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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-02-13Macedonian 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: 22:24 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] EUROPENEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] SECONDARY, ELEMENTARY AND KINDERGARDEN TEACHERS CONTINUE THEIR STRIKEWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Athens 13 February (MPA)The secondary school teachers continue their strike for a fifth consecutive week, while the strike of the elementary and the kindergarden school teachers will continue until next Wednesday.Today, the main secondary teachers' union gave a press conference in the presence of political party leaders, while a protest rally will also be held. The government has to take steps for the lifting of the deadlock, stressed the secondary school teachers' union General Secretary mr.Grigoris Kalomiris. [02] QUESTION TO THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ON THE RUMOURS OVER THE LIKELIHOOD OF A GREEK-TURKISH WARWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Athens 13 February (MPA)Main opposition party New Democracy Parliament deputy ms.Dora Bakoyianni made a timely question to the Foreign Minister on the intensified rumours concerning the likelihood of a war between Greece and Turkey which are adopted by the British and the US Foreign Ministers.Ms.Bakoyianni asks what steps the Foreign Minister intends to take in order to be realized that the prospect of war will hurt not only Greece but the interests of those who are speaking about the possibility of a war as well. [03] PREMIER OPTIMISTIC OVER ECONOMY'S DEVELOPMENTWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Athens, February 13 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated today that the government is busy dealing with the at-task projects, and is not merely addressing the mass mobilizations of the country's labor force.Moreover, the Premier pointed to the improvement noted in the country's economic course lately, namely the drop in inflation and public deficit. Referring to the strikes, government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas emphasized that the state's economic policy is fixed and does not allow room for additional benefits. Meanwhile, the country's pensioners organized rallies at various cities today, demanding that their living conditions be improved and their pensions increased. A.F. [04] EDUCATION MINISTER ASKS STRIKING TEACHERS TO RETURN TO CLASSROOMSWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Athens, February 13 (MPA)Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis stated today that the teachers' ongoing strikes should be called off since the road to a dialogue is open for institutional matters. Mr. Arsenis called on the striking high school teachers, as well as the elementary and kindergarten teaching staff, to return to the classrooms and begin lessons again.Academic curriculum is in danger of being seriously disrupted since this marks the fourth week the schools remain closed. The Education Ministry is considering extending the school year in order to make up for lost hours. Meanwhile, the teachers' national union has asked the country's opposition parties to promise that they will support the strikers' financial demands. A.F. [05] CULTURE MINISTRY STAFF ON 48-HOUR STRIKE, MUSEUMS CLOSEDWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Athens, February 13 (MPA)Greece's Culture Ministry employees are currently on a 48-hour work stoppage, demanding the stay of wage benefits, while, as they warned, they may embark on a full-blown strike next week if the Culture Minister does not respond to their claims.As a result, the country's museums will remain closed during the work stoppage. Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, a member of the Culure Ministry's employees association council clarified that the workers' demands are not salary increases but, instead, ask that certain bonuses already granted will not be abolished. On the other hand, the Culture Ministry issued an announcement today wherein it stated that the dialogue route with the employees is open but, it added, "it is clear that they cannot demand that all their claims are met or else they keep the Acropolis closed." Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that the strike is "a simple case of hostage-taking." A.F. [06] DEFENSE MINISTRY STAFF TO OBSERVE FOUR-HOUR WORK STOPPAGE ON MONDAYWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 13 (MPA)Employees of the Ministry of National Defense will conduct a four-hour work stoppage on Monday, to be followed by a protest rally in Thessaloniki's Third Army Corps.The Ministry's staff are demanding additional benefits in the form of danger- and insanitary-pay, as afforded to those employed at the Local Administration offices. Also, the workers have stated that they will conduct a 24-hour strike the following Wednesday, a move that will up the ante of their mobilizations. A.F. [07] GREEKS LIVING ABROAD WON'T ESCAPE TAX MAN BACK HOMEWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Athens, February 13 (MPA)Greeks living abroad are called on to submit any due taxes, steming from income, property and other sources of revenue, to the Greek state, according to reports issued by the Finance Ministry today.The Ministry plans to post announcements at all of Greece's consulates abroad which will inform the Greek citizens abroad of the procedures they must follow to file their tax returns. A.F. [B] BALKANS[08] THE GREEK BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS IN THE BALKAN STATES ARE DECREASINGWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Thessaloniki 13 February (MPA)The Greek business transactions in the Balkans have dropped dramatically lately due to the political fluidity in the neighbouring countries.According to the Exporters' Association and the Chamber of Commerce, the rapid developments in Bulgaria, former Yugoslavia and Albania have a very adverse effect to business transactions. [09] THE SERB OPPOSITION WILL CONTINUE THE PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONSWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Belgrade 13 February (MPA)The Serb opposition celebrated the Parliament's decision to recognize its victory in several cities by reinstating the November 17 municipal elections results.The opposition leaders stated that their struggle will not stop because democracy has not been restored yet. [10] THE ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA APPEALED FOR POISE AND CALMWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Athens 13 February (MPA)Archbishop of Albania Anastasios made an appeal to all sides for more poise, calm and truthfulness for the crisis in Albania to be overcomed.Speaking in the "Planet" radio station, the Archbishop expressed concern over the unrest in Albania and stressed that for the crisis to be defused the methods of misinformation and violence must be abandoned. He said that more poise, truth, love and justice are needed in the effort to compensate all those who lost their money in the illegal investment schemes. Greek Consul General in Argirokastro, Nikos Kanelos expressed concern over the likelihood of thousands of Albanian refugees pouring into Greece. He said that no one can foresee what developments will follow and stressed that the number of Albanians who want to travel to Greece has increased. [11] LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN THE GREEK-ALBANIAN BORDERS ARE ON THE ALERTWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Thessaloniki 13 February (MPA)Local authorities in the Prefectures of Kastoria and Ioannina, in north- western Greece, are in a state of alertness to face possible problems in case large numbers of illegal immigrants from Albania attempt to cross over the borders with Greece as a result of the unsettled situation in the neighbouring country.The region's Prefectures, the police and the army have been briefed on the plan that was prepared by the government concerning the guarding of the borders and are ready for every eventuality. Prefect of Kastoria Giorgos Kapachtsis stated to MPA that until now the number of Albanians crossing over the borders remains at a normal level but stressed that the residents of the border regions are especially alarmed because in the past they have been victims of robberies and lootings committed by Albanian illegal immigrants. The number of Albanians crossing over to Greece from the prefecture of Ioannina is also at normal levels and the increased measures for the guarding of borders in the region have not been put into effect yet. [12] KOZLODUI WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE EU-BULGARIA ASSOCIATION COUNCILWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Athens 13 February (MPA)In the meeting of the EU-Bulgaria Association Council that will be held next week, Greece will raise the issue of the reopening of the nuclear reactor in Kozlodui nuclear plant and whether the necessary safety measures are being implemented.The assurance was given this morning by alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou responding to a question by former Minister of Defence and New Democracy Parliament deputy Ioannis Varvitsiotis. Mr.Papandreou stated that Kozlodui's number 1 nuclear reactor is in operation since January 20, adding that after inspections made by EU and international organizations' specialists it was established that it operates within the necessary safety framework. [13] THE ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA APPEALED FOR POISE AND CALMWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Tirana, February 