MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (05/04/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency Brief News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki April 5, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK PREMIER ARRIVES IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS, WILL TOUR THRACE IN MAY

"We are not in a hurry to close any national issue. When the time comes, we will proceed to the most appropriate solution," stated the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis today, upon his arrival to Alexandroupolis, when asked by reporters if there are Cabinet members advising him not to proceed to hastened solutions regarding national issues, for example the FYROM name issue.

Mr. Simitis stated that in the beginning of May he will also visit Thrace "in order to closely view" as he stated, "all of the region's problems and to try to promote this isolated area, near the Balkan area, as a center of development for the country."

[02] OLYMPIC FLAME TO PASS THROUGH THESSALONIKI THIS EVENING

A grand-scale ceremony honoring the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Thessaloniki will be held this evening in front of the city's historic landmark White Tower at 9 pm.

The Flame will arrive at the city's outskirts of Gallikos River, at 7:30 pm, from where distinguished Thessaloniki athletes will carry it to the center of town.

The previous-to-last kilometer of the distance will be run by athletes with special needs.

[03] MINISTER OF DEFENSE MEETS WITH BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Minister of National Defense Gerasimos Arsenis met with the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski today and the two men discussed the developments in the greater region, as well as the Bulgarian initiatives and, overall, Balkan security and stability.

In his statements following the meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, Mr. Arsenis referred to the Bulgarian proposal to hold a meeting of Balkan foreign ministers in Sofia this summer, and a meeting of Balkan defense ministers this fall.

"Such meeting that is within the parameters of the greek proposal is welcomed by us and we will participate," Mr. Arsenis stated.

The meeting will be open to all Balkan countries, as well as those countries that have historic ties with the region.

In turn, Mr. Pirinski stated that the potential meetings constitute steps that will bind all the balkan region countries into a framework of developing initiatives for stability, co- operation, security and an overall positive climate that will counter the distressing consequences of the crisis in the former Yugoslavia.

[04] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH MET WITH TURK PREMIER MESUT YILMAZ

The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos met today with the Turk Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in Ankara, the first such meeting since prior to Tansu Ciller's government.

Prior to the meeting, the Turk Premier stated that he will hear the Patriarch's problems and "we will discuss ways in which we can help.

"We hope that the Patriarch will help in addressing certain religious needs of the turkish minority in Western Thrace," Yilmaz added.

The Patriarch congratulated Mr. Yilmaz for his election to the premiership.

[05] BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

British Secretary of State Malcolm Rifkind stated that Cyprus' accession to the European Union before the Cyprus issue is resolved is difficult, but not impossible.

Responding to a question posed by a Labour Party parliamentarian regarding Cyprus' European accession process, Mr. Rifkind stated that the island's membership into the European Union will be enabled by the use of a political progress that would promote the solution of the cypriot problem.

While conceding that the divided island's accession to the EU may be difficult, Rifkind added that this does not mean it is impossible.

[06] BRITS IRKED BY LABOUR MINISTER'S PROPOSAL TO BRING MARBLES BACK

A recent proposal made by the British Labour Party Shadow Minister of Arts Mark Fisher favoring the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece, has caught the wrath of Britain's government and National Museum.

This week, Fisher said that if the Labour Party were to come to power, it would embark on negotiations with the greek government regarding the issue of returning the "Elgin" marbles of Parthenon to Greece.

A spokesman for Tony Blair stated that Mr. Fisher had no authority to say what he said about the marbles, and reported that Mr. Blair was surprised and angered by his comments.

Also, the British Museum trustees decried Fisher's proposal for talks with Greece as a "betrayal of their trust."

According to a Museum spokesperson's statements, such a move could open the floodgates to other countries demanding the return of works of art, leading to the "piecemeal dismemberment of collections, which recognize no arbitrary boundaries of time or place."

In supporting his proposal, Fisher has said that atmospheric pollution has been reduced in Athens and that standards of curatorship have significantly improved in Greece. Moreover, the British Shadow Minister of Arts pointed out that a museum currently planned in Athens would provide a suitable home for the marbles.

In an interview to the british paper "Daily Telegraph", Mr. Fisher stated that if his party came to power, "it would be foolish and internationally churlish not to hold proper talks with the greek government."

Also, the former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock, has made repeated requests for the return of the marbles to Greece. He has said that "the Parthenon without the Marbles is like a smile with a missing tooth."

The marbles were part of the 524 ft frieze that once adorned the Parthenon, honoring the goddess Athena.

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