Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-08-13

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 13, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] ADVERSE WEATHER, SLIPPERY RUNWAY CAUSED YESTERDAY'S NEAR- ACCIDENT

Adverse weather conditions, coupled with a slippery runway, was the main cause of yesterday's near-accident at Thessaloniki's "Macedonia" airport where an Olympic Airways passenger plane, conducting the Athens-Thessaloniki-Frankfurt route, skidded off course upon landing and ended up at the nearby fields.

None of the 26 passengers and other crew members was injured and rescue crews immediately rushed to the site.

The general director of Olympic Airways Miltiades Tsagarakis congratulated the aircraft's crew and its pilot for their handling of the mishap. The pilot, Stephanos Vasilikos, skillfully steered the plane into a smooth landing, away from the sea. €.F.

[02] GREECE EXPRESSES INTEREST IN BELGRADE-SKOPJE MOTOR HIGHWAY

Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has conveyed to his Yugoslav counterpart Milan Milutinovic the Greek government's interest in providing the Greek technical companies with the opportunity to participate in the construction of the Belgrade- Skopje motor highway.

The two men met in Athens yesterday and stressed the will to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the economic sector, while they also stated that they advocate the immediate application of the Dayton Agreement with further reviews.

Mr. Milutinovic has issued an invitation to Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis for a formal visit to Belgrade. A.F.

[03] GREECE'S WATER POLO TEAM TO PLAY AGAINST ITALY IN SEVILLE THIS EVENING

Greece's men's water polo team is to play against Italy this evening at the 23rd European Water Polo Meet to be held in Seville, Spain.

In the afternoon, the women's national water polo team will play against the Czech Republic at the same Championship.

Also held in Seville, the European Swimming Championships are held, along with the synchronised swimming competitions. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[04] THE CLERIDES-DENKTASH TALKS CONTINUE IN SWITZERLAND

The direct talks on the Cyprus problem held between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash continue for a third day in Montreaux, Switzerland.

The two leaders presented their positions this morning on issues concerning the constitutional issue, the future handling of the territorial issue, the basic freedoms and procedural issues.

Meanwhile, the talks between Clerides and Denktash for the solution of humanitarian issues will continue, according to UNFICYP press representative Valdemar Rokosewski. It is not known, if there will be private meetings or separate contacts of UN Secretary General special envoy Gustav Feisel with the two sides.

[05] CLERIDES - DENKTASH TALKS CONTINUE IN SWITZERLAND

The direct talks held between the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash at Montreux, Switzerland, with the main subjects of discussion being territorial security and human rights.

The Cypriot government refrained from taking a position on the documents of Diego Cordobez, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy. Mr. Denktash has ruled out the possibility of signing a joint communiqu  following the end of the negotiations.

The two documents, which in essence replace Mr. Cordobez's previous documents submitted at the New York-held meeting between Clerides and Denktash, are not binding and one regards the substance of the talks, while the other concerns procedural matters.

Yesterday's meeting lasted 75 minutes and Mgrs. Clerides and Denktash tabled their views on the basic premises of the Cypriot issue. During yesterday's session of the National council, the positions where analysed and view were exchanged in regards to the two documents and potential modifications thereof.

Following today's session, which diplomats view as being the first substantial presentation of views and reactions from both sides, the National Council will convene again. A.F.

[06] MEMBERS OF THE UNFICYP WILL MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONAL GUARD

Members of the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, will meet tomorrow with National Guard representatives to continue the discussion on the proposals that were submitted within the framework of the military dialogue which is aimed at easing the tensions along the green line.

UNFICYP representative Valdemar Rokozewski stated that a meeting with representatives of the Turkish occupation forces is also scheduled.

[07] SAMARANCH SENT CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS FOR THE ORGANIZING OF "ATHENS '97"

International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch sent a letter to the President of the Greek Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos congratulating him for the successful organizing of the 6th IAAF World Championships that was held in Athens.

In his letter, mr.Samaranch expressed his gratitude for the continuous presence of President Stephanopoulos in the stadium during the games, and invited him to visit the headquarters of the IOC and the Olympic Museum.

Mr.Samaranch also sent a congratulatory letter to the Greek IOC President mr.Lambis Nikolaou characterizing as exceptional the organizing of the "Athens '97" events and leaving totally exposed IAAF President Primo Nebiolo.

A response to Nebiolo's provocative anti-Greek statements was given and by Italian Olympic Committee President Mario Pescante, who stressed that the organizing of the 6th IAAF World Championships in Athens was flawless, while the appearance of the city and the athletic spaces was excellent. Mr.Pescante added that conditions in Athens have improved and the city can host the Olympic Games.

[08] IOC PRESIDENT AND ITALY'S OLYMPIC COMMITTEE LEADER PRAISE "ATHENS '97"

The President of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch and the president of Italy's Olympic Committee Mario Pescande have saluted the World Athletic Championships "Athens '97", which concluded in Athens on Sunday evening.

They have both forwarded congratulatory telegrams to the President of Greece's Olympic Committee Labis Nikolaou, while Mr. Pescande also stated that the city's and the athletes' presentation was excellent. A.F.

[09] YUGOSLAV PRESS SALUTES PANGALOS-MILUTINOVIC TALKS

Yugoslavia's press has saluted the talks held in Athens yesterday between Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and his Yugoslav counterpart Milan Milutinovic.

The Greek government is to grant the Fedral Yugoslav Republic with a loan of 100 million dollars for the construction of the Belgrade-Skopje motor highway.

The two men have stressed the will to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the economic sector, while they also stated that they advocate the immediate application of the Dayton Agreement with further reviews.

Mr. Milutinovic has issued an invitation to Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis for a formal visit to Belgrade. A.F.

[10] SALI BERISHA AND HIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY RE-ENTER ALBANIA'S PARLIAMENT

Albania's former President Sali Berisha and his Democratic Party are to re-enter Parliament during this evening's session.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Berisha and his party had announced their intention to abstain from the House's proceedings because, they had stated, the elections of June 29 were conducted under the threat of arms which did not allow the party to campaign in the country's southern region. A.F.

[11] ALBANIA: POLICE EMBARK ON CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS

The police in Albania have embarked on clean-up operations in order to restore law and order in the country.

According to sources from Albania's Ministry of the Interior, police forces entered Vlore, Gjirocastra, Tepeleni and Agii Saranta which cities have been under the control of armed gangs since March. The international community has clearly stated that it will continue to provide aid to Albania as long as the country's leaders insist on restoring order. A.F.

[12] THE MEDPARTENARIAT WILL BE HELD IN TUNISIA IN SEPTEMBER

New prospects are being opened for the establishment of cooperation ties between Greek and Tunisian companies with the briefing of Greek businessmen on the possibilities opened in the market of this north-african state. The briefing will take place within the framework of the "Medpartenariat" in Tunis which will be held on September 25-26.

The 305 Tunisian companies that will participate in the event are financially healthy small-medium sized companies which want to establish long-term cooperation with corresponding Greek companies. Those companies are active in the sectors of food, textiles-clothing, machinery-mechanical equipment, electronics, chemicals and pharmaseuticals, games, furniture-timber, building materials, packaging, metal products and tools.

The "Medpartenariat" is based on an EU initiative and aims at forging closer relations between European and Mediterranean companies.

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