MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (05/08/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 5, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREECE HONORED WITH REVERENCE AT OLYMPIC GAMES CLOSING CEREMONY

The Atlanta-held Centennial Olympic Games came to an end today and Greece was especially honored during the magnificent spectacle of the closing ceremony.

Greece's national anthem echoed throughout the world with due reverence to the country which founded the Olympic spirit of noble emulation and athletic pageantry.

In the wee hours of the morning, local time, Atlanta saluted the 11,000 athletes who participated in the 26th Olympic Games, representing 197 different countries. In the city's Olympic Stadium more than 85,000 thousand spectactors, aside from the billions of television viewers, cheered the champions and celebrated under the frenetic rhythms of live music.

In the stadium where triumph was interrupted by tragedy, President of the International Olympics Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch, asked everyone to observe a moment of silence to honor the memory of those killed during the recent bomb explosion.

"No terrorist act has ever been able to destroy the Olympic movement, and it will never be able to. Today, more so than ever before, we are committed to building a better, more peaceful world," Mr. Samaranch stated.

The ceremony came to a close when the Olympic Games flag was handed to Australia. It signified the passing of the torch to Sidney, the city to host the Games in the year 2000.

[02] GREECE SEIZES FOUR GOLD MEDALS, EARNS 16TH SPOT OUT OF 197 COUNTRIES

Greece ranks 16th in the league of Olympic champions from the 197 countries who participated in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, a remarkable feat for a country that hadn't savored such victory since the first Olympics of 1896.

Having earned four gold and four silver medals, the Greek athletes astounded everyone with their performances in weightlifting, floor gymnastics, sailing and high jumping.

In acknowledgment of their extraordinary performances, National Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis will bestow the Greek Olympic champions with the rank of reserve lieutenant, while the two-times gold medalist in weightlifting Pyrros Demas, who was appointed lieutenant after his victory in the Barcelona Games of 1992, will be promoted to captain.

The Parliament of Greece will honor the Olympic champions on Wednesday morning with an event attended by the President of Greece Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert and the leaders of other minor opposition parties.

The United States earned first place with 100 medals, while Russia and Germany came second and third respectively. Seventy- nine countries won at least one medal each.

[03] GREECE WILL CELEBRATE RETURN OF OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS WITH GRANDEUR

Overflowing with pride, Greece is set to welcome the arrival of its "golden children", as the Olympic Games medalists are lovingly referred to, with pomp and circumstance.

The eight medalists, four gold and four silver, will arrive at the Athens airport's eastern terminal at six p.m. tomorrow evening. In turn, they will board military jeeps and will be driven through the seaside avenue of Poseidon to the gates of Andrianos.

Waiting for them upon a platform will be the Mayor of Athens and the members of the city council who will bestow upon them the gold medal of Athens.

Afterwards, the Olympic Games medalists will walk towards the city's Kallimarmaron Stadium where the country's political leadership will await en masse their arrival.

Following the awarding of the medalists, there will be a firework display and the festivities in Athens will be capped with a concert by Greek composer Stamatis Spanoudakis.

Thessaloniki will also celebrate the arrival of its champions, gold medalist in gymnastics Yiannis Melissanides and silver medalist in weightlifting Valerios Leonides as well as all those Olympic athletes who have local roots.

The city will be showered in lights and the athletes will be greeted at the Macedonia airport upon their arrival by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos, Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and other local dignitaries.

A victory parade will follow which will run through the city's major arteries and will lead to the White Tower where the Municipality will host an open-to-the-public festivity.

[04] GREEK'S GESTURE OF FRIENDSHIP TO TURK MARKS TRUE SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC GAMES

The greek referee who whistled the victory of turkish wrestler in the Atlanta-held Olymic Games competition and, when Mahmut Demir won the gold medal, rushed to decorate the athlete with his professional whistle, has earned him the love and admiration of the turkish media.

Theodoros Vidalis, a referee in the Olympics' wrestling match, and a basketball referree as well, is being acknowledged by the turkish press as one of FILA's best.

