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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-02-03Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 22:53 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] EUROPE[D] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] SECONDARY, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ON STRIKEWeb Posted: 16:59 GMT+2Athens, February 3 (MPA)The secondary school teachers continue their strike after the meeting their union representatives had yesterday with Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis led to an impasse, while, starting today, the elementary and kindergarten school teachers are on a five-day strike with economic demands.Public employees are also on a 48-hour strike called by their main union. [02] VENIZELOS: GREECE CONTINUES TO BE A BIG POWER IN CULTUREWeb Posted: 16:59 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 3 (MPA)Greece may be a small country, but when it comes to culture it remains a big power, stated Greece's Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, referring to the past three days of festivitities that inaugurated Thessaloniki as "Cultural Capital of Europe 1997".The Minister emphasized that he proceeded to drastic cuts in the funds allocated for the events, thus wanting to set the example of economy and transparency in money management. [03] THERE IS NO DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN PANGALOS AND TSOHATZOPOULOS ON THE ISSUE WITH FYROMWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Athens 3 February (MPA)Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there is no difference of opinion between Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on the issue with FYROM and reiterated that the Greek government does not want a name for that country that will include the term Macedonia or any of its derivatives.Mr.Reppas left open the possibility the Greek side to take steps on the issue of the name in case FYROM shows a spirit of conciliation. On the Greek-Turkish relations, mr.Reppas lashed out against Ankara's provocativeness and pro-war practices accusing it of doing everything to undermine any diplomatic initiative. Mr.Reppas stated that Greece has to be prepared to keep its defence at a high level and did not rule out the likelihood of a hot incident with Turkey. Mr.Reppas also announced that there is an open invitation for mr.Simitis to visit the United States and the Greek Prime Minister's trip is possible to take place in early March to discuss the region's problems with the US President. [04] KAVAFIS' POETRY AND MOURSELAS NOVELS ARE TRANSLATED IN FRENCHWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Thessaloniki 3 February (MPA)The works of three Greek literary men among them, poet Konstantinos Kavafis are soon to be translated in French opening new roads for the "export" of the Greek cultural product and the promotion and spread of Greek literature abroad.French book critic Florance Noivelle in an article to the French newspaper "Le Monde" writes that soon are expected to be published in French the novels by Kostas Mourselas and Petros Ambatzoglou while publishing house "Gallimard" is preparing a translation of Kavafis collected poetry works. [05] MR.KRANIDIOTIS WAS SWORN-IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDERSECRETARYWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Athens 3 February (MPA)Mr.Yiannis Kranidiotis was sworn-in to the position of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary replacing mr.Christos Rozakis, who resigned recently.In statements he made during the ceremony, mr.Kranidiotis said that the next three years will be crucial for Greece as its role in the Balkans and its relations with the European Union will be clarified. He also underlined that Greece during that period of time will have to face effectivelly the Turkish provocativeness in Cyprus and the Aegean. Referring to information according to which, there is disagreement between government officials on issues of national importance, mr.Kranidiotis characterized those events as a pseudo-dilemma which undermines the common effort for the promotion of the country's interests. [06] PREMIER TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES NEXT MONTHWeb Posted: 22:53 GMT+2Athens, February 3 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is expected to travel to the United States in the beginning of March in order to attend the inauguration of the Byzantine Exhibition at the city's Metropolitan Museum.Government's spokesperson Dimitris Reppas said that the U.S. Administration has issued an open invitation for Greek representatives to visit the US, although he added that neither the level of such meeting nor when it might take place has been decided yet. [07] CIVIL SERVANTS MEET WITH UNDERSECRETARY OF FINANCE, NO PROGRESS MADEWeb Posted: 22:53 GMT+2Athens, February 3 (MPA)Representatives from