MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (31/07/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 31, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] OECD REPORT OPTIMISTICALLY FORESEES UPWARD TREND IN GREEK ECONOMY

Greece's economy is expected to take a turn towards improvement, according to the Organizaiton of Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) annual report which states that the country's economy will show accelerated rhythms of developmenmt in the years to come, in contrast with the beginning of the decade.

According to the report, inflation will continue to drop, reaching an average 7.8% in 1996 and 6.5% in 1997 and output growth is expected to rise by 2.2% in 1996 and 2.3 % in 1997, on a rebound in privte and public investment spending.

The OECD report also points out the need for public sector reforms and privatizations which, as it states, should be the backbone of structural policies that should go hand-in-hand with tight fiscal and monetary policies.

[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER BLASTS INTERWEAVED INTERESTS IN PUBLIC SECTOR

Main opposition party leader New Democracy's Miltiades Evert spoke today of "interweaved interests" and said that the Greek people are "scoffed at" while he emphasized the need to separate the public sector's contractors and suppliers in the name of "transparency and honor in the public service."

Mr. Evert was referring to the Presidential Decree on this issue, which was approved by the Ministerial Council, and stated that the government sat idle on the issue for a whole year and has now proceeded into a "supposed effort of disengagement."

[03] COALITION LEADER BRIEFS THE PRESIDENT ON HIS VISIT TO MIDDLE EAST

Coalition of the Left and Progress party (Synaspismos) Nikos Konstantopoulos met today with the President of Greece Konstantinos Stephanopoulos and briefed him on his recent tour of the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Konstantopoulos expressed his party's views on the Middle East and spoke of "great, yet undeveloped, opportunities for Greece's presence in the region."

The two men also spoke on the name issue between Greece and FYROM where upon the Synaspismos leader stated that "the passing of time is working against Greece's national interests."

[04] GREECE HONOURED FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER GEOFF WHITLAM

Greek President, Kostis Stephanopoulos announced that former australian Prime Minister and known philhellene, Geoff Whitman will be decorated for his contribution in politics.

Mr.Whitlam is very popular among the greeks living in Australia and as a Prime Minister he had fought for the restoration of Democracy in Greece. It should be reminded, that he has also been honoured and by the Athens Academy in 1993.

Mr.Whitlam will receive the medal in a special ceremony that will be held in the greek embassy in Cambera.

In a written statement, mr.Whitlam refers to his old and close ties with Greece and underlines that the medal is a special distinction for him.

[05] PRESIDENT SENDS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON

President of Greece Konstantinos Stephanopoulos has sent a congratulatory telegram to the newly appointed Archbishop of North and South America Spyridon.

In his message, President Stephanopoulos expresses his sincere wishes to Mr. Spyridon for success in his spiritual and pastorate role.

Mr. Spyridon is the former Metropolitan of Italy and has succeeded former Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos who resigned this week.

[06] AUSTRALIAN STATE'S LABOR PARTY LEADER IN THESSALONIKI ON FRIDAY

Labor party leader of the Australian state Victoria John Mansfield Brabi will meet this Friday with Macedonia- Thrace's Minister Philippos Petsalnikos during his visit to Greece.

Victoria's Labor Party vice-president is the Greek- australian parliamentarian Dimiris Dollis.

[07] CULTURE MINISTRY TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM COMMUNITY SUPPORT FRAMEWORK

The Ministry of Culture is to receive 160 billion drachmas from the Second Delors Package, announced today Minister Stavros Benos.

The Culture Minister emphasized that a large portion of these funds has been earmarked for the creation of the Acropolis Museum as well as the construciton of the Music Mansion of Thessaloniki. Mr. Benos added that the remaining funds will be absorbed by the national business program Tourism-Culture.

[08] DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY ANNOUNCES PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR BOOZE DRINKERS

Unsuspecting customers who have been served food and/or alcoholic beverages of indeterminable taste and content, have to fear no more.

Measures announced by the Development Ministry today foresee that all food and beverages issued without the necessary seal by the State Chemical Laboratory will be confiscated.

According to the Ministry, this decision "aims at protecting the consumer and more specifically at diverting the availability of various alcoholic drinks at entertainment centers."

[09] NEW FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE CASES IN NORTH-EASTERN GREECE

Agriculture Undersecretary, Apostolos Fotiadis characterized the new foot-and-mouth disease cases in two regions of north-eastern Greece, as an unfavourable development for the country. Already, the Veterinary Committee of Evros have destroyed 520 head of cattle in the villages of Isaakion and Thireas.

Mr.Fotiadis stressed that the new foot-and-mouth disease cases do not affect Greece's position on the issue of meat and dairy exports and underlined that the measures taken were effective in preventing the disease from spreading beyond the borders of the prefecture of Evros.