[05] GREEK POLITICAL LEADERSHIP REACTIONS TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT DECISION TO TURN THE CHURCH OF ST.SOFIA INTO A MOSQUE

As provocation targeting not only hellenism but the whole christian West, was characterized by greek Parliament President, Apostolos Kaklamanis the turkish government decision to turn into a mosque the St.Sofia church in Constantinople. He said that it is about time for the supposed friends, allies, and Christians in Europe and America to realize that certain things can not be placed within the framework of free market, profit and trade, adding that there are certain values based on which humanity has advanced until now overcomming many dangers and threats.

Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos characterized the turkish government's action as serious retrogression for the turkish people and the world community, stressing that the greek government will not deal with it as a simple bilateral issue but as a major issue for the world civilization.

Opposition New Democracy party vice-president, Yiannis Varvitsiotis stressed that this new turkish provocation reveals the true face of the Erbakan government and called the greek government to demand from the civilized world to exert pressures on Ankara.

Meanwhile, Athens Academy President, Ioannis Pesmatzoglou in a statement stresses that the threat of the turkish government to turn the St.Sofia church into a mosque targets all christians, adding that the respect toward this monument and its protection is the duty of all peoples. He also stresses that immediate and wide mobilization is necessary for the cancellation of this unacceptable threat.

[06] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH THE IRISH EU PRESIDENCY REPRESENTATIVE

The possibilities for a systematic intervention of the European Union to the solution of the Cyprus problem were dicussed today during the meeting between greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos and the Irish EU Presidency representative for Cyprus.

Mr.Pangalos was briefed on Ankara's views on the issue, which according to the greek Foreign Minister, are within the usual framework of the turkish policy on the Cyprus problem.

The two men also discussed issues concerning the EU-turkish relations and mr.Pangalos outlined the greek views according to which, Turkey uses Cyprus as a "hostage" in order to win concessions either in the greek-turkish relations or in the relations of Ankara with the European Union.

The Irish EU Presidency representative pointed out that the 18-month period before the opening of the negotiations for Cyprus' accesion into the European Union is an opportunity for the promotion of a solution to the Cyprus problem. He also emphasized the continuing cooperation with the United Nations for progress in the efforts for a solution to the problem.

[07] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER CONTINUES TO BLAST CRITICISMS AT GOVERNMENT

Main opposition party leader New Democracy's Miltiades Evert is continuing his three-day tour in eastern Aegean Sea islands and, upon arriving in the island of Samos today, he embarked on issuing stern criticisms regarding the government's work.

Mr. Evert accused the government of "criminal inactivity" and "total absence of work" while promising that when his party comes to power, it will do away with the objective standards of taxation for the isolated islands.

Speaking to local business leaders, Mr. Evert also stated that the ruling PASOK is unable to absorb European Union funds and added that the isolated islands should be given the same financial impetus as that given to Thrace.

[08] GOODYEAR'S LAID OFF WORKERS TO RALLY BEFORE MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTRY

The workers who were laid off from Goodyear's tire-making plant in Thessaloniki, are pressing on with their efforts to get their jobs back and have decided to hold a rally in front of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace next Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, the mobilizations are continuing and have surpassed the greek borders, extending to Europe and overseas.

In a meeting held between the §resident of the worker's union Soteres Ainatzis, the secretary-general of the European Union of Workers and the vice-president of the International Federation of Workers in the Chemical Industry it was decided that a file providing analytical data on the compamy's financial history be submitted to every interested official. Through this file, which will be available in the Internet, the laid off workers will ask the international community to boycott Goodyear products.

Thessaloniki's Goodyear plant closed its doors without prior notice last month, and the official company line was that the specific plant was not profitable. The laid off workers are continuously protesting in front of the plant's facilities.

[09] INFLATION DROPPED TO 8,6% IN JULY FROM 8,8% IN JUNE

Inflation dropped to 8,6% in July from 8,8% in June, according to the greek Statistics Agency, which estimates that in August inflation will drop further.

Based on official data, the cost-of-living index dropped 2,5% in July 1996 compared to the same month last year when it had decreased by 2,3%.

