Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-08

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki,September 8, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREECE CAN NOT REMAIN SILENT TO THE TURKISH THREATS

Turkey issues threats and Greece can not remain silent, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas today after the new provocation by Turkish officials, who characterized as irresponsible the statement made yesterday by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis according to which, an attack by Turkey against the free Cyprus will be a cause of war.

Mr.Reppas stated that Turkey has a problem in respecting international law, displayed by the fact that it rejected the EU proposal calling the two countries to appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague over the issue of the Imia islets in the Aegean. He also speculated that at this time there is no appropriate climate for a meeting between the committees of experts formed by the two sides to examine the Greek-Turkish relations.

[02] THE OSCE HIGH COMMISSIONER ON ISSUES OF MINORITIES IS VISITING GREECE

OSCE High Commissioner on Issues of minorities Hans van der Stool met in Athens today with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

Mr.Papandreou stated that during the meeting were examined the problems concerning the minorities in the Balkans.

[03] THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT IS ON A FORMAL VISIT TO GREECE

Albanian Parliament President Skender Gjinushi was received today by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos .

Mr.Gjinushi, who is on a formal visit to Greece, met this morning with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and they discussed issues concerning the Balkans. Mr.Pangalos stated that they exchanged views on how the political system in Albania and bilateral relations will be built.

Mr.Pangalos said that the contacts with Albanian officials will be frequent as the Albanian Foreign Minister is expected in Athens in a few days, while Greek Prime Minister Simitis is likely to visit Albania in autumn.

From his side, mr.Gjinushi expressed the Albanian government’s satisfaction for the measures taken by the Greek government regarding the illegal immigrants.

The Albanian Parliament President is also scheduled to meet with his Greek counterpart Apostolos Kaklamanis, government officials and political party leaders.

[04] REACTIONS TO PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS’ INTERVIEW

The hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games by Athens, the state of the Greek economy, the issues of national interest, the municipal elections and the dialogue regarding the center-left were the key points in yesterday’s press conference given by the Prime Minister on the occasion of the opening of the International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki.

The statements made by mr.Simitis caused the strong reaction of all the political parties of the opposition.

[05] BIG CELEBRATION IN ATHENS FOR TAKING OVER THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES

The Greek Committee that successfully presented the candidature of Athens in Lausanne was welcomed with a big celebration in the Greek capital last night. A press conference was given in the Zappion Building in the center of Athens, held in the presence of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and two hours later followed a music concert with the participation of famous singers Giorgos Dalaras and Haris Alexiou.

Archbishop of America Spyridon expressed great joy for the fact that Athens will be the host of the 2004 Olympic Games.

[06] THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENTS OF ALBANIA AND GREECE WAS AFFIRMED IN THE GJINUSHI-KAKLAMANIS MEETING

The commitment of the new Albanian Parliament to the respect of human rights in the country was underlined by Albanian Parliament President Skender Gjinushi in his meeting with his Greek counterpart Apostolos Kaklamanis. Mr.Gjinushi is on a formal visit to Greece heading a parliamentary delegation.

Mr.Kaklamanis stated that Albania’s reconstruction course, the restoration of calm and order and the efforts for the reorganization and modernization of the state structure were the main points of the discussions with mr.Gjinushi.

Mr.Kaklamanis said that a special emphasis was put on the Greek minority in Albania. He said that the Greek side stressed its interest in the respect of the human rights of the Greek minority members - who are Albanian citizens - their religious freedom and education issues.

The Greek Parliament President stated to his Albanian counterpart that the Greek Parliament will assist the Albanian Parliament in its first steps offering technical and scientific support within the framework of the mutual cooperation, friendship and common creative course, while he added that already a Friendship Group with Albania has been formed in the Greek Parliament for the further development of relations between the two countries.

From his side, mr.Gjinushi expressed satisfaction stressing that Greece stood by Albania’s side in the recent crisis and displayed interest in the direct support of the Albanian government in order for his country to come closer to the “European family” as soon as possible.

In conclusion, he pointed out that the cooperation between the two Parliaments will continue within the framework of the Balkan and the Black Sea states setting an example to the Balkans.

