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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-02

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 2, 1999

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREECE'S AMBASSADOR TO KENYA TESTIFIES FOR 15 HOURS
  • [02] GREEK INDUSTRIES FEDERATION IN N.GREECE RESPONDS TO KOC
  • [03] CONCERT HELD IN SUPPORT OF KURDS DRAWS LARGE CROWD
  • [04] GREECE-US MILITARY EXERCISE BEGINS IN THE AEGEAN TODAY
  • [05] BORDER ZONE TO INCREASE DEVELOPMENT IN N.E. GREECE
  • [06] REPPAS: THE SWEDISH NEWS AGENCY REPORT CREATED FALSE IMPRESSIONS
  • [07] REPPAS: THE RUMOURS OVER A CRISIS IN THE AEGEAN ARE TARGETING THE STOCK MARKET
  • [08] PAPANDREOU: THE CROSS-PARTY COOPERATION ON ISSUES OF FOREIGN POLICY IS NECESSARY
  • [09] STEPHANOPOULOS RESPONDED TO THE TURKISH ALLEGATIONS ON THE OCALAN CASE
  • [10] PAPANDREOU MET WITH POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS
  • [11] PANGALOS' PRESS CONFERENCE
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [12] STATE DEPARTMENT: GREECE DOES NOT SUPPORT TERRORISM
  • [13] OSCE PRESIDENT KNUT VOLLEBAEK TRAVELS TO PRISHTINA TODAY
  • [14] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IN UZBEKISTAN
  • [15] FORMER FM PANGALOS INCENSED OVER SWEDISH WIRE REPORT
  • [16] C OF E'S COMMITTEE FOR PREVENTION OF TORTURE TO VISIT OCALAN
  • [17] STATE DEPARTMENT: WASHINGTON POST'S CLAIMS ARE UNFOUNDED
  • [18] MILOSEVIC REFUSES DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS IN KOSOVO

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREECE'S AMBASSADOR TO KENYA TESTIFIES FOR 15 HOURS

    Greece's ambassador to Nairobi George Kostoulas testified for 15 hours before the Athens prosecutors who are conducting a preliminary investigation into the Ocalan Affair and whether or not any civilians can be held responsible in the matter.

    The former public relations manager at the Athens airport, Stephanos Evangelatos, is also to provide additional testimony today. Also, the Greek Intelligence Service agent Maj. Savvas Kalenteridis is to appear once more before the prosecutor today.

    [02] GREEK INDUSTRIES FEDERATION IN N.GREECE RESPONDS TO KOC

    The President of the Federation of Greek Industries in Northern Greece (SEBBE) Vasilis Takas has harshly responded to the President of the Turkish-Greek Business Council Rahmi Koc, after the latter forwarded a letter to the Council's members asking them to end all activities in Greece and freeze trade ties.

    In a letter addressed to Mr. Koc, Mr. Takas stated that "while the directive to cease business activity was not aimed at us, we feel that we have an obligation to respond.

    "We disregard your one-sided criticism on the Greek governments policy on Greek-Turkish issues. We are not going to follow you, since we also conduct our own harsh but documented criticism regarding the Turkish governments' provocations towards Greece.

    "Our peoples have enough memory and knowledge of history to judge the functions of democracy and human rights throughout the history of both countries as well as the reasons that provoked Greek-Turkish conflict," Mr. Takas writes in his letter.

    He further notes that personal contacts have greatly developed during the recent years among businessmen from both countries, thereby promoting business cooperation in South-Eastern Europe in an effort to dissociate business ties from political developments.

    "Through common actions" he adds, "we tried to create a spirit of mutual trust and respect, by believing that the economic interests that would develop would create a climate which in turn would aid relations between the two countries. We insist on these efforts, both at a bilateral level, as well as at the Balkan, Black Sea and European levels.

    " We realize the pressure recently exerted on you to put an end to the spirit of Greek-Turkish friendship and cooperation inaugurated with the Papandreou-Ozal meeting in Davos...However, we cannot receive without returning the insulting accusations (hurled) at the business world of Greece and the entire Greek society, which lives freely in an entirely democratic and European environment."