The price index decrease resulted from the drop in fruit and fresh vegetables prices, as well as in the prices of clothes, shoes, household, recreation, and exercise items and vacation gear.

The drop in the prices of those items was compensated by the increases in the prices of pork meat, lamb, fish, restaurant and hotel prices.

In the month of July there were also increases in apartment rents and in heating oil.

[10] DELEGATION OF THE 8TH GREEK ARMY DIVISION IS VISITING ALBANIA

A three-member delegation from the 8th Army Division, based in the city of Ioannina in north-western Greece, is making a two- day official visit to the Army Division of Argyrokastro in Tirana.

Head of the greek delegation is Lieutenant-General, mr.Roubis and, as it was made known, the greek army officers will have talks with Argyrokastro Army Division Commander, mr.Liatsi on issues concerning cooperation between them, within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed by the greek and albanian Ministries of Defence.

This is the first time, after World War II, that a Lieutenant- General, Commander of the 8th greek Army division is visiting Argyrokastro.

[11] ALBANIA DENIES ENTRANCE TO GREEK BISHOPS OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

The Albanian government has denied entrance to three Greek priests who have been appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as bishops in three cities of southern Albania.

According to reports published in "Koha Jone" and by the Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA), the Albanian Secretary of Religions Bardil Fico told the Tirana Archbishop Anastassios that the Patriarchate's decision has provoked the ire of Albanians and characterised the appointment as "an unprecedented act, which ignored even the minimum standards of moral values".

Also, according to reports given by ATA, a Tirana-based official is said to have stated that the three priests can enter Albania as mere Greek citizens, but not as bishops.

According to Germany's Deutsche Presse Agentur, the juxtaposition stems from the fact that "the Ecumenical Patriarchate considers the Albanian church to be a part of the 'greek mother church' as opposed to the albanian side which insists that the albanian orthodox church is autocephalous that is, independent".

[12] WORLD CONFERENCE ON THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE GREEK LANGUAGE WILL BE HELD IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA ON AUGUST 7-10

World Conference on the Internationalization of the Greek Language will be held in Ancient Olympia on August 7-10 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Modern Olympic Games (1896-1996).

According to Society for the Internationalization of the Greek Language President, ms.Tasoula Kampouridou, who is also a member of the Rome Academy of Literature and Culture, in the Conference will participate distinguished personalities from all over the world who, together with their greek colleagues, have started an international crusade in order to make the greek language known all around the world.

The outcome of the conference will be sent to international organizations and foreign governments, while a proposal will be made to the European Union to recognize the greek language as the official language of the EU member states.

[13] ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE ARRESTED IN SOUTH-EASTERN AEGEAN

Nine iranian illegal immigrants, 6 men, 2 women and an infant, were arrested this morning in the sea region of Kedros in the south-eastern Aegean island of Samos. The illegal immigrants had arrived in the region by boat from the turkish coasts.

Also, other 13 illegal immigrants, 8 iraquies and 5 iranians, were arrested in the region of Thermies in the south-eastern Aegean island of Kos.

[14] PASOK PARLIAMENTARIAN VISITS MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

The Thessaloniki-based PASOK parliamentarian Stelios Papathemelis, former Public Order minister, is currently visiting Melbourne, Australia where he will attend the Conference of the local Pan-Macedonian Union.

[15] FIFTY CHILDREN FROM NORTHERN EPIRUS LEARN ABOUT CULTURAL CAPITAL'S THEME

Fifty children from Northern Epirus who are camping in Kavala had the opportunity to see up close what the Cultural Capital of Europe idea is all about.

The children, guests of the Epirotiki Estia, visited the building that houses the offices of the "Thessaloniki: Cultural Capital of Europe 1997" organization and were briefed on the upcoming events the city is to host next year.

[16] THE GREEK FOREIGN POLICY WAS OUTLINED TO YALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The greek foreign policy positions were outlined to 93 Yale University students by Greek Press Office representative in New York, mr.Christos Failadis.