the country's civil servants union (ADEDY) met this afternoon with the Undersecretary of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis who told them that there will not be any changes made to the country's salary scale.The President of ADEDY, Yiannis Koutsoukos stated after the meeting that the Undersecretary appeared "unbending on the issue of the wage scale". According to ADEDY officials, today's civil servants strike featured a participation rate that surpassed the 50% mark nationwide. [08] STRIKERS CONVENE TODAY TO DETERMINE FUTURE MOVESWeb Posted: 22:53 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 3 (MPA)Striking farmers in Greece's central region of Thessaly and those in Macedonia will decide today if they will proceed to block the national highways, while the government spokesperson emphasized today that the state is determined to protect the law-abidding masses.Also, the country's striking teachers are to hold union meetings this evening to determined the future of their mobilizations. The striking movement is currently expanding, while the government is asking the workers to show a spirit of good faith. [B] BALKANS[09] NATO'S SECRETARY-GENERAL WARNS TURKEY NOT TO VETO ALLIANCE'S EXPANSIONWeb Posted: 16:59 GMT+2Ankara, February 3 (MPA)NATO's Secretary-General Xavier Solana has forwarded a clear warning to Ankara not to insist on exercising its veto power over the Alliance's eastward expansion.In an interview he gave to the Turkish daily "Milliyet", Mr. Solana clearly expressed his disappointment over the statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller during the recent NATO meeting. "It would be very difficult to apprehend the transfer of a problem into NATO, whose solution does not lie within NATO," Mr. Solana said. "The Alliance's expansion is not an issue that can be exchanged with problems whose solution cannot be given by NATO," said the Spanish diplomat. The Turkish journalist who took the interview commented that behind Mr. Solana's diplomatic words lies a clear message to Turkey not to confuse NATO's eastward expansion with the country's accession to the European Union. Mr. Solana is to soon visit Athens and Ankara in order to intervene for the promotion of the Trust Building Measures between the two countries and to reinstate a mechanism of settling differences. [10] U.S. WITHDRAW "SEAHAWK" HELICOPTERS SALE TO TURKEYWeb Posted: 16:59 GMT+2Ankara, February 3 (MPA)Following the cancellation of the Super Cobra helicopters and fregates to Turkey, the United States have also called off the sale of "Seahawk" helicopters, according to Turkish daily "Milliyet".From its Washington correspodence, the paper reports that the speaker of the United States congressional committee on foreign affairs, Ben Gillman, has requested the freezing of military helicopter sales to Turkey, in his first letter addressed to State Department Secretary Madleine Albright. Ben Gillman (R) emphasizes in his letter that the overall situation in the region and especially the threats hurled by Ankara towards Cyprus, after the latter's purchase of Russian-made missile systems, dictates the Clinton Administration to achieve demilitarization in the eastern Mediterranean's greater region. Moreover, Mr. Gillman asks the State Department to re-examine its position and emphasizes that "at this time, the Administration's decision to proceed with the sale of the helicopters will be met with the Congress' intense reaction." [11] GREEK-TURKISH FRIENDSHIP MEETING IN ISLAND OF CHIOSWeb Posted: 16:59 GMT+2Ankara, February 3 (MPA)A drop of frienship in the wide blue sea of animosity was the driving force behind the recent meeting held between Greek and Turkish parliamentarians and academicians who gathered at the Greek island of Chios, a meeting that coincided with the first anniversary of the Imia crisis which erupted last year between the two neighbors.According to the Turkish daily "Sabah", the press and the political leaders from both countries gave vent to last year's tension, while the environmentalists were the ones who contributed to its sedation. Nevertheless, the turkish courts are to soon try Turkish environmentalist Saynour Geledost for her actions during the crisis, when she had sailed into the open sea and had displayed placards that read "Leave the Imia to the Sea Lions" and "Premises of Sea Lions, Guns not Allowed". [12] F.R.Y.: CLASHES WITH POLICE, 40 PERSONS INJURED IN BELGRADEWeb Posted: 16:59 GMT+2Belgrade, February 3 (MPA)At least forty persons were injured, among them many journalists, during episodes that erupted yesterday in Belgrade, when Serb police forces clashed with the opposition's rallying protesters.Today, the country's highest court is expected to issue its final ruling in regards to the results of November 17's local elections. [13] IRATE ALBANIANS DEMAND RETURN OF MONEY, RESIGNATION OF GOVERNMENTWeb Posted: 16:59 GMT+2Tirana, February 3 (MPA)Thousands