[10] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER SEES COURSE OF RECOVERY

Greece's budget for the 1996 fiscal year is expected to be executed as planned, the inflation rate has taken a downward trend and, overall, the country has entered a course of recovery, according to the Minister of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou.

Mr. Papantoniou met yesterday evening with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and discussed the issue of European Union funds absorption from Delors II Package which will be presented to the Governmental Committee today.

Accompanied by Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and Development Minister Vasso Papandreou, Mr. Papantoniou pointed out to the Premier that reducing the inflation rate to the coveted 5% mark may be an impossible task to accomplish as it is not ruled out that inflation may rise above 7.5% by the end of the year.

[11] NEW YORK MAYOR DECLARES JULY 29 "ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS DAY"

New York mayor Rudolph Gulliani proclaimed July 29 the "Day of Archbishop Iakovos for the State of New York" during last night's farewell dinner honoring the departing Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos, given at New York's famous Gracie Mansion, commonly known since 1788 as the "White House" of the Mayors.

Mr. Iakovos ended his 37-year-old stay in the Greek Orthodox Chruch, by formally submitting his resignation this week. His successor is the Metropolitan of Italy, Spyridon.

Responding to a reporter's question as to whether he is satisfied by the election of Metropolitan Spyridon as his successor, Mr. Iakovos stated that it cannot be doubted that the Mother Church, having taken into consideration many other issues and problems, made the right choice according to her opinion.

When asked to reminisce which of his actions or acts have made him feel proud during his 37-year stay in the pastorate, Mr. Iakovos stated "I have said this and I will repeat it. God helped me and all of you helped me, as well as the people and the communities, to maintain the Archbishopry unitied. An effort which was at times in danger, since there were many reactions both from outside and from within.

"The fact that I am leaving behind a well-organized church makes me want to thank you and God, whom I serve," the departing Archbishop added.

Moreover, Mr. Iakovos was asked if there is something that he had wanted to do but did not. He responded "that which I had wanted to do and did not have time or was not able to accomplish, was to give the people an impetus that will always stay with them, to grant them self knowledge and a more thorough knowledge of our history."

[12] EVERYONE IN TURKEY KNOWS AND ADORES GREEK GYMNAST MELISSANIDES

"There is no one in Turkey who does not know and adore Yiannis Melissanides," said the father of Murat Janbas, the turkish gymnast who was killed in a car accident a few years ago.

Murat's father had every reason to be emotional as he watched on his tv set the Olympic Games ceremony where the greek gymnast was awarded the gold medal. The two athletes were close friends and "it was like my child was on the podium getting the award."

Melissanides, had handed over his medal to the Janbas family in 1994 in an unprecedented gesture of friendship and true sportsmanship.

[13] ERASMUS PROGRAM HOSTS EUROPEAN ARCHITECTS AND STUDENTS IN DRAMA

The 58 professors and 30 students, some of whom are from Thessaloniki's Aristotle University's Architecture Department, will submit studies on Drama's city planning and on the city's potential to house a university campus.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Drama Prefect Socrates Demetriades stated that the prefectural committee had already decided upon the need to bring a campus to Drama, which led to the decision to hold the "Erasmus" session in town. The architects' brainstorming session in Drama will be held until August 10.

[14] EVROS PREFECT PROMOTES "YOUTHSTART" PROGRAM TO COMBAT UNEMPLOYMENT

In its effort to create new jobs, the Evros Prefecture currently promoting the "Youthstart" program among young people aged 16-20 years old who are interested in working in the field of agricutural tourism.

"Youthstart" is a program that will fund a group of 20 to 25 young persons who have not attended college and will provide them with training in basic tourism activities, such a renting rooms, tour guiding etc.

The participants will be chosen based on a questionnaire given by the National Center of Social Research.

The program, planned to last a year and a half, will receive 67.5 million drachmas from the European Social Fund and the remaining tab of its 90 million budget will be picked up by the Evros Prefecture.

[15] INTERNATIONAL MUSIC MEETING WILL BE HELD IN DELPHI ON AUGUST 5-15

International music meeting under the theme "Music and Ancient Greece" will be held at the site of ancient Delphi on August 5-15, organised by the European Cultural Center of Delphi.

The meeting includes an Ancient Greek Music Symposium on August 8-11 and music concerts in the ancient Stadium of Delphi under the title "The Ancient Myth as a source of inspiration in the contemporary music creation".

Also, for the first time will be presented to the public a replica of the ancient musical instrument "Ydravlos", which is the first music keyboard ever made in the world, and its invention is attributed to Alexandrinos Ktisivios who lived in 3rd century BC.

[16] GREEK MUSEUM TO BE CREATED IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

The Greek government has accepted -in principle- the proposal presented by the state of Victoria in Australia to create a Greek museum in Melbourne.

