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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-08-15Macedonian 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: 19:13 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC'S MESSAGE ON ARMED FORCES DAYWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Athens, August 15 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos has forwarded a message saluting today's National Armed Forces Day celebrated in Greece, wherein he stated that "during this critical period of the multifaceted positive and negative challenges we are undergoing, you constitute the country's guarantors of security, stability and dignity.'Moreover, the President added that "Greece, as an equal member of the European Union and, with respect to the principles of international law and world lawfulness, constitutes a factor of stability, peace and security in the wider region. "With the unrivalled unity among its people and its military, Greece is ready to face any threat." A.F. [02] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER WARNS ANKARA TO ABIDE BY INTR/NAL LAWWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Athens, August 15 (MPA)Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos has issued a stern warning towards Turkey, by stating that there is nothing subject to negotiation in the Aegean.In light of today's celebration of National Armed Forces Day, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that "we are forwarding a message of peace and cooperation," adding that "if some insist that the international law concerning the Aegean should be challenged, then the international law regarding the Bosporus Straits and the Black Sea is also open to challenge." Moreover, the Greek Defense Minister added that if Turkey wishes to enter the European Union, then it is obliged to accept the principle of border inviolability, as well as international law and accords. A.F. [03] ASSUMPTION OF VIRGIN MARY CELEBRATED BY ALL ORTHODOX GREEKS TODAYWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2_The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated by all of the Orthodox Greeks today, on the same day with the National Armed forces Day._ As every year, thousands of devout believers visited the island of Tinos, most famous for its churches dedicated to the Mother of Christ. Among the island's visitors were the Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos and the leader of the country's main opposition party Kostas Karamanlis.A.F. [04] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH TO VISIT ISLAND OF CHIOS TOMORROWWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Chios, August 15 (MPA)The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is to embark on a three-day visit to the island of Chios tomorrow, upon the invitation of the Association of Mastic Producers of Chios (EMX).His All Holiness will be declared an honorary resident of Chios and will be given mastic brandy used for making the Holy Myrrh. He will officiate tomorrow's service at the island's Metropolitan Church of Saints Minas, Victor and Vincent. A.F. [B] BALKANS[05] GREEK AND ITALIAN TROOPS TO ASSIST ALBANIA'S MILITARY RESTRUCTUREWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Tirana. August 15 (MPA)A bilateral agreement signed between the Albanian and Italian governments foresees the assignment of 700 Italian troops to Albania which will contribute to its military's restructure, according to the Italian defense ministry.The new mission, code-named "Alba 2" will arrive in Albania during September for a five-month stay and will be headed by General Luigi Kadoni. Meanwhile, Greek troops are to also be assigned to Albania, following a request submitted by Albanian prime Mister Fatos Nano, whose stay will be determined by an agreement to be signed between the two countries. A.F. [06] F.R.Y. FOREIGN MINISTER'S IMPRESSIONS AFTER VISIT TO ATHENS ARE GOODWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Belgrade, August 15 (MPA)The Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan Miloutinovic has state that his two-day visit to Greece and his talks with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos were highly informative and constructive in all sectors.In statements to the state-owned Yugoslav television station Mr. Milutinovic stated that Greece has tabled its full support over F.R.Y.'s reaccession to international organisations and, especially, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. A.F. [07] ALBANIA: 3 NEW DEPUTY MINISTERS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS UNION IN CABINETWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Tirana, August 15 (MPA)three new under-secretaries from the Union of Human Rights Party (KEAD) are to enter the Cabinet of Albania's Prime Minister Fatos Nano.The vice-president of Omonia, Andreas Martos, a professor of Geology at he University of Tirana, is to take the seat of education Under-secretary, while the vice-president of KEAD Giorgi Leca is to be the Under-secretary of Labor and Immigration. Thanasis Potsis is to take the seat of Under- secretary of Tourism. A.F. [C] WORLD[08] CLERIDES-DENKTASH TALKS LEAD TOWARDS DEADLOCK IN MONTREUXWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Glion, August 15 (MPA)The direct talks held between the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash at Montreux, Switzerland, are to conclude either this evening or tomorrow morning, without any real progress.While the Cypriot government is willing to sign the document submitted by Diego Cordobez, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy, Mr. Denktash has ruled out the possibility of signing a joint communiqué. The document, which in essence replaces Mr. Cordobez's previous documents submitted at the New York-held meeting between Clerides and Denktash, is not binding and regards the continuation of the talks in March of 1998. During a press conference held this afternoon, Mr. Denktash accused the European Union of being responsible for the current status quo of the Cypriot issue and added that the Turkish-Cypriots will wait until December (when the EU's 'Agenda 2000' report will be ratified) before it determines what its next actions will be. The Turkish-Cypriot leader expressed his chagrin over the fact that the Community recognises the Greek-Cypriot government as the official and lawful one and said that certain diplomats have assured him that Cyprus will not gain accession to the EU if the Cypriot issue has not first been resolved. Moreover, Mr. Denktash stated that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has accepted the Turkish-Cypriot side's invitation to visit the island. A.F. [09] GREEK-CYPRIOTS ALLOWED INTO OCCUPIED REGION TO VISIT HOLY SITESWeb Posted: 19:13 GMT+2Nicosia, august 15 (MPA)About 660 Orthodox Greek-Cypriots were allowed to enter the island's occupied region this morning in order to visit the Monastery of St.Andreas and attend the liturgy of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.This was the largest group of Greek Cypriots, most of them refugees from Carpathia who were forced to leave 23 years ago, ever allowed by the Turkish-Cypriot authorities. Among the pilgrims were the priests who were to officiate the Church's service. The visit follows a recent agreement signed between the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash which concerns human rights. A.F. 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 |