Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-12-17

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 17 December 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’S PRESIDENT IN THE UKRAINE, VISITS ODESSA

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, currently on an official, three-day visit to the Ukraine, arrived at the city of Odessa where, aside from the below-zero temperatures, a warm welcome awaited him and his delegation.

“We came to Odessa to pay our respects to the cenotaph of the Patriarch Gregory the E’ and to the establishment of the Friendship Society where the flame for the revolution and Greece’s liberation was ignited,” President Stephanopoulos stated in his speech at Odessa’s City Hall.

“Odessa is always in the minds of the Greeks. A small part of its history belongs to Greece’s history. Perhaps Odessa is significant to us not only because our ancestors lived here, but mainly because this is where Greece’s liberation started from,” he added.

The President addressed the Mayor of Odessa and told him “we offer you true love, not merely friendship.”

A jubilant reception greeted the President at the City Hall where a local choir sang Greek songs.

The Mayor of Odessa pronounced President Stephanopoulos as an honorary guest of Odessa and bestowed upon him a medal which the Greek President accepted by stating “this constitutes the highest honor for me.” In an exchange of gifts, n, the Greek President was given a painting of the city of Odessa while he in turn gave the Mayor a replica of an ancient vessel.

The Mayor of Odessa stated that the Greeks were pioneers in all sectors and the citizens of Odessa remember their names with gratitude.

Moreover, he referred to the Greek businessmen who accompany the Greek President on his travel to Kiev and stated that they are the first who arrived in Odessa.

“Our city should start from the Greek square where your fellow Greeks are building a shopping mall,” the Mayor said.

The Greek President and his delegation departed from Kiev yesterday for Odessa with an aircraft that flew in from Athens at midnight. The Olympic Airways airplane that was to transport the President from Kiev to Odessa remained grounded because of mechanical problems.

After a two-hour stay in Odessa, the President will depart for Mariupolis which is the center of the Ukraine’s Hellenism and where thousands of Greek-origin individuals are expecting the Greek head of state with a jubilant reception. A.F.

[02] SIMITIS: ONLY PASOK POSSESES STRATEGY FOR NATIONAL MATTERS

The parliamentary group of Greece’s ruling party PASOK convened today, under the leadership of Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis, where the deputies are to discuss the upcoming discussion for the 1998 budget to be held in the Parliament’s plenary session.

Mr. Simitis stated that PASOK is the only party that possesses a specific policy and strategy to tackle national issues.

He added that both on national and economic matter, the country’s opposition has shown that it has no alternative proposals that will lead tot he achievement of the aims set forth by Greece.

Referring to the budget, Mr. Simitis stated that its passage is a critical issue for the government and called on the deputies to cast their votes in favor. In regards to Greece’s accession to the Economic and Monetary Union, the President of PASOK stated that this is a one-way street for Greece and, commenting on the recent decisions drawn during the European Union’s summit recently held in Luxembourg, he stated that e”15” decided on the creation of an “economic government” within the European Union.

“We did not come to power in order to become managers,” Mr. Simitis told the deputies.

“PASOK is not a party of power management. For us power is not an end in itself. For us, governmental power mean that we have a duty to undertake all those initiatives and decisions necessary for achieving the target of a strong Greece. And this is our choice. Our choice is development, our choice is the safeguarding of our sovereign rights. It is the choice of a society of humanity and social justice,” Mr. Simitis stated. A.F.

[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER ADVISES COOL-HEADEDNESS TO TURKEY

Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has advised the Turkish government to maintain its cool-headedness during his meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem in Brussels.

We had no intention of slighting Turkey, Mr. Pangalos added, while at the same time not ruling out the possibility of a meeting held between the experts committees of Greece and Turkey. A.F.

[04] GREEK F. M. PANGALOS ISSUES “TOUGH” RETORT TO TURKISH COUNTERPART

Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has given a “tough” resort to the claims made by his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem over the supposed human rights violations of the Moslem minority living in Thrace.

