Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-12

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 12 November 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] STATE BUDGET TO BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL IN PARLIAMENT TODAY

The government’s ministerial council is convening today in order to approve the final form of the state’s budget, which is to be submitted to parliament this evening.

The 1998 budget contains an additional GRD 317 billion which will stem from increases in the existing taxes as well as from the establishment of an additional tax on mobile phones and stock market exchanges. Moreover, the new budget will contain an indexation of the tax brackets by 5%, but it will not increase the withholdings of salaried workers and pensioners whose income reaches up to GRD 4.5 million. A.F.

[02] INVESTIGATION CONTINUES ON PRO-JUNTA ACTIVISTS WITHIN POLICE FORCE

The deputy commander of the Greek Police Force is currently conducting an investigation in Thessaloniki, following the recent revelations that members of the force are engaging n pro-junta activities.

The Minster of Public Order George Romeos stated that the last “remnants” of the dictatorship that plagued Greece for seven years will be quashed and added that the video tape which shows police officers frolicking to pro-junta songs is an isolated incident. Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stressed that the state will address these phenomena sternly. A.F.

[03] THE CABINET APPROVED THE 1998 STATE BUDGET

The cabinet approved the 1998 state budget today and later in the afternoon it will be presented to Parliament. Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou referred to the negative impact of the crisis in the international stock markets but he also mentioned the positive course of the Greek economy in 1997.

Specifically , he referred to the acceleration of the Greek economy’s growth rate, the decrease of the public sector deficit to 4,2% of the GDP and the drop of inflation to 4,7%.

Mr.Papantoniou stated that the cabinet gave its unanimous support to the government’s economic policy and added that according to the European Commission, the Greek economy has achieved the greatest adjustment compared to the rest EU countries.

[04] THE 1998 BUDGET IS FAIR AND WILL PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas described the 1998 budget as fair, adding that it will promote the country’s economic growth.

Mr.Reppas said that the budget’s main characteristic is the notable increase of public investments which will be over 2 trillion drachmas in 1998. He also stated that the new budget is fair because it includes objective procedures for the strengthening of the position of the sensitive social groups.

[05] ATHENS STOCK EXHANGE: INDEX FLUCTUATES, INVESTORS ARE NERVOUS

Concerns abound at the Athens Stock Exchange where the index showed a great degree of fluctuation causing the investors to be overtly worried over the oncoming course in the market.

The Bank of Greece intervened by lowering interest rates, thus prompting action in the market, but the index remained low, closing at 1.373,80 points, that is a drop of .29%. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] US PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY HOLBROOKE MEETS WITH TURKEY’S V.P. ECEVIT

The United States Presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke met with the vice president of the Turkish government Bulent Ecevit in Ankara.

Following his meeting with the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash, held in Nicosia yesterday, The American diplomat stated that he doesn’t think there is a crisis between Greece and Turkey , but there is merely a problem that remains to be solved.

According to Turkish press reports, Mr. Holbrooke stated that he is in continuous contact with Greece’s Foreign Minster Theodoros Pangalos and did not rule out the possibility of visiting Athens soon.

Referring to his contacts in Nicosia, Mr. Holbrooke stated that he is satisfied with the course of the discussions, pointing pout that these talks were not negotiations. The American diplomat saluted both Mr. Clerides‘ and Mr. Denktash’s will to continue the talks. A.F.

[07] GREEK-CYPRIOT AND TURKISH-CYPRIOT BUSINESSMEN TO MEET IN BRUSSELS

The development of economic cooperation among Cyprus’s two communities as well as among Greek and Turkish businessmen is to be the target of a two-day conference that is to start tomorrow at Brussels, with the participation of the United States presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke and the European Commissioner Hans van den Broek.

The University of Columbia, in Massachusetts, has taken the initiative for this meeting, in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Peaceful Research.

Among those who will speak on economic cooperation among the two sides will be Ireland’s and Norway’s former foreign ministers, as well as the British envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay. A.F.

[08] EDUCATION OFFICIALS FROM CYPRUS AND BALKANS MEET IN THESSALONIKI

One hundred officials from Cypriot and Balkan child education research centers are to meet in Thessaloniki on November 2023, at the city’s Center for Thessaloniki’s History.