The presentation was made in the UN building and the audience's questions mainly focused on the greek-turkish and the greek-serb relations and also on Greece's positions concerning the crisis in Bosnia. The students also received printed information material on Greece's international presence and on other aspects of the greek public life.

[17] AUSTRALIA'S STATE OF VICTORIA PRIME MINISTER EXPRESSED SATISFACTION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GREEK ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM IN MELBOURNE

Great satisfaction was expressed in a written statement by Australia's State of Victoria Prime Minister, Jeff Kennett over the decision of the greek government to back, in every possible way, the establishment of a Greek Archeological Museum in the center of Melbourne.

Mr.Kennett mentioned that he received a letter from greek alternate Foreign Minister, Giorgos Romeos informing him that Greece will back the establishment of the museum, the operation of which will be supervised on behalf of the greek side, by the Institution of Greek Civilization. Similar assurances had been given and by greek Culture Minister, Stavros Benos to State of Victoria opposition leader, John Bramby who visited Greece last week.

According to the Prime Minister of the state of Victoria, on an invitation issued by mr.Romeos, specialists from the Museum of Victoria will visit Athens in September and will discuss details with their greek colleagues.

Mr.Kennett stressed that this is one of the rare occasions for Greece to allow antiquities to be exhibited abroad for a long time. The known philhellene australian politician also added that in this Museum, which will open in the center of Melbourne, will be exhibited the greek civilization and history not only for the greek-australians and the wider australian society but for tourists from the Pacific and the Middle East region as well.

[18] A LABOUR PARTY DEPUTY CALLS THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT TO HELP THE GREEK LANGUAGE

Labour Party Parliament deputy in the State of Victoria, Kelvin Thomson called Australia's federal government to offer financial support to the teaching of the greek language in higher education.

In his statement mr.Thomson underlines the contribution of the greek community in Australia to the teaching of the greek language in the country's Universities and Colleges and points out the hellenism's intention to continue to offer its economic support.

Mr.Thomson also underlines the greek community's concern regarding the rumours on the proposed cuts in the state financing of higher education, which inevitably will affect the teaching of the greek language.

The Labour party Parliament deputy mentions that the Greek Language Department in Dickin University is closing down, while he underlines the greek community's concern that the cuts in higher education will threaten and other Greek Language Departments which are in operation with limited economic means.

[19] PRAISING COMMENTS ON HALKIDIKI IN A "NEW YORK TIMES" ARTICLE

Complimentary comments on Halkidiki and its wines are included in a "New York Times" article under the title "A sun- baked peninsula's many lures".

The article describes the scenery in the trip from Thessaloniki to Uranoupolis making a special referrence to the famous Halkidiki wines produced in the region since ancient times. Also, it mentions how popular Kassandra beaches are and stresses the natural beauty of Sithonia.

[20] CAPITALISM DID NOT WIN MEDALS, ACCORDING TO A "LE MONDE" ARTICLE ON THE GOLDEN OLYMPIAD IN ATLANTA REPUBLISHED BY THE "NEW YORK TIMES"

"Capitalism did not win medals" is the title of an article in the Paris newspaper "Le Monde" written by Eric Israelevic, which was republished by the "New York Times". The article castigates the International Olympic Committee 1990 decision to give the 1996 Olympic Games to Atlanta and not to Athens or Paris choosing financial gain over history and tradition.

It points out that Europe always believed that America would win the gold medal for the organization of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, but it was disappointed by the fact that the city was in a state of chaos.

The article mentions that the message from Atlanta was that the Olympic Games is a very serious event to be left in the hands of private sector amateurs, who it appears that were also unable to make a profit.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[21] THE MOTORCYCLISTS PARTICIPATING IN THE PAN-EUROPEAN MARCH TO THE TURKISH OCCUPIED KERINIA IN NORTHERN CYPRUS ARRIVE IN BELGRADE TODAY

The motorcyclists participating in the pan-european march to the turkish occupied Kerinia in northern Cyprus will arrive in Belgrade today.

