Subject: News,26/08/93 From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Athens News Agency Bulletin, August 26, 1993 ============================================ Athens, 26/08/1993 (ANA): The president of Skopje's largest Albanian party yesterday called for radical changes in the ethnic Albanian community's status, according to a Macedonia Press Agency dispatch from Damascus. Progressive Democratic Party president Nevzat Halili, in an interview with the Syrian daily Al Havat, said ethnic Albanians comprise 40 per cent of the former Yugoslav republic and not 20 per cent that the Skopje government claims. "We are not seeking autonomy or any other privileged treatment but complete equality with the (Skopjans) that would be recognised both domestically and abroad through the establishment of an Albanian state alongside the existing state declared by (Skopje) and which would have jurisdiction over the areas in which ethnic Albanians comprise the majority", he said. Referring to developments in the region, Mr. Halili said events were moving in a direction favourable to the Albanians' goals. Belgrade, 26/08/1993 (ANA): Four truckloads of food and medicine worth 120,000 German Marks were delivered yesterday to the Serbian deputy president by a delegation from the Greek Orthodox Church of Crete. Father Filaretos, a member of the committee for aid to the Serbian people, said three truckloads of humanitarian aid were delivered to the Serbian Republic and the fourth had been given to the Yugoslav Red Cross. The delegation was also received by Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle and the representatives of the Serbian government. Melbourne, 26/08/1993 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis): Greek is the most popular foreign language among high schools seniors in the Victoria public school system, according to a recent report. It said Greek was the most popular foreign language among high school seniors, followed by French, Chinese and Italian, in filling their foreign language requirement. Courses in 29 Foreign languages are offered by the Victoria school system. The report found that in the last few years the number of students choosing Greek as their foreign language elective has risen compared with a decrease in those choosing French, Italian and German. The report noted that the majority of students who select Greek are of Greek descent. New York, 26/08/1993 (ANA- M. Georgiadou): Industry Under-secretary Theodore Damianos and Hellenic Industrial Development Bank (ETBA) president Eftychia Pylarinou yesterday began a series of contacts with US businessmen aimed at highlighting investment opportunities in Greece. In their meetings, Mr. Damianos and Ms. Pylarinou highlighted Greece's strategic location at the cross-roads of three continents and its potential as a springboard for the economic penetration of eastern Europe. They also emphasised the advantages enjoyed by foreign companies which have used Greece as a base for business ventures in the Balkan countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Albania. Speaking to reporters after a series of contacts with representatives of IBM, New York Telephone, Con Edison, Chemical Bank, the National Westminster Bank and other investment and credit groups, Mr. Damianos expressed his satisfaction that the us business community appeared convinced about the improved investment climate in Greece. He added that the Greek American community, which includes many prominent businessmen, has also been instrumental in helping improve Greece's economic image in the United States. Ms Pylarinou, a former vice president of a New York Bank, said the American business community had shown the greatest interests in investment opportunities in tourism and industry. "A large number of potential investors has also asked to be briefed on ETBA studies on investment opportunities", she added. Athens, 26/08/93 (ANA): Four northern Greek universities have banded together in a Zone of academic co-operation aimed at establishing an Egnatia Road of learning along the route of the ancient Greek highway connecting the eastern and western areas of northern Greece. The universities of Ioannina, Thessaloniki, Macedonia and Thrace in a joint statement yesterday said they have agreed to step up co-operation at all levels "by establishing a powerful academic and development axis through common scientific and research programmes". "This is something that is greatly needed by our region as well as the country", the statement added. Athens, 26/08/93 (ANA): Nearly 370,000 families with more than four children will receive supplemental welfare and pension benefits, Health Minister Dimitris Sioufas said yesterday. He added that the ministry had completed preparation for the implementation of the new benefit structure as provided for under Public Law 2163/93. The benefit programme will cost an estimated 110 billion Drs per year. Athens, 26/08/93 (ANA): The drop in unemployment from 7.9 per cent in the first seven months of 1992 to 7.3 per cent in the same period this year is "an encouraging sign" for the course of the Greek economy, government spokesman Vassilis Manginas said yesterday. The spokesman said that although unemployment remained a serious problem, the downward trend in Greece was in stark contrast with upward trend recorder in the rest of Europe. Mr. Manginas attributed the drop in unemployment to the government's efforts to create mew jobs through Manpower Employment Organisation programmes, the major infrastructure works which have been scheduled or are already under way and private investments such as the mobile phone network. Athens, 26/08/93 (ANA): Parliament meeting in special summer session yesterday adopted legislation earmarking 7.6 billion Drs for the capital's eight transport enterprises (SEP). The bill was passed by 51 votes to 48. Parliament also adopted legislation releasing deposits in the accounts of 17 players of the first division Olympiakos soccer club at the Bank of Crete which have been frozen in the wake of 1989 embezzlement scandal. Athens, 26/08/93 (ANA): Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday received a five member delegation from the US Congress currently on a fact-finding mission to the Balkans. The delegation, led by Representative Newt Gingrich, arrived in Greece on Tuesday. Earlier yesterday the US congressional delegation visited the defence and foreign ministries for briefings. The group was received by National Defence Minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis with whom they discussed the latest developments in the Balkans. "We came to discuss problems in the region... as well as to be briefed on the Cyprus issue and the situation in Bosnia", Rep. Michael Bilirakis said. Both the US official and Mr. Varvitsiotis termed the talks "constructive", saying they were satisfied with their outcome. Mr. Bilirakis said a member of the US delegation was currently in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia visiting US troops patrolling the Serbian border. The 325 US soldiers were sent in last month as a warning to Serbs against aggressive action in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo, which borders the former Yugoslav republic. The US congressmen also met with foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou to discuss the issue of the former Yugoslav republic's name and Greece's position on Skopje's usurpation of ancient Greek symbols. "I hope this visit has helped the members of Congress understand the issues concerning us from a different point of view", Mr. Papaconstantinou said. Athens, 26/08/93 (ANA): The foreign ministry said yesterday that it was obvious from US President Bill Clinton's bi-monthly report to Congress that the Turkish side was responsible for the current deadlock in United Nations-sponsored Cyprus peace talks. "President Clinton outlines all the developments during the period covered by the report-February 15 through July 15- in an objective manner", foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said when asked to comment on the US president's August 19 report. "He indirectly attributes blame to the Turkish Cypriot side for the deadlock in the talks by including excerpts from UN Secretary General's July 1 report. Furthermore, the US president expresses the view that the Turkish government must exercise its special responsibility and urge the Turkish Cypriot leader to accept the (UN-Proposed) confidence-building measures", he added. Noting that the US President has described the measures as "fair and balanced," the spokesman said Mr. Clinton has also emphasised that the time had come for a settlement on Cyprus. "From the above, it is clear which side is the one responsible for the current deadlock and must comply with the efforts and resent proposals of the United Nations for a resolution of the Cyprus issue", Mr. Papaconstantinou added. Athens, 26/08/93 (ANA): Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday chaired a meeting of ruling New Democracy party deputies participating in the third special summer session of parliament. The meeting reviewed the government's legislation programme and current developments in domestic policy. "New Democracy is a democratic party and a dialogue was held", Mr. Mitsotakis told reporters after the meeting. Thessaloniki, 26/08/93 (ANA): The Thessaloniki prefecture will host 1,600 ethnic Greek children from Albania at summer camps in northern Greece this year, officials said yesterday. They said 1,160 had already participated in summer camps at Asprovaltos and Ayia Triada and 340 more were expected to arrive before the end of summer. The summer camp programme includes visits to a archaeological sites as well as complete medical and dental examinations free of charge.