Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-12-19

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

December 19, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] CITIBANK BRANCH IN ATHENS DESTROYED BY BOMB LAST NIGHT

A time-regulated bomb destroyed Citibank's branch in Chalandri, a suburb in northern Athens, shortly after midnight.

The explosive mechanism contained at least three kilos of dynamite and had been placed in the bank's ATM.

The powerful blast also caused extensive damages to the surrounding parked cars and stores.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, the police suspect that the terrorist group "17 November" is behind this strike.

The same group has also hit the same bank on January 26, 1991, while another rebel group, the "Revolutionary People's Struggle" has stricken Citibank in the past as well. A.F.

[02] THOUSANDS OF GREEK FARMERS RALLY IN ATHENS TODAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES

Thousands of Greek farmers, flanked by their families, arrived by bus in the country's capital today where they congregated outside the Ministry of Agriculture.

The massive group, joined by the country's disgruntled cosntruction workers and pensioners rallied to the Parliament and demanded a meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Instead, a 16-member farmers' delegation met with the Deputy Minister to the Premier George Paschalides and the Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas in Palriament where their talks arrived at an impasse once again.

However, farmers' mobilizations in Macedonia and Trhace are easing off, with some of the most bothersome roadblocks having been lifted.

Minister of Press and Mass Media Dimitris Reppas once again emphasized that the Government will not stand for blackmail and extortion through the barricading of the nationnal highways.

Mr. Reppas reiterated that the Premier will not meet with the farmers unless they first dismantle the roadblocks. A.F.

[03] TENSION RISES AT PIRAEUS PORT, GREECE'S SEAMEN TO CONTINUE STRIKE

The death of a 60-year-old man, most likely the victim of a heart attack, marked today's confrontation between striking seamen and truck drivers in the Piraeus port.

The National Marine Federation has decided to extend the strike, while the shipowners warn that they will take measures and lay the seamen off.

Meanwhile, 110 trucks are stranded in ships that remain moored at Thessaloniki's port, unable to embark on their destinations.

Moreover, 15 routes from Crete to Thessaloniki have been cancelled, resulting in potential food shortages in fresh foods brought from Crete to Thessaloniki. A.F.

[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: TURKEY MUST ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL LAW PRINCIPLES

Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos reiterated today that Turkey must accept the principles of international law and respect the international accords and agreements which determine the various claims Turkey raises in regards to the Aegean.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos made the aforementioned statement in response to comments made by Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mirlo who recently opined that "Greece and Turkey are ready to start a dialogue to resolve their any differences." A.F.

[05] THESSALY'S FARMERS TO RALLY IN ATHENS WITH THEIR FAMILIES TODAY

Thessaly's protesting farmers, considered to be the "hard- core" of the country-wide mobilizations, have descended in Athens where they will conduct a massive rally in the city's center flanked by their family members.

In turn, the protesters will march towards the Parliament, joined by the country's disgruntled construction workers and pensioners who themselves have organized a "solidarity gathering".

Despite their threats of taking countermeasures against the country's roadblocking farmers, the Federation of International Transportation Drivers announced last night that they will not blockade the protesters' arrival to Athens today.

In the meantime, in a move which further illustrates that the protests that dragged on for 21 days have began to wane, Thessaloniki's farmers blocking access to the city's road leading to "Macedonia" airport and to Thermi's road that leads to the Halkidiki peninsula have lifted their barricades.

Minister of Agriculture Stephanos Tzoumakas has stated that he is willing to receive the farmers' representatives if they also wish to meet with him.

Minister of Environment, Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis stated today that "we don't want the farmers to be beaten or succumb" but, instead, he added, the Government wants to see the roads open.

Meanwhile, the country's seamen continue their work stoppages in all of the country's ports for a fourth day, paralysing Greece's marine industry.

This afternoon they marched to the Ministry of Merchant Marine. A.F.

[06] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER: INFLATION REDUCED TO 4.5% BY END OF 1997

In an optimistic tone, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou outlined the Government's economic policy for 1997 in his parliamentary address last night.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that inflation will be reduced to 4.5 percent by the end of 1997 and will further drop to 3 percent by the end of 1998.

The National Economy and Finance Minister added that the State's development rates are actually quicker than those foreseen by the convergence program, albeit noting that there is still a lot of ground to be covered before achieving real and nominal convergence.

Meanwhile, the debate on the state budget continues today in the Parliament's Plenary session, set to conclude at midnight on Saturday with an open vote. A.F.

[07] GREEK PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH EGYPTIAN COUNTERPART IN CAIRO TOMORROW

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will depart tomorrow for an official visit to Cairo where he will meet with the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak.

The first day of President Stephanopoulos' visit will be dedicated to Egypt's Greek community. On Friday morning he will be in Alexandria, accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, where he will visit the city's Museum of Greco-Roman Antiquities. His next stop will be at the Greek Patriarchate and then will visit the Kavafis Museum. Later, the President is scheduled to meet with Metropolitan Dionysus.

President Stephanopoulos will return to Athens on December 23. A.F.

[08] THE MAYOR OF ATHENS IS ON A VISIT TO TIRANA

The strengthening and widening of cooperation between Athens and Tirana is the main goal of the visit to the Albanian capital by Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos. The above was stressed in the contacts mr.Avramopoulos had in Tirana with Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi, Foreign Minister Tritan Siehou and mayor of Tirana mr.Broika.

A special interest presents the initiative undertaken by mr.Avramopoulos for the solution of the basic problems faced by the Albanians who work in Greece.

The mayor of Athens referred to the expansion of social welfare and basic medical care network to include Albanian workers, as well as to the reliable and timely information of the albanian authorities on issues of humanitarian nature concerning Albanians working in Greece putting to a better use the existing capabilities.