    [03] CONCERT HELD IN SUPPORT OF KURDS DRAWS LARGE CROWD

    Featuring a pantheon of Greek and foreign artists, musicians and intellectuals, all participating on a volunteer basis, Athens hosted a free concert in support to the Kurdish people yesterday evening at Constitution Square, drawing a large crowd.

    A salute was forwarded by Italian Nobel prize laureate in literature, Dario Fo, who said that "For us it is a political choice to stand by the Kurdish people and Ocalan."

    [04] GREECE-US MILITARY EXERCISE BEGINS IN THE AEGEAN TODAY

    Greece and the United States are embarking today on a mid- sized military exercise code-named "Megas Alexandros", in the sea region between Volos, Skyros and Agios Efstratios.

    The exercise is part of a framework of bilateral cooperation and joint training between all Greek forces and corresponding ones from the United States.

    Greece is participating with its 32nd marine brigade, a frigate, a destroyer, three landing craft and a number of support vessels.

    The United States are participating with two landing craft and a 1,500-troop force. The exercise will be coordinated by the Greek national defense general staff.

    [05] BORDER ZONE TO INCREASE DEVELOPMENT IN N.E. GREECE

    The Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace has drawn a plan called "Border Zone", which aims at increasing development in northeastern Greece, including the border region, working with local authorities.

    The program will be presented tomorrow by the minster of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis to the mayors of the border municipalities of Central Macedonia, Serres, Kilkis and Pella.

    [06] REPPAS: THE SWEDISH NEWS AGENCY REPORT CREATED FALSE IMPRESSIONS

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas expressed the government's regret over the statements attributed to Greek former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos by the Swedish news agency.

    Mr. Reppas stated that false impressions were created as Mr. Pangalos has never made such statements and characterized as sad the fact that the news report in question was published by the Swedish news agency without cross-checking it first.

    [07] REPPAS: THE RUMOURS OVER A CRISIS IN THE AEGEAN ARE TARGETING THE STOCK MARKET

    The rumours over tension in the Aegean and the likelihood of a "hot incident" between Greece and Turkey are targeting the stock market, according to Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

    Mr. Reppas said that Greek aircraft intercepted Turkish planes but this is not unusual, adding that the rumours on tension in the Aegean are spread for reasons everyone can understand. He also stated that everyone should realise that these are games played by certain circles for economic and political reasons.

    He said that he does not know who is responsible for spreading such rumours and added that if he knew he would have made specific accusations.

    [08] PAPANDREOU: THE CROSS-PARTY COOPERATION ON ISSUES OF FOREIGN POLICY IS NECESSARY

    The need for the promotion of the cross-party cooperation on issues of foreign policy was underlined by foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in statements he made after the contacts he had with parliamentary foreign affairs committee chairman Karolos Papoulias, Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas and Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos. Mr. Papandreou gave detailed information to them on the developments in the Kurdish issue and the moves the Greek government is prepared to make in order to deal with the propaganda launched by Turkey against Greece.

    Mr. Papandreou stated that he will convey the views of the political party leaders to the prime minister and stressed the need for the political parties to play an important role in the foreign policy, while he also stressed the role of the citizens to the tactics followed on national issues. He said that there is no evidence over a "hot incident" in the Aegean, adding that Greece is ready to face any eventuality.

    [09] STEPHANOPOULOS RESPONDED TO THE TURKISH ALLEGATIONS ON THE OCALAN CASE

    Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos responded to the Turkish allegations concerning the Ocalan case. Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed that the Kurdish issue and the Ocalan affair will not become subjects of a Greek-Turkish dispute. He also pointed out that Ankara's allegations over the relation between Greece and PKK are slanderous mentioning that Greece never backed military, politically or economically the PKK and Ocalan.

