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MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (24/09/1996)From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>Macedonian Press Agency News in English DirectoryMACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISHThessaloniki, September 24, 1996NEWS IN ENGLISH[A] NATIONAL NEWS[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWSTITLES[A] NATIONAL NEWS[01] GREECE'S NEW CABINET FORMED, TO BE SWORN IN TOMORROW[02] THE FINAL RESULTS OF SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN GREECE[03] NEW DEMOCRACY PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES COLLECT SIGNATURES ASKING FOR MR.EVERT'S RE-ELECTION TO THE PARTY LEADERSHIP[04] MAIN OPPOSITION'S HONORARY PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH BRITISH AMBASSADOR[05] NEW DEMOCRACY WILL NOT BE SPLIT, STATED MR.MITSOTAKIS[06] WASHINGTON SALUTES ELECTION OF PRIME MINISTER KOSTAS SIMITIS[07] THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER EXPRESSED THE WISH THAT PASOK'S ELECTION VICTORY WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA FOR THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS[08] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER:GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE ON CYPRUS IS INCONCEIVABLE[09] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD SALUTES VICTORY OF PRIME MINISTER- ELECT[10] MR.SIMITS' ECONOMIC POLICY SECURES A PLACE FOR GREECE IN THE EUROPE OF THE FUTURE, STATED THE CHANCELLOR OF AUSTRIA[11] PASOK'S VICTORY WILL STRENGTHEN ITS TIES WITH THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA, STATED JAILED SOCIALIST LEADER, FATOS NANO[12] ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS, CHRISOSTOMOS SENT A CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAM TO MR.SIMITIS[13] M.P.A.'S INTERNET SERVER FLOODED WITH THOUSANDS OF ACCESSES[14] THE GREEK PRESIDENT WILL VISIT FINLAND ON OCTOBER 8-10[15] UNIVERSITY OF THRACE PROFESSORS WILL TEACH THE GREEK LANGUAGE TO HISTORY STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF VOSPORUS[16] BIRD WATCHERS CELEBRATE THIS WEEKEND, OUTINGS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY[17] "EUROPEAN DAYS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE" CELEBRATED IN GREECE THIS WEEKEND[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS[18] THE EU AMBASSADOR TO NICOSIA STATED THAT CERTAIN COUNTRIES MIGHT BE HESITANT TO RATIFY CYPRUS' ACCESION AGREEMENT IF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS NOT SOVED[19] TURKISH STANCE ON CYPRUS MUST CHANGE, SAYS CYPRIOT PRESIDENT[20] STOKHOLM PUTS FORTH BID FOR 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES, 11 SUITORS SO FARNEWS IN DETAIL[A] NATIONAL NEWS[01] GREECE'S NEW CABINET FORMED, TO BE SWORN IN TOMORROWGreece's new government was formed by incumbent Prime Minister Kostas Simitis tonight when he formally announced the Cabinet members, some of them newcomers, some of them reshuffled fellows and a few others who simply stayed put.Shortly before announcing the Cabinet, Acting Press and Media Minister Dimitris Konstas stated that the government that emerged from the people's votes on Sunday is called on to address the country's critical issues, as well as to withstand the time's challenges and to open new cretative opportunities. "As such," Mr. Konstas added, "we sought a combination of tested experience with the need for renewal. Specific emphasis must be given to the new generation's preparation which is why Mr. Gerasimos Arseinis was chosen to undertake the Education Ministry." The new government will be sworn in at 11 a.m. tomorrow before the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. The Ministerial Council will convene immediately afterwards. The Cabinet is composed by the following members: Prime Minister: Konstantinos Simitis [02] THE FINAL RESULTS OF SUNDAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN GREECEThe final results of the parliamentary elections in Greece were announced today by the Ministry of the Interior.The voters, who exercised their right to vote, were 6.978.656 out of the 8.862.014 registered voters, while voting took place in 17.710 polling stations. The number of valid ballots cast were 6.780.049, 139.821 were spoilt ballots and 58.786 were blank, while voter turn-out was 76,35%. According to the final results, for PASOK voted 2.813.245 people corresponding to 41,49% of the vote and 162 seats in Parliament. New Democracy received 2.584.765 votes corresponding to 38,12% and 108 Parliament seats. The Communist party, KKE, received 380.167 votes corresponding to 5,61% and 11 seats in Parliament, the Coalition of the Left party, Synaspismos, got 347.051 votes corresponding to 