Mr. Pangalos stressed that Greece, as all the other European countries, is a democratic state of justice, where, as in all democracies, certain of its members or authorities may break the law.

“As such,” Mr. Pangalos stated, “those who are wronged have the ability to resort to the courts, even to the European Court of Human Rights, in Strasbourg. But Turkey is not a state of justice and systematically violated human rights. European countries are states of justice and any country that is not a state of justice as well, will have a hard time in acceding to their (EU) community.”

Referring specifically to the Moslem minority living in Thrace, Mr. Pangalos pointed out that this is an open society “where both Greeks and foreigners live and misbehave and no one controls or obstructs them over this.”

In his meeting with Mr. Cem, held yesterday in Brussels, Mr. Pangalos outlined the firm Greek positions regarding Turkey’s ties with the European Union. However, he stated that the did not want to discuss the Cyprus issue with Mr. Cem since it does not concern a matter of Greek-Turkish relations, but is rather an international issue.

Also in Brussels, Mr. Pangalos met with the US Assistant Secretary of State Mark Grossman with whom he reviewed various international issues. A.F.

[05] GREEK WORKERS UNIONS TO EMBARK ON 24-HOUR STRIKE TOMORROW

In protest to next year’s economic measures, the country’s General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) are to embark on a 24-hour strike tomorrow.

The striking workers are demanding that their salaries be increased and fortified against inflation, while they also ask that the government index to a greater degree the income-tax brackets to inflation and raise tax exemptions to GRD two million.

Moreover, they ask that pensions be increased to amount to 80% of their salaries.

The sector to bear the brunt of the strike will be that of mass transportation which is to paralyze between midnight tonight and 24 hours thereafter, while air traffic controllers and workers in the country’s ports are to also participate in the mobilization. A.F.

[06] GREEK-TURKISH DIFFERENCES ARE “ILLOGICAL”, SAYS US PRESIDENT CLINTON

United States President Bill Clinton characterized the Greek- Turkish differences as “illogical”.

In a press conference granted by Mr. Clinton, he stressed that “Greece and Turkey need to remove their blinders and to work towards resolving their differences.”

Moreover, the American President added that both countries need to understand that the benefit would be much greater if a formula of mutual understanding is achieved.

Mr. Clinton vowed that he will exert every effort in order to resolve these differences which, he stated, “are essentially illogical.”

Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Clinton reiterated that he will work tirelessly for the finding of a solution.

Moreover, he added that the United States would like to see Turkey participate in the European institutions which will enable the country to establish democracy. A.F.

[07] TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND UKRAINE IMPROVE

Bilateral trade between Greece and the Ukraine is expected to surpass the annual rate of $110 million, should Athens and the Greek shipping industry act on their interest to purchase vessels manufactured in Ukrainian shipyards.

According to the present views, Ukraine is to carry out a leading role in diplomatic and economic developments of the Black Sea’s region, if only it successfully completes the economic restructuring it is currently undergoing and which is impeded by the high level of corruption that plagues the country’s public services. A.F.

[08] PASOK HAS A STRATEGY ON NATIONAL ISSUES

The governing Socialist party of PASOK is the only party that has a specific policy and strategy on national issues, underlined prime minister Kostas Simitis speaking before the party’s parliamentary group. Both on national and economic issues the opposition has shown that it has no alternative proposals that will lead to the goals set by Greece, said Mr.Simitis.

The prime minister stressed that the government does not rest on its laurels after the decision of the EU Summit in Luxembourg and predicted a long process of pressures on behalf of Turkey.

Regarding Greece’s role in the Balkans, he referred to the Summit meeting in Crete and to the past of the Greek-Balkan relations to point out that Greece’s position has improved through great and intense efforts. He said that Greece has the leading role in the Balkans and that this role is widely recognized. Mr.Simitis also reiterated that now starts a long process with many different negotiations both on the content of the decision concerning the European conference and on special issues, such as Cyprus’ EU accession.

