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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-08-17Macedonian 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: 19:25 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] THE VISIT OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH CONTINUESWeb Posted: 19:25 GMT+2Chios 17 August (MPA)Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos was received with head of state honours in the Aegean islands of Chios, Psara and Inouses. Minister of the Aegean ms.Elisavet Papazoi is representing the Greek government during the Ecumenical Patriarch's visit.Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos expressed the wish for the steady improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations for the benefit of the two peoples. To the question why he is not visiting Athens, the Ecumenical Patriarch responded "for the known reasons". [02] THE PRIME MINISTER IS PREPARING HIS SPEECH FOR THE INAUGURATION OF THIS YEAR'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN THESSALONIKIWeb Posted: 19:25 GMT+2Athens 17 August (MPA)Newspaper publications mention that Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in his speech for the formal opening of this year's International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki will refer to the developments in the Greek-Turkish relations, the results of the government's economic policy and Greece's role in the Balkans.Also, mr.Simitis is expected to clarify the issue of Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki as well as, the issue of the contruction of the city's metro network. [03] THE NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR TO HUNGARY PRESENTED HIS CREDENTIALS TO THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENTWeb Posted: 19:25 GMT+2Budapest 17 August (MPA)Greece's new Ambassador to Budapest, mr.Ioannis Fotopoulos presented his credentials to the country's President Arpad Goencz.During the ceremony, the Hungarian President thanked Greece for the support it has offered to his country's efforts for European Union membership and characterized as positive the relations between the two countries. He also expressed the hope that Cyprus' EU accession negotiation process will start soon. [B] BALKANS[04] TENSIONS ARE HIGH IN BANJA LUKAWeb Posted: 19:25 GMT+2Belgrade 17 August (MPA)Forces close to Bosnian Serb Republic President ms.Biljana Plavsic took over the police headquarters in Banja Luka last night.The news was reported this evening by the local radio station in Banja Luka "Radio Big" and until now noone has confirmed or denied the information. Meanwhile, there has been no reaction from ms.Plavsic's side regarding the recent ruling of the Constitutional Court according to which, her decision to dissolve Parliament and call early elections was unconstitutional. [05] ALBANIANS MUST HAND OVER THEIR WEAPONS BY THE END OF SEPTEMBERWeb Posted: 19:25 GMT+2Tirana 17 August (MPA)Albanians have a deadline until the end of September to hand over the weapons they seized illegally during the popular uprising in the first months of the year, while the heavy weapons must be handed over by the end of August.According to a decree issued yesterday by the Ministries of the Interior and Defense, those who do not comply will face prison terms of up to 8 years. [C] WORLD[06] RICHARD HALBROOKE WILL NOT GO TO CYPRUS IN SEPTEMBERWeb Posted: 19:25 GMT+2Athens 17 August (MPA)Richard Halbrooke will not visit Nicosia in mid September. According to a statement made to the Greek newspaper "Kathimerini" by mr.Halbrooke himself, a visit to Nicosia will be made by the new coordinator for the Cyprus problem mr.Tom Miller. Meanwhile, Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides denounced Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for his intransigent stance in Montreaux and warned that he will not enter again in direct talks, if mr.Denktash continues to declare that he will not discuss the essence of the Cyprus problem as a result of Cyprus' EU accession course.[07] HANNEY: THE TURKS HAVE NO RIGHT TO DICTATE TO THE EU WHAT TO DOWeb Posted: 19:25 GMT+2Nicosia 17 August (MPA)The Turks do not have the right to dictate to the European Union what to do, stressed British special representative to Cyprus Sir David Hanney commenting on the threats made by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash according to which, he will not enter in talks if the EU does not suspend its decision to open accession negotiations with Cyprus.Sir David Hanney, whose country holds the UN Security Council presidency for the month of August, stated that the EU decision to open accession talks with Cyprus will not change. 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 |