5,12% and 10 Parliament seats and Democratic Social Movement, DIKKI won 300.671 votes that correspond to 4,43% of the votes and 9 seats in Parliament. [03] NEW DEMOCRACY PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES COLLECT SIGNATURES ASKING FOR MR.EVERT'S RE-ELECTION TO THE PARTY LEADERSHIPMain opposition party New Democracy former leader, Miltiadis Evert had meetings with close associates today and according to information, ND Parliament deputies are collecting signatures asking mr.Evert to be a candidate for the party's leadership.Meanwhile, the party's honorary President, Konstantinos Mitsotakis also had contacts with New Democracy leading members. Statements on the issue of the party's presidency were made today and by former Prime Minister, Tzannis Tzannetakis who suggested that until the party congress is held there should be a transitional president in order for the party unity to be preserved. [04] MAIN OPPOSITION'S HONORARY PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH BRITISH AMBASSADORThe honorary Preisdnet of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Konstantinos Mitsotsakis is scheduled to meert with the British Ambassador to Athens today.Meanwhile, following the resignation of the party's president Miltiades Evert after his defeat in Sunday's general elections, the Secretary-General of N.D.'s Parliamentary Group Stavros Demas continues his correspondencce today to the party's prefectural assemblies throughout the country in order to vote on the electoral body which, once it is formed during the upcoming weekend, will convene in order to elect the party's new president. So far, two N.D. officials have submitted their candidacy for the party's presidential seat, Stephanos Manos, former Minister of National Economy, and mp Dora Bacoyianni, daughter of Mr. Mitsotakis. Expected to put forth his bid for candidacy today is parliamentarian George Souflias, while N.D. vice-president Yiannis Varvitsiotis and mp Kostas Karamanlis are to announce their final decisions later today. [05] NEW DEMOCRACY WILL NOT BE SPLIT, STATED MR.MITSOTAKISNew Democracy is in no danger of a split, stated the party's honorary president, Konstantinos Mitsotakis in an interview to an Athens radio station.On the issue of the election of a new party leader, mr.Mitsotakis expressed the certainty that the problem will be handled through democratic procedures and the whole issue will end. [06] WASHINGTON SALUTES ELECTION OF PRIME MINISTER KOSTAS SIMITISWith a flurry of telegraphs asnd congratulatory messages, Washington has saluted the re-election of Prme Minister Kostas Simitis in Greece's general elections.United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher and U.S. President Bill Clinton's representative Mike McKerry have congratulated Mr. Simitis on his victory. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns has characterized Greece as a significant U.S. ally and emphasized that Washington desires cooperation with Mr. Simitis on a series of issues, especially the Cypriot. Referring to the meeting held yesterday between Mr. Christopher and Tansu Ciller, Turkey's Foreign Minister, Mr. Burns relayed Ms. Ciller's statement that with the re-election of Mr. Simitis there is at least hope of holding talks on the Cyprus issue between Greece and Turkey. To this, Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who is in New York attending the United Nations 51st General Assembly, responded that is "inconceivable." [07] THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER EXPRESSED THE WISH THAT PASOK'S ELECTION VICTORY WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA FOR THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONSTurkish Foreign Minister, Tansu Ciller in statements she made in New York, where she attends the UN General Assembly meeting, expressed the wish that PASOK's election victory will mark the beginning of a new era for the greek-turkish relations.Ms.Ciller expressed the wish that the election of mr.Simitis will be the start of a new era for Greece and Turkey, adding that "is not possible to be absolutely sure about this", according to a report by the turkish news agency "Anadolu". The turkish Foreign Minister also maintained that Greece wants to hurt Turkey's relations with the European Union, while she condemned the role of the greek lobby in the recent decision of the European Parliament concerning the "freezing" of the EU funds for Turkey within the framework of the customs union agreement. [08] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER:GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE ON CYPRUS IS INCONCEIVABLEGreek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has stated that a dialogue between Greece