of irate Albanians who have been rallying in the streets of Tirana for days, after having fallen victim to covert money-making operations styled after what is known as "the pyramid", continue their protests, demanding that their money is returned to them and that the government resign.Despite the government's pressing reassurances that part of the lost money will be returned to the "investors" on February 5, the country's opposition continues to doubt the govenrment's promises and is preparing new rounds of mobilizations that aim at the Government's resignation. Yesterday, the Sali Berisha regime tried to block a rally organized by the country's labor union sending a strong police force to block the roads leading to the Tirana Stadium where the rally was taking place. The rally was held without episodes, although, according to British daily "The Independent", 247 persons were arrested, 70 of whom are facing jail sentences of up to 15 years, on the counts of provoking riots against the authorities. According to the paper, the detained protesters were subjected to severe beatings. Moreover, according to Albanian daily "Koha Yion" the Tirana Court has assigned the Socialist Party's Avlona region president Edward Alousi to at- home confinement, as a penalty for his alleged participation in an illegal rally. Also, a press report in the "Zeri Populit", stated that another leader of the Socialist Party, Dalip Pero from Lusnia, is missing. [14] MEETING BETWEEN CLERIDES AND HAN SUNG JUWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Nicosia 3 February (MPA)The United Nations are focusing on finding a comprehensive solution for the Cyprus problem and for this reason the UN Secretary General wants direct talks between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to begin as soon as possible. The above are concluded from the statements made by mr.Han Sung Ju, special representative of the UN Secretary General to Cyprus, after his meeting this morning with President Clerides.The UN official expressed optimism for the efforts made pointing out that trust is the word that should be used. Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulides described the meeting as interesting during which were discussed essential issues of the Cyprus problem. Mr.Kasoulides stated that it was not a presentation of proposals by UN representatives but rather were presented ideas and views on different issues which had been heard in the past. [15] FYROM'S CULTURE MINISTER: THE GREEK SIDE HAS SHOWN WILLINGNESS FOR COOPERATIONWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Skopje 3 February (MPA)FYROM's Culture Minister Slobodan Unkofski in an interview from Thessaloniki with FYROM's state television, stressed that the Greek side has shown willingness for cooperation and this creates hopes that cultural relations between the two countries will be improved this year.Mr.Unkofski said that his visit to Thessaloniki was not aimed at solving the problem of the name but to promote the cultural cooperation between two neighbouring countries. He also maintained that culture is above politics and expressed the belief that Greece is ready for openings in this sector. Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, mr.Unkofski pointed out that inspite of the fact that those were brief meetings of a informal nature their importance was great because they were a first contact. It should be noted that in the past three days FYROM's state media made extensive references to the ceremony for the formal opening of the Cultural Capital of Europe events in Thessaloniki and to FYROM's Culture Minister visit to the city, which is regarded as important for the development of bilateral relations. [16] DIFERRENCES SHOULD BE RESPECTED FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE BALKAN CULTURAL IDENTITY, ACCORDING TO THE SERB CULTURE MINISTERWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Belgrade 3 February (MPA)Serb Culture Minister ms.Nada Popovic-Perisic in an interview with the Yugoslav newspaper "Politika" made positive comments on the proposal made by her Greek counterpart for the establishment of a Balkan Cultural Network and stressed that differences must be respected for the Balkan cultural identity to be preserved while she also stated that the Balkan culture has a lot to offer.The proposal for the establishment of a Balkan Cultural Network was widely supported by the Culture Ministers who gathered in Thessaloniki to discuss the creation of the institution. Under the headline "Balkan Cultural Passport", the newspaper "Politika" publishes an extensive correspondence from Thessaloniki in which the proposals made by Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos for the adoption of a "cultural visa" and the founding of a open theater are described as very interesting. [17] TWELVE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DENKTASH PSEUDOSTATE ARE AGAINST ARMAMENTS