[07] A TV NEWS BULLETIN BY THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Macedonian Press Agency broadcasts every day in cooperation with the Third Channel of the Greek state -owned television channel, ET3, a daily half-hour news bulletin which is shown every day on the M.P.A.’s website, (http:\\ww.mpa.gr).

This innovation by M.P.A. aims at getting greeks abroad, who do not get ET1 through satellite be informed of news from Greece.

Last weekend more that 50000 users of the internet entered M.P.A.s website so that they get the daily news and the TV news bulletin.

[08] GREEK WARNINGS TO ANKARA TO STOP THREATS

Greek Press and Media Minister Mr. Dimitris Reppas called today on Ankara to stop its provocative statements.

Commenting on the statements by turkish officials who characterised Mr Simitis as irrespondible for saying that if Turkey attacks frre Cyrpus this is a casus belli, Mr. Reppas stated that Greece can not be silent while Turkey threatens Greece.

The media minister.added that Turkey faces a problem with its admission in the international Community since it rejected the proposal of the European Union so that the tow countries appeal to the International Court of Justice to solve the Imia rock islands crisis.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] ALL EUROPEAN LANGUAGES MUST BE PRESERVED ON EQUAL TERMS

The one-day conference on “The less spoken languages in the European Union” organized in Brussels for the first time with the participation of Greece, Denmark, Holland, Finland and Portugal aims at the establishment of the right alliances that will contribute to the equal preservation of all the European languages in the next EU enlargement.

The initiative for the joint organizing of the conference on September 11 belongs to Greek Euro-deputy ms.Irini Lambraki and the event is backed by the Institute of Greek Civilization. The effort is also supported by the European Parliament that undertook the translation of the meeting’s minutes into the 11 official EU languages, something that has never happened before.

[10] CYPRUS IS IN DANGER STATED ARCHBISHOP CHRISOSTOMOS

Archbishop of Cyprus Chrisostomos warned that Cyprus is in danger and called on the Greek and Greek-Cypriot communities in the United States to support the struggle for freedom and justice.

In his speech in St.Dimitrios church in Astoria New York, the Archbishop called on them to do their duty, adding that what is demanded is justice.

The Archbishop also called on them to appeal to the US Senate, the US House of Representatives and US President Clinton for the protection of human rights in Cyprus. Today the Archbishop Chrisostomos will meet with Archbishop of America Spyridon.

[11] THREE-DAY NATIONAL MOURNING WAS DECLARED IN ALBANIA FOR THE DEATH OF MOTHER TERESA

A three-day national mourning was declared in Albania for the distinguished Roman-Catholic nun Mother Teresa, who was of Albanian origin. Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to the poor and the terminally ill, died in Calcuta, India last Friday.

In statements they made to the state television, Albanian President Redzep Meidani and Prime Minister Fatos Nano expressed their deep sorrow for the death of Mother Teresa and wished that she will be buried in Albania.

[12] THE ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT BRUSSELS AND VIENNA

Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano will have separate meetings with Jacques Santer, Javier Solana and Frants Vranitski during his visit to Brussels and Vienna.

Meanwhile, the Albanian Initiative Committee has proposed to the Nobel Prize International Committee to honor with the Nobel Prize special mediator for the Albanian crisis, former Austrian Chancellor Frants Vranitski.

[13] TENSION AMONG RIVAL SERBS IN BOSNIA

Tension mounts among rival Serbs in the Serb Republic of Bosnia. Its president Biljana Plavsic banned a demonstration of Radovan Karadjic’s supporters that was scheduled to take place in Banja Luka this afternoon. Ms.Plavsic also mobilized a force of 1.600 police officers for security reasons.

From their part, her rivals insist in holding the demonstration, while Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is pressured by the US Secretary of State to proceed with an immediate intervention.

[14] THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF ZAIRE DIED IN MAROCCO YESTERDAY

Former President of Zaire Mobutu Seseseko died in Marocco yesterday from prostate cancer at the age of 66.

The exiled Mobutu was overturned last spring by rebels loyal to Loran Kabila, who changed the name of Zaire into Democratic Republic of Congo. According to information, he had been taken to the military hospital in Rabat two months ago and medical sources have stated that he weighed less than 40 kilos when he died.

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