and Turkey is not conceivable since the Cypriot problem is one that lies between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus.Currently in New York attending the 51st General Assembly of the United Nations, Mr. Pangalos made the statement in response to a reporter's question regarding the new proposal tabled by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller on holding a dialogue between the two neighboring countries regarding the issue of the divided, occupied island. Mr. Pangalos emphasized that the United Stated is one of the countries that can play a role, which, if undertaken, Greece will consider cooperation in promoting a solution to the problem, "a solution that is fair, viable and lasting." When asked if he plans to discuss with his counterparts in the European Union the issue of Turkey, Mr. Pangalos responded that the EU has already adopted a position on many levels regarding Turkey's behavior towards Greece, on Cyprus and concerning human rights. Moreover, Mr. Pangalos added, Ms. Ciller has promised an answer to the EU, one that has yet to be given. "I assume that my colleagues at the Ministerial Council will ask her, of course, to respond to this common position," Mr. Pangalos stated, adding "also the European Parliament, with an overwhelming majority decided to freeze all funding to Turkey. I think that Ankara must give a satisfactory response to all these issues." Yet, when it was pointed out that Washington does not appear to adopt this view, Mr. Pangalos stated that there is a relevant announcement in Athens. [09] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD SALUTES VICTORY OF PRIME MINISTER- ELECTThe Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) has met the re-election of Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis with gladness and a strong dose of hope that the policies created by the previous government will be adopted by the new one."We are convinced that the new Cabinet, under the leadership of Kostas Simitis will continue the Greek state's policy towards the Greek communities abroad," told the Macedonian Press Agency the President of the Regional SAE of the United States, Christos Tomaras. [10] MR.SIMITS' ECONOMIC POLICY SECURES A PLACE FOR GREECE IN THE EUROPE OF THE FUTURE, STATED THE CHANCELLOR OF AUSTRIAAustrian Chancellor, Frantz Vranitski stated that PASOK's success in Sunday's parliamentary elections and the personnal victory of Kostas Simitis constitute a victory not only for Greece but for the whole of Europe as well.The austrian Chancellor also stated that mr.Simitis' economic policy secures a place for Greece in the Europe of the future. The austrian Chancellor in his congratulatory telegram to the greek Prime Minister includes and a formal invitation for mr.Simitis to visit Austria. [11] PASOK'S VICTORY WILL STRENGTHEN ITS TIES WITH THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA, STATED JAILED SOCIALIST LEADER, FATOS NANOJailed albanian socialist leader, Fatos Nano welcomed the election victory of PASOK and mr.Kostas Simitis, stressing that it will strengthen the ties between the two parties, according to a pro-socialist newspaper.In the congratulatory telegram mr.Nano has sent to the greek Prime Minister, mentions that the election results will strengthen the cooperation between the two parties. Until now, the albanian government has made no comment on the result of the greek elections inspite of the fact that the relations between Greece and Albania have recently improved. [12] ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS, CHRISOSTOMOS SENT A CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAM TO MR.SIMITISArchbishop of Cyprus, Chrisostomos sent a congratulatory telegram to greek Prime Minister elect, Kostas Simitis.In his telegram the Archbishop expresses the certainty that mr.Simitis will continue to regard the solution of the Cyprus problem as a priority issue. [13] M.P.A.'S INTERNET SERVER FLOODED WITH THOUSANDS OF ACCESSESThe Macedonia Press Agency's server on the Internet received over 60,000 accesses on September 22, the night of Greece's general elections, being the first among all media in the international network to provide the voting outcomes in both Greek and English.Moreover, making use of the latest technological innovations, the M.P.A. broadcast via sound on the Internet the statements of both Prime Minister-elect Kostas Simitis and his main opponent Miltiades Evert thereby giving the opportunity to the Greeks abroad electronic media to enjoy a "live" re-broadcast of the elections countdown. M.P.A.'s server can be found in Thessaloniki on (http:..www.mpa.gr), in Athens on (http://www.ntua.gr), in the United States on (http://www.hri.org/MPA/gr) and in Australia on (http://www.grausnet.aust.com). [14] THE GREEK PRESIDENT WILL VISIT FINLAND ON OCTOBER 8-10Greek President, Kostis Stephanopoulos will be on an official visit to Finland on October 8-10 on an invitation by his Finn counterpart, Martti Ahtisaari.Mr.Stephanopoulos is scheduled to visit the city of Kuopio, seat of the Orthodox Archbishopric of Kaselia and All of Finland. [15] UNIVERSITY OF THRACE PROFESSORS WILL TEACH THE GREEK LANGUAGE TO HISTORY STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF VOSPORUSProfessors from the History and Ethnology Department of the University of Thrace will teach the greek language to History students in the University of Vosporus in Constantinople.The greek language was being taught in the University of Vosporus until 1995 but this year there were no language professors and the greek classes were at the risk of being cancelled if no substitutes were found. [16] BIRD WATCHERS CELEBRATE THIS WEEKEND, OUTINGS ALL OVER THE COUNTRYGreece's Bird Association will organize this year's Bird Celebration between September 28-29, by offering bird-watching outings in various locations of the country, ranging from Evros to Crete.The Association, which is affiliated with Birdlife International, will offer its services free of charge to all persons who, with binoculars in tow, will be given the opportunity to observe a vast range of migratory birds nesting in areas still virign to development. [17] "EUROPEAN DAYS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE" CELEBRATED IN GREECE THIS WEEKENDAll of Greece's museums and archaeological exhibit sites will offer an open entrance, that means free-of-charge, this weekend (September 28-29) in honor of the annual "European Days of Cultural Heritage".Marking Greece's third successive participation, this year's event will begin on September 27 when Greek students will paint, draw and write the impressions of their visits to the museums. The event is held every September and is coordinated by Belgium's King Bodoin Foundation, which aims at creating a european cultural identity based on the premise that the cultures of the European peoples are closely knit. Over 40 countries are participating this year and all are members of the Council of Europe. [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS[18] THE EU AMBASSADOR TO NICOSIA STATED THAT CERTAIN COUNTRIES MIGHT BE HESITANT TO RATIFY CYPRUS' ACCESION AGREEMENT IF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS NOT SOVEDThe European Union ambassador to Nicosia stated in Larnaca yesterday that if the Cyprus problem is not solved certain countries might be hesitant to ratify the agreement for its accesion into the EU.The EU ambassador characterized the next 18 months as very crucial for Cyprus, both for the negotiations and for the solution of the Cyprus problem in relation with the country's accesion into the European Union. Nevertheless, he assured that the EU will keep its promise and will start negotiations with Cyprus 6 months after the next revision of the Maastricht Treaty possibly in early 1998. [19] TURKISH STANCE ON CYPRUS MUST CHANGE, SAYS CYPRIOT PRESIDENTThe road to a solution for the Cyprus problem will be opened only if Turkey's stance on the cypriot issue's basic aspects changes, stated the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides today, upon his arrival in New York where he is set to address the United Nations 51st General Assembly.Referring to statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, wherein she proposed talks between Greece and Turkey on the Cypriot issue, Mr. Clerides pointed out that Ms. Ciller's proposal was presented during Greece's pre-election period, and only aimed to create the impression that she was ready for a solution. Mr. Clerides also stated that in order for a solution to be found on the Cyprus problem, the efforts must be directed towards Ankara and not Cyprus, adding that even if the leader of the Turkish occupying regime in Cyprus Rauf Denktash wished to shift from his known positions, a solution would be unattainable without a move from Turkey's behalf. [20] STOKHOLM PUTS FORTH BID FOR 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES, 11 SUITORS SO FARThe Olympic Games International Committee is currently considering Stokholm's candidacy as a city-host of the 2004 Olympic Games, bringing the Games' total number of would-be- suitors to eleven.According to the Committee's German president Thomas Bach, "Stokholm is very well outfitted and prepared" however, the city's ecological issues and lack of sufficient transportation to the Olympic village are seen as potential drawbacks. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/ |
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