Mr.Avramopoulos undertook the initiative to contribute to the further sensitization of his counterparts in other south-eastern European capitals for the widening of cooperation at a regional level, stressing that Athens will be the permanent supporter of Tirana in all international and regional organizations of local governments. A protocol of cooperation between the two municipalities is expected to be signed in Athens soon.

[09] TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR REPATRIATED GREEKS IS COMPLETED ON SATURDAY

A programme training repatriated Greeks as advisors to Balkan and Black Sea companies, organized in Thessaloniki by the municipality of Sikies in cooperation with the Vocational Training Center "Dimitra", will be completed on Saturday.

Fifteen University graduates from the former Soviet Union, between 25 and 50 years of age had the opportunity to widen their knowledge on business administration in order to be hired in the future by firms operating in the Balkans and the Black Sea region.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] GREEK AMBASSADOR HELD HOSTAGE IN PERU WAS FREED EARLY THIS MORNING

Greece's Ambassador to Peru, Alkiviades Karokis is among the five persons who were freed early this morning after being held hostage -along with 500 others- by the Peruvian rebels who stormed the Japanese ambassador's home in Lima on Tuesday night.

Mr. Karokis and the other four ambassadors have now taken the role of "go-between", negotiating with the armed guerillas for the freeing of the hostages.

According to reports, the armed rebels are members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), and are threatening to kill the hostages unless the Peruvian government frees their jailed comrades. Also, they demand that they embark on direct negotiations with Peru's president and that they be provided with medical aid for a wounded comrade of theirs.

The five freed ambassadors have already met with a delegation of Peruvian government officials. Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General has asked for the immediate release of the hostages.

The attack took place during a reception held at the Japanese ambassador's home to honor the Japanese Emperor. The event was attended by an array of foreign diplomats and ambassadors from around the world. A.F.

[11] ITALIAN CINEMA LEGEND MARCELO MASTROYANNI DIES AT THE AGE OF 72

The famous Italian cinema legend Marcello Mastroyanni died today at his home in Paris after a long bout with cancer.

Mr. Mastroyanni was 72 years old. Standing by his bedside during his last hours were his long-time companion Catherine Deneuve and their daughter Chiara.

Mr. Mastroyanni was 72 years old. Standing by his bedside during his last hours were his long-time companion Catherine Deneuve and their daughter Chiara.

The charismatic and handsome actor's first success in the movies came with Federico Fellini's "Dolce Vita". Mr. Mastroyanni's last movie, also directed by Fellini, was "Ginger and Fred". A.F.

[12] A GROUP OF SERB CHILDREN TO SPEND CHRISTMAS IN THESSALONIKI

Sixty-four young chidlren from the previously war-torn regions of Craina and the Serb Republic will spend Christmas in Greece, with the same Kalamaria families which had hosted them for seven months last year.

The children's fifteen-day stay is the result of an initiative taken by the Mayor of Kalamaria, a municipality north of Thessaloniki, Thrasyvoulos Lazarides. A.F.

[13] F.R.Y.: DJINDJIC CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE ELECTIONS IN ALL MUNICIPALITIES

Mr. Djindjic also stated that Serb President Slobodan Milosevic will be forced to concede sooner or later given that he has no other choice. A. F.

[14] PALESTINIAN LEADER YASER ARAFAT ON FORMAL VISIT TO ALBANIA

Palestinian leader Yaser Arafat is currently conducting an official two-day visit to Albania, within the framework of his tour to various european countries.

Already today, Mr. Arafat met with Albanian President Sali Berisha and Prime Minister Alexander Mecsi both of whom assured the Palestinian leader that they will support the Palestinian people and the efforts to resolve the Palestinian matter. A.F.

[15] THE IMAGE OF VIRGIN MARY APPEARED ON THE WINDOW PANES OF A BUILDING IN FLORIDA, USA

The image of Virgin Mary appeared last night on the window panes of a four-storey building in the town of Clear Water in Florida, USA attracting large crowds of people.

The 15-meter high and 10-meter wide image has the colours of the rainbow and the tip of Virgin Mary's mantle can be seen moving across the building's ground-floor window panes. According to eye- witnesses, the colours of the rainbow appeared a few months ago but the image got its final shape yesterday.

This strange phenomenon has been examined by scientists who are unable at the moment to give a logical explanation to it, but all of them have concluded that there was no human intervention. It should be noted, that apart from the image of Virgin Mary, which is completely formed, there are still in progress a number of undetermined shapes that can be seen on the window panes.

The Greek-Orthodox community in Florida is examining the phenomenon and Father Dimitrios Rousakis of the Holy Trinity Church, just 400 meters away from the building, stressed that he can not say for sure if it is a miracle but one thing is certain namely, that there was no human intervention. Father Rousakis added that even if it is just a natural phenomenon, it is still a message from God to humanity as a warning against the slippery road it follows.

[16] TURKISH-CYPRIOTS REJECT EUROPEAN COURT'S RULING

The favourable ruling of the Council of Europe Human Rights Court on the case of Greek-Cypriot Titina Loizidou against Turkey, was described as successful Greek-Cypriot propaganda by pseudo- Premier of the Turkish occupied territories in Cyprus Dervis Eroglu.

The Turkish-Cypriot press writes today that the Greek and the Greek-Cypriot propaganda has infiltrated the Human Rights Court, while the pseudo-Premier characterized the ruling as a "blasphemy toward human rights and the law", alleging that the case has no legal grounds and is of political nature.

The newspaper "Ortam" refers to the ruling on the Titina Loizidou case with an article under the headline "The Legal Victory of the Greek-Cypriots", while "Gumhurriyet" in its front page stresses that "Turkey was condemned by the Human Rights Court".

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