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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-04-10From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>Macedonian Press Agency: News in English DirectoryMACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISHThessaloniki, April 10, 1997NEWS IN ENGLISH[A] NATIONAL NEWS[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWSTITLES[A] NATIONAL NEWS[01] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS: 40.000 NEW JOBS ARE BEING CREATED IN THE COUNTRY[02] THE RIGHT-WING OPPOSITION GOT THE MOST VOTES IN THE STUDENT ELECTIONS[03] 900 GREEK SOLDIERS WILL BE SENT TO ALBANIA[04] POSSIBILITIES FOR A RAPPROCHMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY WERE EXAMINED IN ATHENS[05] NATIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL MEETS NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS ALBANIA MISSION[06] G. PAPANDREOU AND H.V. MIERLO DISCUSS GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS[07] CATTLE BREEDERS PREPARE MOBILIZATIONS JUST BEFORE EASTER[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS[08] THE SON OF THE EX-KING OF ALBANIA WILL VISIT TIRANA[09] THE IMF EXPRESSED SATISFACTION FOR THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN ROMANIA[10] THE TALKS ON KOSOVO BROUGHT NO CONCRETE RESULTSNEWS IN DETAIL[A] NATIONAL NEWS[01] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS: 40.000 NEW JOBS ARE BEING CREATED IN THE COUNTRYForty thousand new jobs are being created in Greece, stated Prime Minister Kostas Simitis speaking last night in the conference organized in Athens by the magazine "The Economist". Mr.Simitis stressed that the goal of his government's policy is to achieve the conditions that will allow society and the state to function more effectivelly and the country to have a strong negotiating position in defending its interests in the international scene. [02] THE RIGHT-WING OPPOSITION GOT THE MOST VOTES IN THE STUDENT ELECTIONSThe right-wing opposition got the most votes in the University students' elections that were held yesterday in Greece and New Democracy's, DAP, came first. In Thessaloniki, DAP announced that got 42% of the votes, while PASOK's, PASP, got 18%. According to a joint announcement issued by DAP and PASP, in Athens the first place belongs to DAP with 34% and the second to PASP with 24%. [03] 900 GREEK SOLDIERS WILL BE SENT TO ALBANIAThe Greek battalion that will participate in the multi- national force that will be deployed in Albania will number 900 men and will be sent to the cities of Tirana and Vlora. The terms for the participation of the Greek force in the international operation in Albania will be discussed next week in the meeting of the governmental Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence, stated Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos. Referring to the composition of the force, mr.Tsochatzopoulos said that it will be made up of volunteer soldiers serving a 5- year term in the army, while army reserves will be used only if it will be deemed as necessary. [04] POSSIBILITIES FOR A RAPPROCHMENT BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY WERE EXAMINED IN ATHENSThe possibilities for a rapprochment between Greece and Turkey were examined in Athens today in a meeting held in the Foreign Ministry with the participation of a Dutch delegation. The delegation arrived in Athens from Ankara and was briefed by Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis and alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou. In the meeting was examined the likelihood of forming a committee made up of Greek and Turkish specialists to examine if there is common ground for a possible rapprochment between the two sides. Referring to this meeting, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that Greece is willing to contribute to the effort made by the Dutch EU Presidency for the easing of tensions in the Aegean and reiterated the framework of the Greek positions on the Greek-Turkish relations namely, that Turkey must avoid the use of force, respect international treaties and recognize the International Court of Justice in The Hague as the only means for the solution of disputes. [05] NATIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL MEETS NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS ALBANIA MISSIONGreece's National Defense Council (KYSEA) will convene the following week in order to discuss the assignment of a Greek batallion to Albania, according to Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos. Commenting on the various doubts heard over the legality of the multinational, peacekeeping mission's assignment to the neighboring country, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos referred to the United Nation's Article of Association, section 25, and section 82 of the Constitution of the Hellenic Rebublic. Moreover, the Defense Minister stated that the peacekeeping mission is forwarded following an official request issued by the Albanian government and aims at securing the proper allocation of the humanitarian aid sent to the neighboring country.[06] G. PAPANDREOU AND H.V. MIERLO DISCUSS GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONSThe Greek government is to examine the Dutch-held EU Presidency's proposal to form a joint committee which will view issues concerning relations between Athens and Ankara. Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis met with officials from the Dutch Presidenc. Mr. Papandreou said that Dutch Foreign Minister Hans Van Mierlo assured him that the efforts being carried out for resolving Greek-Turkish issues will continue.[07] CATTLE BREEDERS PREPARE MOBILIZATIONS JUST BEFORE EASTERGreece's cattle breeders are preparing mobilizations just before Easter in order to block the importation of meat products from Balkan countries. According to reports, leaders from cattle-breeders' associations plan to form road blocks at various sections of the national highway where they will check all the trucks coming through that transport fresh meat. However, Greek meat importers and butchers are opposed to these mobilizations, as their representatives told the Macedonian Press Agency.[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS[08] THE SON OF THE EX-KING OF ALBANIA WILL VISIT TIRANAAlbania's ex-King Zogu's son, Lekka, who was self-proclaimed as the heir to the Albanian throne, is expected to visit Tirana on Saturday for the first time after almost 50 years. Zogu left Albania in 1939 when fascist Italy occupied the country, while the institution of monarchy was abolished by the communists after World War II. Ex-King Zogu and his family live in South Africa. Political analysts comment that Lekka wants to play a political role in the current developments in Albania. [09] THE IMF EXPRESSED SATISFACTION FOR THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN ROMANIAThe representative of the International Monetary Fund mr.Paul Thomson expressed satisfaction over the economic situation formed in Romania as a result of the measures implemeted by the government to counter inflation and strengthen the national currency. Mr.Thompson stated that the measures taken by the Romanian government were effective and brought about the desired results by revitalizing the country's market. [10] THE TALKS ON KOSOVO BROUGHT NO CONCRETE RESULTSThe New York talks in Kosovo, observed by senior US government officials and held with the participation of representatives of the Albanian-speaking community in Kosovo and the Serb political powers, concluded that the problem in the region must be resolved as soon as possible. The talks were held on the initiative of the US organization "Project on Ethnic Relations" (PER). PER's President mr.Alan Kasov stated that the fact that the two sides met directly for the first time was a success, in spite of the fact that there were no concrete results reached during the talks, as the Albanian-speaking representatives were firm in their demand for independence which was rejected by the Serbs. 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/ |