The initiative for this meeting has been taken by Greece’s Pedagogical Association which aims at introducing the various countries’ education specialists to one another and at expanding the opportunities to cooperate on related maters. Mooreveor, the association aims at establishing a coordinating body for the various educational organizations both in the Balkans and in Cyprus. A.F.

[09] MOBILITY FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized the mobility observed for the solution of the Cyprus problem as a satisfactory development.

When asked to comment on the contacts US presidential envoy Richard Halbrooke had with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Nicosia and the Turkish leadership in Ankara, Mr.Reppas stated that the Greek government is not in a position to interpret the visits of Mr.Halbrooke and announced that the US envoy is not scheduled to visit Athens.

Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis commenting on the statement made by Mr.Halbrooke, that he is ashamed of the stance adopted by the previous US governments toward the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, he stated that as a self-criticism it was necessary.

[10] RUSSIA WILL MEET ITS COMMITMENT TO SEND THE S-300 MISSILES TO CYPRUS

Russia’s new Ambassador to Greece Ms.Valentina Matvienko reiterated the Russian government’s commitment to meet the terms of the contract it has signed with the Cypriot government concerning the S-300 missiles purchased by Nicosia.

Ms.Matvienko stated that every independent state, like the Cypriot Republic, has the right to reach such agreements and added that her country will materialize the agreement signed in spite of the reactions that come from certain countries.

The new Russian Ambassador and the new Ambassadors of Romania, Albania and Korea presented their credentials to the Greek President this morning.

[11] ANTI-OCCUPATION EVENTS WILL BE HELD IN CYPRUS

Cypriot university students will hold anti-occupation events in the next two days on the occasion of the anniversary of the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state declaration.

Within the framework of those events, a rally will be held in the Lydra Palace passage tomorrow afternoon.

[12] A BRITISH SOLDIER WILL BE TRIED IN CYPRUS FOR ROBBERIES

A British soldier will be tried for a number of robberies in the Cypriot sea-side resort of Agia Napa, according to the French news agency.

The 23yearold Keath Holywood is accused of selling stolen property, with an estimated value of 17.000 Cypriot pounds. A second soldier, named Paul Walsh, is wanted by the Cypriot police as Holywood’s accomplice.

[13] SPORTS EDITORS’ CONFERENCE OPENS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

The Conference of Sports Editors “Greece-Balkans-Europe”, that is organized by the Greek Association of Sports Press, opens in Thessaloniki today and will last until Friday.

The 16th Conference of Sports Editors from Greece and Cyprus will be held today with main theme the 2004 Olympic Games.

The European forum “Mass Media, marketing and sports” will be held tomorrow and its main speaker will be the International Olympic Committee marketing director.

The 1st Balkan Conference of Sports Editors will be held on Friday and many veteran Balkan athletes will be honored.

In the conference will participate representatives from 20 European countries.

[14] PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE TORTURES IN TURKEY

The tortures of prisoners in Turkey constitute a challenge for justice, according to the participants in a press conference on that matter that was held in the UN offices in Washington.

In the press conference, general secretary of the Council for the Victims of Tortures Inge Genefke and representative of the US Center for the Victims of Tortures John Salzberg stressed that torture is still widely practiced in Turkish jails.

Ms.Genefke stated that torture is practiced in every Turkish prison and not just on political prisoners.

[15] RACIST VIOLENCE IN GERMANY TARGETING GREEK IMMIGRANTS

Greek Euro-deputy from the party Coalition of the Left Mr.Alekos Alavanos tabled a question to the European Parliament concerning the racist violence in Germany which is on the rise, especially after the latest attack of the neo-nazis against a Greek restaurant that resulted in the serious injury of a Greek.

In his question, Mr.Alavanos points out that it is within the EU’s jurisdiction to investigate such racist acts because they violate both the protection of human rights and the free movement of people.

Mr.Alavanos cites data provided by the German Federal Office Against Crime according to which, the incidents of neo-nazi attacks were 5.173 in 1997 and their number increased by 14% compared to last year, while their main targets were Greek, British, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish and French workers.

In conclusion, Mr.Alavanos requests to be informed on the number of arrests made in those incidents, the charges filed and the measures the German government intends to take to limit the incidents of racist violence in the country.