President of the Pan-Cypriot Federation of Motorcyclists, Giorgos Hatzikostas stated that the participants are not intimidated by the reactions of turkish-cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash but are concerned regarding the regime's actions and the orders it has given to police to stop them from entering the occupied territories.

Mr.Hatzikostas stressed that the motrocyclists under no circumstances will clash with UN forces and the police but they will try to reach Kerinia.

The motorcyclists will be in Cyprus next Saturday, while a march along the demarcation line is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

[22] TURKEY'S ATTEMPT TO ANNIHILATE KURDS HAS CLAIMED 20,000 LIVES SO FAR

"Political intransigence in Turkey" is the title of the New York Times article that addresses the kurdish issue and the persecution of the non-violent kurdish political leaders, concluding that a potential resolution to the problem is far from reach.

The article also points out that Turkey's declared war against the kurdish rebels has claimed 20,000 lives between 1984- 1996, mostly in the kurdish-populated southeastern section of the country.

Giving a detailed history of the conflict, the article refers at length to the kurdish People's Democratic Party's (HADEP) wish to reach a political solution which was tainted by a masked man's act of tearing down the turkish flag and raising the flag of the Kurdistan Labor Party (PKK), an organization which is characterised as "terrorist" by Ankara, during HADEP's Congress.

As it is known, the incident was viewed as a provocation by the turkish government which rushed to arrest 49 party officials and ambush three others. Since 1990, 89 members of various kurdish parties have been murdered.

The New York Times article supports that the People's Democratic Party's officials have to be freed, noting that the oppression of the pacifists constitutes a violation of human rights and further polarizes Turkey's political situation.

The article concludes that the turkish government must encourage and not silence those who support a political solution to the kurdish crisis.

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

[23] GERMANY CALLS FOR COMPROMISE ON VOLKSWAGEN BETWEEN SAXONY AND EU

German Federal Finance Minister Theo Waigel called for a compromise between the state of Saxony and the European Union in their battle over state aid for carmaker Volkswagen.

Saxony's premier, Kurt Biedenkopf, has accused the EU of 'dangerous centralism' and has vowed to fight the EU's ruling that the subsidies are illegal.

Meanwhile an EU commissioner has blamed Volkwagen for the dispute, saying its threats to withdraw from Saxony without the subsidies are tantamount to blackmail.

[24] ITALY TO SET STATE'S STET SALE PLANS BY MID-AUGUST

His hopes that the government's plans for privatizing state telecommunications holding company Societa Finanziaria Telefonica per Azioni (Stet) will be decided upon by August 15 expressed Italian Treasury and Budget Minister Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Italian ministers responsible for privitizations are expected to address the issue of Stet's privatization, including the possibility that certain Stet businesses considered non- strategic could be sold off separately ahead of the sale on their meeting tommorow.

Tuesday's interministerial meeting will be followed Wednesday by a board meeting of Stet's controlling shareholder, giant state holding company Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (IRI).

[25] ECU 63m. FOR CROSS BORDER COOPERATION THROUGH FINLAND

63 million ECU from the EU's Structural Funds to support the cross-border cooperation between Finland and its neighbours Sweden, Norway, Russia and Estonia was made availableby the European Commission .

The aid comes under seven INTERREG-programmes and is designed to improve the living conditions in the areas covered, to promote economic and social development and to facilitate cross-border trade and industry.

This marks the first time programmes promoting the cooperation with Russia and Estonia have been approved and there will be a possibility of financing projects an the Russian side that link up with projects in Finland through the TACIS-programme. The same applies for Estonia and the PHARE-programme.

[26] COMMISSION REACTS TO US-JAPAN SEMI-CONDUCTOR AGREEMENT

"The EU believes that the former bilateral agreement in practice operated to the disadvantage of European semi-conductor producers" said Sir Leon Brittan, EU Commissioner for trade policy following the outcome of negotiations between the United States and Japan on semi-conductors.

The EU has continually expressed the view that only a trilateral or plurilateral structure for cooperation between industries and between governments would be an acceptable replacement for that agreement, and that no party has the right to set any preconditions for European participation in any new agreement.

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