The prime minister said that in those negotiations there will be pressures exerted on behalf of Turkey, while new tensions and pressures will come from the countries that were the minority in this process. He also said that in order to preserve what was gained efforts should continue.

Referring to the state budget, he stressed that its approval is a crucial issue for the government and called on the Parliament members to vote it through. On the accession into the Economic and Monetary Union, Mr.Simitis said that it is a one-way street for Greece.

Meanwhile, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there is no concrete information on the likelihood of a hot incident in the Aegean, stressing that Greece always takes all necessary measures in order to be prepared for any eventuality.

Referring to the intervention of the US president in the Greek-Turkish affairs and to his remark that the Greek-Turkish disputes are unreasonable, Mr.Reppas stated that the US president should refer to Turkey calling it to respect the rules of the game that are already being respected and followed by the EU and Greece.

[09] SNOW IN NORTHERN GREECE

Northern Greece is covered with snow. Snow falls since early morning and tens of villages have been cut off, while non-skid chains are necessary for the cars moving in many parts of the national road network.

In Thessaloniki, snow falls since this morning and temperatures have dropped below zero in most of the cities in northern Greece.

[10] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IS IN ODESSA

Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos is in Odessa since this morning. Speaking in the City Hall he stressed that Odessa is always in the thoughts of the Greeks because a small part of its history is part of the history of Greece.

President Stephanopoulos visited the Filiki Heteria building from where came the first spark of the uprising for the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Turks.

[11] THE ISSUE OF THE TAINTED BLOOD PRODUCTS TAKES NEW DIMENSIONS

The issue of the blood products, that were infected with the equivalent of the “mad cow” disease that affects humans and were distributed by a British pharmaceutical company, takes new dimensions.

The blood that was donated by a man, who later died by the disease, has already been exported to 52 countries. A company spokesman stated that 40 suspect blood units that had been exported to Greece have not been returned yet to the company.

Nevertheless, National Drug Organization president Gerasimos Kavadias maintained that only a small quantity of blood has been imported to Greece and pledged that it will not be used.

[12] BUDGET DISCUSSION IN THE PARLIAMENT

The 1998 budget discussion begun today at the plenary session of the Parliament and will end Sunday night with a nominal vote. The trade unions of the public and private sector, which have announced a 24-hour strike for tomorrow, have strongly expressed their disapproval of the government’s 1998 income policy. Specifically, the unions oppose the rises, due to be imposed in 1998, and the tax-scale indexing which has, already, happened.

Tomorrow’s strike will have more direct consequences on means of mass transport which will not work starting tonight at midnight until tomorrow at the same time. Employees in coastal transport and air traffic controllers will, also, participate in the mobilizations.

[13] KOSTIS STEFANOPOULOS FREEMAN OF MARIOUPOLIS

Greek President Kostis Stefanopoulos was made freeman of Marioupolis today during a special manifestation that took place in the seething hall of the Humanities Institute, Moreover, mr Stefanopoulos was nominated by the Institute as honorary doctor.’ Greek minority in Marioupolis which consists of about 70 - 100.000 people, welcomed the Greek President, who was received by the town’s Mayor mr Bosivanov, with great enthusiasm. Later, mr Stefanopoulos visited the Town Hall and had a short talk with the Mayor.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[14] EUROPEAN UNION CIRCLES DISPLEASED WITH TURKISH THREATS

Turkey’s recent threats of annexing the occupied part of Cyprus have provoked an intense reaction among a number of the European Union’s member-states, among them France.

French Foreign Minister Yber Verdrin stated that Ankara may be disappointed with the decision drawn by the’15’ (to not include Turkey in the 11 countries that have been invited to start EU membership talks) but this does not give her the right to proceed to retaliation.”