[16] INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTIC CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI

One of the most important international journalistic conferences held in Greece and possibly the only one that deals with cultural issues will be held in Thessaloniki on November 24- 25, organized by Macedonian Press Agency in cooperation with the Cultural Capital of Europe Organization “Thessaloniki ‘97”.

The European Journalistic Conference “Europe and the Mass Media: Our Cultural Heritage” will be attended by general directors, editors-in-chief and executive staff from 100 mass media organizations in 34 European countries. The official opening of the conference will be made by Minister of Press and Mass Media Dimitris Reppas on November 24.

[17] MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TH. PANGALOS, VISITS SPAIN

The situation in the Balkans and the expansion of the European Union were the main subjects of today’s meeting held in Madrid between Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Theodoros Pangalos, the President of the Spanish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Javier Rouperez, and the Committee’s members.

According to reports, the President of the Committee characterized the recently-held Interbalkan Conference in Crete as remarkably interesting and stressed that the cooperation and growth of the region’s countries are basic elements for their development.

The Greek delegation, which accompanies Mr. Pangalos, also met with the President of the Spanish Senate, Juan Ignacio Barero, while, before his departure from Madrid, the Greek F.M. met with the Spanish Socialist Party’s Secretary-General, Joaquin Almounia. E.K.

[18] CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT SATISFIED OVER HOLBROOKE’S VISIT TO THE ISLAND

The Cypriot government has expressed its satisfaction over the visit conducted recently by the United States Presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke, stating through its spokesperson Manolis Christofides that this marks the start of a decisive course with the combination of the United Nations’ efforts and the American initiative.

Mr. Christofides referred to the “dynamism of the American initiative which is actually enforced”, and added that “what needs to be saluted is the fact that the American initiative has been activated Ana is preparing to intervene decisively following the elections (in Cyprus).”

Moreover, the Cypriot government spokesperson stated that the United Nations, in cooperation with the United States, Europe and other countries stress their will to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus issue. A.F.

[19] JACQUES SANTER WANTS A COMMON POLICY TO COMBAT UNEMPLOYMENT

The President of the European Commission Jacques Santer asked the European Union’s leaders to keep their promises by adopting “ambitious and precise” plans when it comes to creating new jobs, an issue that is to be discussed at the upcoming EU Summit conference.

Moreover, Mr. Santer did not hide his displeasure over the criticism that was heard for the Commission’s package of proposals which aim at creating 12 million new jobs within the next five years. If these proposals were to be realized, the Community’s unemployment rate would drop to 7%, a significant reduction from today’s 10.7%.

However, certain EU member-states maintain that the employment policy should remain at the discretion of each state. A.F.

[20] GERMANY’S GREEKS ALARMED OVER RISE IN SKINHEAD RACISM AND VIOLENCE

The Federation of Greek Communities in Germany has expressed its concern over the rising occurrence of violent attacks and terrorism in the country, prompted by Saturday’s incident where a Greek man fell victim to an attack by skinheads in a town near Berlin.

The organization wrote in its announcement that “the manner in which the attack was carried out, as well as the extreme tardiness with which the police responded to the call creates a series of questions in regards to whether or not the German state is in a position to protect the lives of immigrants from organized, extreme right-wing violence.

The 53-year-old restaurant owner Tasos Dalakouras was attacked by skinheads and is currently hospitalized in an intensive care unit with severe slash wounds in the abdomen and the trachea.

The phenomenon of racist attacks against those who are deemed by the neonazis as “foreigners”, has taken alarming proportions in the eastern German state of Bradenmburg, where similar attacks are an almost everyday occurrence.

In the case of Dalakouras, whose restaurant is a family- operated business, the group of neonazis had cornered his father and when he came to his rescue they slashed his throat and plunged a knife into his chest and abdomen. A.F.

[21] BULGARIAN PM DENIES RUMORS OF A “WEAPONS’ SCANDAL” WITH IRAQ

The Bulgarian government is to issue a formal announcement regarding the “weapons’ scandal” with Iraq, which was reported on by the US daily “The Washington Times”, according to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Ivan Kostov.

Mr. Kostov added that an intensive evaluation of the information on the matter will be conducted since allegations abound, such as the one made by the Socialistic Party’s leader Georgi Parvanov, that the publication does not correspond to reality. E.K.

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