    The Greek president stated that Greece did not grant political asylum to the Kurdish leader not because it did not recognize the humanitarian dimension of the issue but due to the difficulties in the Greek-Turkish relations. Mr. Stephanopoulos expressed regret because Turkey requested that Greece should be included in the list of the countries that support terrorism.

    [10] PAPANDREOU MET WITH POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS

    Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou had contacts with the Greek political party leaders on the Ocalan affair and the efforts of the Greek government for the sensitization of the international public opinion over the Kurdish problem.

    Mr. Papandreou met with leader of Democratic Social Movement Mr. Tsovolas and Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos. Earlier, he had met with parliamentary foreign affairs committee chairman Karolos Papoulias. Mr. Tsovolas called for a national council meeting or a political leaders' meeting under prime minister Kostas Simitis.

    [11] PANGALOS' PRESS CONFERENCE

    The alleged statements made by former Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos on the Ocalan affair caused the strong reaction of the Greek delegation in Milan where the European Socialist Party conference is being held. The statements made by Mr. Pangalos on the alleged surrender of Ocalan to Turkey were reported by the Swedish news agency.

    Mr. Pangalos said today that he made no such statements to any reporter and spoke of mere fiction, falsification of texts and suspicious aspects of the case that should be investigated.

    Mr. Pangalos clarified that he spoke about his resignation and the Ocalan affair with many people but he stressed that he had reiterated to them what he had already stated to the Greek press and the Greek parliament.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [12] STATE DEPARTMENT: GREECE DOES NOT SUPPORT TERRORISM

    The United States have reiterated that Greece should not be included in the list of countries which support terrorism.

    State Department spokesperson James Foley stated that Greece is a friendly country, an ally of the United States.

    "We work closely with Greece on a whole range of issues - regional, economic, strategic, political." While adding that the US disagree with Greece granting asylum to two colleagues of the of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, the matter should be placed into perspective.

    "The terrorism list is something which covers repeated, systematic, high-level pattern of state sponsored support for terrorism, and I wouldn't talk about a close NATO ally and such a prospect in the same breath," he said.

    [13] OSCE PRESIDENT KNUT VOLLEBAEK TRAVELS TO PRISHTINA TODAY

    Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek has stated that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has rejected the latest proposals for the signing of a draft agreement in Kosovo.

    Mr. Vollebaek, who is also the President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, is presently in Prishtina where he will hold talks with the region's ethnic Albanians.

    Meanwhile United States former presidential candidate Bob Dole, at the Secretary of State's prodding, will try to persuade the Albanians into accepting the interim agreement of Rambouillet.

    [14] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IN UZBEKISTAN

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, who arrived yesterday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis and a delegation of Greek businessmen, is to meet with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimof today.

    Megrs. Karimof and Stephanopoulos are expected to sign agreements on consular issues and road transport. Greece and Uzbekistan signed a friendship and cooperation pact and a series of cooperation agreements in commerce, technology, training and tourism when Mr. Karimof visited Greece on April 1, 1997.

    During his aircraft's refueling stop in Tbilisi, Georgia yesterday, while en route to Tashkent, President Stephanopoulos had an hour-long meeting with Georgina President Eduard Shevardnadze who received the Greek President with a guard of honor. They discussed bilateral relations as well as on Mr. Stephanopoulos' planned official visit to Georgia in May.

    [15] FORMER FM PANGALOS INCENSED OVER SWEDISH WIRE REPORT

    Greece's former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos is reportedly incensed over a report issued by the Swedish News Agency according to which he referred to the Ocalan affair and said "we were forced to turn him over in order to avoid worse."

    The report claimed that Mr. Pangalos made the statement on the sidelines of the European Socialist party meeting in Milan yesterday.

    Mr. Pangalos characterized the report as "a figment of imagination" and stated emphatically that he did not speak to any Swedish reporter on the Ocalan affair. Moreover, he added that the only talks he held with journalists concerned the ESP's future.

    [16] C OF E'S COMMITTEE FOR PREVENTION OF TORTURE TO VISIT OCALAN

    Three members of the Council o Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture are to visit PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, according to Turkish Ambassador in Washington Baki Ilkin.