13 (MPA)Archbishop of Albania Anastasios issued an appeal to all sides for more poise, calm and truthfulness for the crisis in Albania to be overcomed and stressed that the methods of misinformation and violence must be abandoned.The Greek Consul General in Argirokastro expressed concern over the likelihood of thousands of Albanian refugees pouring into Greece. He said that no one can foresee what will follow and stressed that the number of Albanians who want to come to Greece has increased. [14] BULGARIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HIS PEOPLE NEED HELP FROM EUROPEWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Sofia, February 13 (MPA)Bulgaria's Foreign Minister, Stoyian Stalev, told the Macedonian Press Agency today that his country needs help and, as such, any initiative taken by Europe for economic and other support is warmly saluted.Mr. Stalev referred to Greece's initiative to request emergency aid from the European Union for Bulgaria and Albania. The Bulgarian official also emphasized that one of his country's foreign policy priorities is to embark on the european direction. Turkey and France have also provided Bulgaira with humanitarian aid. Ankara has submitted $400,000 to Sofia for the purchase of necessary supplies, while France sent a convoy full of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, food and clothing. A.F. [15] US DEFENSE SECRETARY FEARS ARMED CONFLICT SCENARIA IN CYPRUSWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Washington, February 13 (MPA)United States Secretary of Defense William Cohen stated that there is a serious danger of an armed conflict erupting in Cyprus.In his address before Congress' National Security Council, Mr. Cohen stated that "the condition in Cyprus is out of control" and has asked both sides to calm down. The recently sworn-in Secretary, asked Congress to re-examine its Turkey- related policies and asked that the State Department approve the supply of frigates and helicopters to Ankara, the sale of which has been frozen due to Congress' objections over Turkey's human rights violations. Moreover, Mr. Cohen critisized the Cypriot government for its decision to purchase the Russian anti-aircraft missiles S-300. A.F. [16] FOREIGN OFFICE RUMORED TO DISCOURAGE BRITS FROM VISITING CYPRUSWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Nicosia, February 13 (MPA)The President of the Cypriot Parliament, Spyros Kyprianou, stated today that the abounding rumors that Britain is discouraging its citizens from visiting the island may actually be true.Mr. Kyprianou stated that Cyprus has knowledge of Foreign Office documents that contain disadvantageous comments for the suitability of travel to Cyprus. "There are phrases which can be construed as saying that there is a problem in Cyprus," Mr. Kyprianou said, adding that "one of these phrases explicitly reads that 'while there aren't any specific problems in regards to traveling to Cyprus at the moment, it would be prudent if you are in continuous contact with us.' " The Cypriot government has issued a demarche to the Foreign Office asking that it issue new travel advisories to all of the country's travel agents, which would amend the false impression created by the previous statement. A.F. [17] INFERNO ERUPTS AT ISTANBUL'S TUZLA SHIPYARDS, FIRE STILL RAGINGWeb Posted: 22:24 GMT+2Istanbul, February 13 (MPA)A fire broke out early this evening at Istanbul's Tuzla shipyards, where Turkey's largest oil tanker turned into a raging inferno.The fire, which has yet to be fully contained, erupted at 5:30 pm when three sizeable explosions literally shook the area as far away as four kilometers. The spontaneously erupting fire engulfed two other tankers anchored nearby but was timely put out. The city's fire brigade in its entirety is still wrestling with the catastrophe and fifteen firemen have been hospitalized so far, while an unknown number of others is in serious condition. Causes of the fire remain unknown. A.F. [C] EUROPE[18] APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE WAS MADE BY A WOMAN INJURED IN THE BLOODY INCIDENTS IN DERYNIAWeb Posted: 16:40 GMT+2Nicosia 13 February (MPA)An appeal to the Council of Europe Human Rights Committee in Strasburg was made by Georgia Andreou, who was seriously injured by a bullet during the dramatic incidents that took place in Derynia last summer.Ms.Andreou's lawyer Achileas Dimitriades stated that the Committee hearing is confidential and therefore no comment can be made on the content of the appeal. In the UN report on the August 14, 1996 bloody incidents in Cyprus is mentioned that an unnamed Greek-Cypriot, who was outside the buffer zone near a National Guard outpost, had been seriously injured and suffered bullet wounds in the abdomen. 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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