IN CYPRUSWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Nicosia 3 February (MPA)Twelve organizations in the Denktash pseudostate in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus are against armaments in the island while they express concern for the continuing competition in this sector.In a written statement published in the Turkish-Cypriot press, those organizations refer to the consequences of a war and call on different countries and international organizations to stop armaments in Cyprus. As a solution the Turkish-Cypriot organizations suggest the resumption of community talks and the adoption by both sides of the 1977 and 1979 high level agreements as well as, the Ghali package of ideas for a federal, two- zone, two-community Cypriot Republic. [18] THE SITUATION IN SEBIA IS OUT OF CONTROL - 60 PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED IN THE 75TH DEMONSTRATION OF THE SERB OPPOSITIONWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Belgrade 3 February (MPA)Over 60 people were wounded in Belgrade when Serb special police forces tried to disperse "Zajedno" coalition supporters who were participating in an anti-government demonstration.Earlier, the Serb authorities had decided to stop thousands of demonstrators from marching to the center of Belgrade headed by one of the opposition leaders Vuk Draskovic. Among the wounded is Union of Citizens party leader ms.Vesna Pesic who together with Draskovic and Zoran Djinjic, are heading the "Zajedno" opposition coalition and a number of Yugoslav and foreign journalists. Shortly after midnight, a group of policemen entered the grounds of Belgrade's Philosophy School and clashed with demonstrators who had found shelter there. Shots were fired by police who also used tear-gas and the operation ended in the early morning hours today. Meanwhile, President of the Serb Renewal Movement, Vuk Draskovic stated that during the incidents a murder attempt was made against him by "paid murderers of the authorities". Ms.Pesic in statements she made underlined that the intervention by the police was aimed at causing wider clashes which would had justified the implementation of a state of emergency the Serb authorities wanted to impose in order to be able to appoint a temporary administration in the Municipality of Belgrade. [19] THE CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVESWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Nicosia 3 February (MPA)Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides met with special representatives of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Tsizov and Alexander Orlov.The visit of the two Russian diplomats was aimed at reaffirming the Russian interest in the Cyprus problem. In the meeting were discussed the positions of the two sides in Cyprus and the preparations for the imminent visit by one of the two Russian Underesecretaries of Foreign Affairs to Cyprus for Russia's greater involvement in the efforts toward the solution of the problem. In the meeting were also present Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Georgi Muratov, Russian Embassy Press Attache Vladimir Maistreko and Cypriot Foreign Ministry officials. [20] GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDERS CLOSE AT PROMAHONAS, BULGARIA TOTALLY BLOCKEDWeb Posted: 22:53 GMT+2Sofia, February 3 (MPA)Bulgaria has all the symptoms of a country on the verge of economic collapse, the strongest, aside from the skyrocketing inflation rate, being the citizen's relentless protest rallies.Protesting citizens in Bulgaria are intensifying the roadblocks, resulting in the closure of the Greek-Bulgarian border at the Kulata-Promahonas statin and the roads leading to all neighboring countries. The Greek-Bulgarian border closed indefinitely today at 4 p.m. resulting in hundreds of lorries lined up on both sides of the border, while the Bulgarian motorway leading to Greece is also blocked off. Meanwhile, tomorrow is the last day for Bulgaria's assinged Premier Nicolai Dobrev to form a new government and, given the opposition's refusal to participate in a coalition government, Mr. Dobrev is expected to present his own proposals for the Ministerial Council during tomorrow's parliamentary session. [21] PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO'S PARLIAMENT IN GREECEWeb Posted: 22:53 GMT+2Belgrade, February 3 (MPA)The President of Montenegro's Parliament Svetozar Marovic is curently on a two-day visit to Greece, on the invitation of his Greek counterpart Apostolos Kaklamanis.Mr. Marovic will also be received by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and other Greek government officials. Accompanying Mr. Marovic on his visit to Athens is a delegation of businessmen from Montenegro, in an effort to extend the economic cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in December 1996. [22] F.R.Y.: CLASHES INTENSIFY, BUT UNDAUNTED PROTESTERS PRESS ON WITH