    Mr. Ocalan is presently incarcerated by Turkish authorities at the high-security prison of Imrali island.

    [17] STATE DEPARTMENT: WASHINGTON POST'S CLAIMS ARE UNFOUNDED

    State Department spokesman James Foley has rejected as "unfounded" the Washington Post's allegations that Greece revealed NATO codes to Russia.

    When asked during the regular press briefing yesterday if the United States are satisfied with the Greek government's response to these allegations, Mr. Foley stated that the preliminary answer is that the findings are pointing in the direction of a satisfactory resolution of the matter.

    "They look promising. I can't give you a formal read-out because we had a Pentagon delegation that went over to Greece because, indeed, there were allegations concerning Greek unauthorized transfer of US origin military technology to Russia. But the key word here is "allegation." We conducted an investigation with the fullest cooperation of Greece and the US Government agencies are currently awaiting the investigator's report for analysis.

    They have completed the work. My understanding, preliminarily, is that the results look very promising. The Pentagon will be briefing congressional committees who are already kept abreast of the matter.

    I'm not going to comment on specifics until that consultation and briefing is complete and we have the final report," Mr. Foley said.

    When asked if this matter is only concerning allegations, the State Department spokesman said that the matter consists of two parts.

    "One is an allegation; not a truth, but an allegation. The other is the fact that the allegation happened to cover a serious matter. Therefore, you have to investigate if it's serious, if it's not minor. But it's looking good, as I understand it," Mr. Foley explained, assuring the journalists that it turned out to be a false allegation and that there was no transfer of technology.

    When asked if the US plan to include Greece on the list of countries which support terrorism, or at least urge them to close all terrorist training camp in the Greek territory, Mr. Foley responded that another journalist had tried to draw him "down that path" last week and said that he refuses to be drawn in that direction.

    "Greece is a friendly country, is an ally of the United States. We work closely with Greece on a whole range of issues - regional, economic, strategic, political. We disagree with Greece over what happened in the Ocalan affair, as well as with the asylum granted to his two colleagues. We make no bones about that. But let's put this in perspective. The terrorism list is something which covers repeated, systematic, high-level pattern of state sponsored support for terrorism, and I wouldn't talk about a close NATO ally and such a prospect in the same breath," he said.

    When asked if the United States believe that PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan can get a fair trial in Turkey, taking into account the treatment given to the attorneys of the accused, Mr. Foley responded that the US have welcomed the statement given by Turkish Premier Bulent Ecevit on February 26 who said that he has taken measures necessary to prevent demonstrators from threatening Mr. Ocalan's lawyers.

    "We believe that Turkey understands that it's in Turkey's interest to create the conditions necessary for Ocalan's trial to be conducted in a transparent way and in accordance with its obligations under international human rights instruments," Mr. Foley said.

    "I think Turkey does not necessarily need to hear from other countries that its treatment of Ocalan is in many ways going to be very closely watched, inevitably, by the international community, by virtue of the very fact that Turkey achieved such a notable counter-terrorism success. The fact is there is a greater spotlight; and it is, indeed, an opportunity for Turkey to show how well its system of justice can work in transparency and in accordance with international norms. That's certainly what Turkey has committed itself to do, and that's certainly what we expect it to do."

    [18] MILOSEVIC REFUSES DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS IN KOSOVO

    Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic continues to refuse the deployment of NATO troops in Kosovo who would overview the application of the peacekeeping agreement.

    During his meeting with the President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Knut Vollebaek, the Yugoslav president stressed that if an agreement is reached during the second round of talks between the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians of Kosovo, to be held in Rambouillet on March 15, then the presence of NATO troops in Kosovo will not be necessary.

    Mr. Vollebaek stated that "I find it hard to understand how the agreement will be applied without the presence of a peacekeeping force", pointing out that, aside from the sporadic conflict that erupts in the region, there's also lack of trust between the two sides.

    He said that if the agreement is signed when talks resume on March 15, then OSCE's verification mission would need military back up.


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