inspite of the fact that the cypriot government does not expect the US official to bring to Nicosia solution proposals or plans. Mr.Kasoulidis also added that the cypriot government gives great importance to the report that will be submitted by mr.Beattie to US President Clinton because it is hoped that through this report the turkish intransigence will be completely revealed. He also underlined that it is the first time since 1980 that a US Presidential envoy is appointed to Cyprus and this is an important fact. Responding to a question by a reporter, mr.Kasoulidis said that in London were not presented maps, plans or proposals and repeated that the americans and the british did not submit any solution plan for the Cyprus problem. He also stressed that the talks were of an exploratory nature in order to be found out if there is common ground for a direct meeting between cypriot President Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader Denktash while at the same time the talks were aimed at assisting the work of UN Secretary General. [5] THE SPRING SUMMIT OF NATO's FOREIGN MINISTERS IN HOLLAND Greek Foreign Minister mr Karolos Papoulias left this afternoon for the city of Noordijk in Holland to attend the Spring Summit of NATO's Foreign Ministers that will be held on May 30- 31.Afterwards, mr.Papoulias will go to Slovakia for a formal visit. [6] A 5.7 RICHTER SCALE EARTHQUAKE HIT CYPRUS THIS MORNING. A strong earthquake measuring 5,7 on the Richter scale hit Cyprus at 7:58'am this morning and it was especially felt in the cities of Paphos, Limmasol, Nicosia, Larnaka and in other regions of the island. Two women were injured in the region of the city of Chrisochus near Paphos and were reported limited damages mainly to houses already damaged by the earthquake that struck the region last February. The quake's epicenter is the same with the epicenter that gave the earthquake of February 23rd and was located under the sea north- west of Paphos. Meanwhile, at 10:58'pm last night an earthquake measuring 4,7 on the Richter scale hit the region of the cities of Corinth and Pirgos in the Peloponesse, southern Greece. The earthquake's epicenter was located 18 kilometers north-east of the city of Patras. -------------------------MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY--------------------------- The Macedonian Press Agency is a non-governmental press organization which aims: - To transfer and make use of news and information about the situation in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries mostly upon matters which are of vital interest for the Greek business, scientific and cultural activities. - To become a "bridge" between the Greeks who live abroad and their home countryby contributing to a more essential connection and above all to inform them about the investment opportunities as well as the intellectual and artistic movements in Greece, the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. - To show the achievements and the abilities of the business, scientific and intellectual world of Greece all over the world. 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