RALLIESWeb Posted: 22:53 GMT+2Belgrade, February 3 (MPA)Tens of thousands of Belgrade's residents rallied in the streets today, undaunted from last night's heated clashes with police.A strong police force blocked the protesters from marching to the city's central square, while, according to an announcement released tonight by the Federal Yugoslav Republic's Interior Ministry, the police arrested 18 protesters last night, accusing them of having caused damage to public buildings. One of the coalition opposition's leaders, Zajedno's Vuc Drascovic, called on all of the coutnry's unions to proceed to a general strike, while another of Zajedno's leaders, Zoran Djindjic, stated that "the act on behalf of the authorities to strike against peaceful protesters displays the panic that is felt by the regime." [C] EUROPE[23] THE EU ENLARGEMENT WILL CONTINUE WITH CYPRUS' ACCESSIONWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2London 3 February (MPA)European Commission President Jacques Santer reiterated from Davos, Switzerland where he attends the World Economic Forum, the EU's commitment to proceed with Cyprus' accession negotiations.In statements to BBC, mr.Santer stated characteristically that the EU is determined to continue its enlargement with Cyprus' accession as decided. Mr.Santer stated that the European Union will meet its duties and at the same time expressed optimism that the EU is in a position to face the problems that have to do with Greece and Turkey. [24] THE ECONOMIC MEASURES IN GERMANY ARE CAUSING A GOVERNMENT CRISISWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Bonn 3 February (MPA)German Chancellor Kohl's firmness to impose the tax reforms recently announced by his Finance Minister and also the government's inability to take drastic measures against unemployment have created a government crisis as well as tensions in the German government's relations with the opposition political parties and the labour unions.Within the tripartite coalition government there are objections raised by government ministers like the Labour Minister and also by party officials who are against the imposition of new taxes on pensions. During the weekend there was information, that was later denied, according to which the Labour Minister was willing to resign after Chancellor Kohl asked him to give his consent to the materialization of the economic measures announced by the government. [D] WORLD[25] CANADA SUPPORTS THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM BASED ON UN RESOLUTIONSWeb Posted: 19:03 GMT+2Athens 3 February (MPA)Canada's Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy in a reply letter to Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, in which the cold blooded killing of three Greek-Cypriots by the Turkish occupation forces was condemned, expresses concern over the escalation of violence in Cyprus.Mr.Axworthy stresses that his government continues to support the UN resolution for the withdrawal of the turkish occupation forces from the island. It is also stressed that his country wants the easing of tensions and to contribute to constructive negotiations for peace in the region. In conclusion the Canadian minister underlined the need for a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem through dialogue and stressed that the threat or the use of violence should be avoided. [26] GREEK EUROMEP TABLES BRUNNER ISSUE IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTWeb Posted: 22:53 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 3 (MPA)Greek Europarliamentarian Nikos Papakyriazis intends to bring forward to the European Parliament the issue of the arrest of Alois Brunner, the man wanted for committing crimes against the Jews of Thessaloniki during WWII.According to international press reports, Brunner, who is believed to have led 50,000 local Jews to the gas chambers, as well as hundreds of thousands of other Jews throughout Europe, is alive in Syria, although the Syrian Embassy has repeatedly denied such reports to the Macedonian Press Agency. Mr. Papakyriazis has already come in contact with Thessaloniki's Jewish community in an effort to coordinate the actions that will allow for a group of deputies to table a relevant resolution in the European Parliament. Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Papakyriazis stated that he is also cooperating with the Jewish communities of Belgium and the Netherlands where the Brunner issue is considered among the most pressing ones. Moreover Mr. Papakyriazis announced that a task force has been formed in the European Parliament which has taken the initiative to combat anti- Semitism. The group has organized a series of events to take place during 1997, which has been proclaimed as the "Year Against Racism and Xenophobia." 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/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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