Australian state Premier Jeff Kennet's advisor Nikos Kotsiras recently held meeting in Greece with alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos and Culture Minister Stavros Benos with whom he discussed the museum proposal.

Mr. Kotsiras stated that Mr. Romeos has accepted the proposal and has promised that Greece will support, in every possible way, the creation of the Greek museum. The proposed museum would be housed in the impressive neoclassical building "Old Customs House" located in the center of Melbourne. According to current plans, on its first floor the museum will feature an exhibit of ancient greek artifacts, some of which will be authentic, and on the other floor there will be various exhibits from Greece.

When the plan becomes reality, the first exhibit to be held in the museum will be a history of the Greek Parliament.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[17] US-CANADA AHEPA HOLDS 74TH CONGRESS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS

Paving its way into the next millenium, the United States-Canada AHEPA is holding its 74th congress in Houston, Texas with more than 700 delegates participating and with an impressive presence of young people who are concurrently holding their own congress.

The primary aim of the Greek-American and Greek- Canadian AHEPA chapters is to carve its progress for the following years in order to remain one of the strongest and largest lobbying organizations of Greeks abroad.

Three key decisions are expected to be drawn during the congress, in regards to Greek national issues. More specifically, the decisions will deal with the efforts to cutback US aid to Turkey and to freeze the sale of US military arms to Ankara. Also, the AHEPA will aim at achieving more frequent and productive cooperation with Greece.

[18] THE UN DEMANDS THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE TWO GREEK-CYPRIOT FISHERMEN ARRESTED A WEEK AGO BY THE TURKISH OCCUPATION FORCES

The United Nations demand the immediate release of the two young greek-cypriot fishermen from the town of Paralimni, arrested a week ago by the turkish occupation forces while fishing in the sea region of Derinia.

The above were stated by UN official, Gustav Feisel who added that the United Nations continue their efforts toward this direction.

Responding to the question by reporters, according to which four tourists arrested by the turkish occupation forces were immediately released and if the UN in the case of the two greek-cypriots is waiting for the completion of the so-called "court" procedures, mr.Feisel said that UNFICYP wants their release as soon as possible.

The two greek-cypriots, Yiannakis Hatziyiannis and Giorgos Nikolaou are expected to appear in front of a mock court in the turkish occupied northern Cyprus today.

[19] PROPOSAL OF CYPRUS-TURKEY MILITARY DIALOGUE IS AT A DEADLOCK

The issue of holding a military dialogue between the chief of Cyprus' National Guard and the leader of the turkish occupation forces has reached an impasse, diminishing the chances for easing the crisis at the "dead zone" in the near future.

The United Nations' deputy special envoy for the Cyprus problem Gustav Feishel stated that there are still problems faced in the efforts to hold a dialogue between the two officers.

According to Mr. Feishel, the UN believe that a military dialogue will constitute a good way to overcome the military and technical issues of disengagement and the ban on the use of firearms.

The UN diplomat is expected to meet today with the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides.

[20] FRANCE WANTS SOLUTION TO CYPRUS PROBLEM AND IN THE COUNTRY'S ACCESSION INTO THE EU

French alternate Foreign Minister responsible for european affairs, mr.Barniet stated, after concluding his contacts in Nicosia last night, that France recognizes that Cyprus constitutes a possible factor of instability in the region and that at the same time, this country is also an opportunity for stability in the Mediterranean depending on how things will develop.

Mr.Barniet backed the appointment of a permanent EU representative on security issues in the region, who must be a reliable and responsible person.

He said that the negotiations for Cyprus' accession into the EU will start soon and the sooner a political solution is reached the faster those negotiations will be completed for the good of the people of this country.

The french alternate Foreign Minister avoided to blame either side and stated that the dialogue with Turkey will continue. Referring to his meeting with Rauf Denktash he said that the discussion with the turkish- cypriot leader was necessary in order to have a complete and objective picture of the situation in Cyprus.

[21] POLICE ARRESTED TWO TURKS AS SUSPECTS FOR LAST NIGHT'S FIRE-BOMB ATTACK IN A SOUTHERN GERMAN CITY

German police arrested two turks today as suspects for last night's fire-bomb attack made by unidentified men against the offices of a soccer club in the southern german city of Pfortsheim.

According to a police spokesman, the two suspects were arrested while they were carrying fire bombs. No injuries were reported in last night's attack, the latest in a series of attacks on turkish targets in Germany.

The turkish newspaper "Hurriyet" writes, based on german police information, that during the month of July there were 49 fire-bomb attacks against turkish targets in Germany. During the last week, there were 29 arsons, while in the past month 13 sit-ins and 7 demonstrations were held in a show of protest against Turkey.

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