Document Date: Feb. 8, 1998
Posting Date:... Feb. 20, 1998
From the Macedonian Press Agency
Izmir, February 8 (MPA)
The meeting of the movement Journalists in the Aegean and Thrace for Peace began in Izmir [Smyrna] today, featuring a panel of speakers, Greek and Turkish deputies and euro-parliamentarians.
The first panel dealt with the issue of minorities in Greece and Turkey, where the prevailing impression was that "the minorities have become pawns in the competition between the two countries."
Moreover, leading journalists from both countries addressed the ideological view of the operation of the mass media, especially electronic, in influencing public opinion.
Lastly, the participants of the "Journalists in the Aegean and Thrace for Peace" issued a resolution that provides for an "anti-award" to those journalists that deepen the Greek-Turkish crisis through their yellow-press journalism.
Also, the attendees stressed the importance of respecting borders between the two countries, respecting international law, the need to demilitarize Cyprus for the benefit of the island's two communities and the significance of defending the rights of minorities in both countries so that they may be transformed into bridges of friendship.
It was announced that the next meeting will be held in 1999 at the city of Alexandroupolis.
Document Date: Feb. 9, 1998
Posting Date:... Feb. 20, 1998
A translated excerpt from Sabah, a daily Turkish newspaper.
Many Aegean Turkish and Greek journalists participated in a weekend seminar in Izmir. All participants at the seminar agreed that if a war between Turkey and Greece should occur, this would only further increase problems and would create a disaster for the two countries. They also pointed out that the Turkish and Greek media played an aggressive role instead of a calming role. Greek European Parliamentarians Yannis Papayannakis, Anna Karamanou and Kostas Hatzidakis also delivered speeches at the seminar. Touching upon the role of the third countries in Turkish-Greek relations, they said that there was no need for third parties in solving problems between the two countries.