Moreover, the French official stated that this “was a hope of Turkey that was defeated, not a right that was violated” and added that “I hope these feelings are not to produce negative consequences, especially for Cyprus.”

England’s Foreign Minster Robin Cook was tougher in his statements regarding the same issue, warning Ankara “not to even think about attempting to annex Cyprus’s northern part, something which,” as he stated, “would be contrary to international law.

“If Turkey wishes to become a member of the EU it is not going to achieve it by attempting to block the accession of another country,” Mr. Cook stated. A.F.

[15] BALKAN FRIENDSHIP CENTER TO BE FOUNDED AT GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDER

A “Cultural Center of Friendship of the Balkan Peoples” is to be established at the Community of Petroton, near the Greek- Bulgarian border in northern Evros, within the framework of the Interreg 2 program.

The first official visit between the Greek delegation and their Bulgarian counterparts is to be held tomorrow morning at the Bulgarian village of Malco Gradice where they will sign a protocol for cross-border cooperation. The cooperation program includes the organization of seminars for popular culture and artistic events. A.F.

[16] TURKISH PREMIER TRAVELS TO THE UNITED STATES IN SEARCH OF SUPPORT

Turkey’s Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has embarked on a four- day visit to the United States, on the aftermath of the snubbing it received from the European Union.

According to the itinerary of his visit, Mr. Yilmaz is to meet with US President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, five Secretaries and with the chiefs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

According to the Turkish daily “Milliyet”, Mgrs. Yilmaz and Gore are to meet on December 19 and will proceed to the signing of an $850 million agreement concerning the purchase of 49 Boeing aircraft.

The Turkish Premier will next meet with President Clinton, who is expected to bring up the issue of human rights, while also setting forth as priority matters both the Cyprus issue and the situation in the Aegean Sea. A.F.

[17] KIRO GLIGOROV TO BE AWARDED MEDITERRANEAN PEACE PRIZE

The President of FYROM Kiro Gligorov is to be awarded the Mediterranean Peace Prize of the foundation “Mediterranean Laboratory” established in Naples, according to FYROM’s Press Secretariat.

Mr. Gligorov will be the first laureate of this prize. The decision to bestow it upon Mr. Gligorov was drawn by the Forum for Europe and the Mediterranean, which was held in Naples in the presence of Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, representatives of the European Commission , the European Parliament and 30 Mediterranean states.

According to an announcement issued by the “Mediterranean Laboratory”, the President of FYROM will be honored for his contribution to the safeguarding of political stability in relations with the other countries, his policy of equal distance and his efforts to gain his country’s accession to the European Union. A.F.

[18] NEW ATTACK AGAINST THE GREEK CONSULATE IN GJIROKASTRA

The Greek Consulate in the Albanian city of Gjirokastra was the target of a new attack at noon today, launched by unidentified men. The attack occurred while Consulate employees were opening the box for the visa applications.

The unknown men approached and opened fire, and according to the available information, no injuries were reported.

[19] REACTIONS IN ALBANIA AGAINST THE EXTENSION OF THE GREEK FORCE’S PRESENCE

The Albanian opposition parties reacted strongly to the draft bill that was prepared by the government and calls for a 6-month extension to the presence of the 200-men strong Greek force deployed in the country within the framework of the Greek-Albanian cooperation.

Many Albanian newspapers published a statement issued by the parliamentary Defense Committee president Mr.Atzem Haidari, who characterizes the bill as “a dangerous step of the Albanian government”.

[20] 182 KURDS WERE KILLED IN THE RECENT CLEANSING OPERATIONS LAUNCHED BY TURKEY IN N.IRAQ

A military communique issued by Ankara yesterday mentions that 182 Kurdish rebels were killed in the recent cleansing operations launched by the Turkish forces in northern Iraq which ended last Monday.

According to the French news agency, the Turkish army seized weapons and ammunition as well as, 807 tons of food, worth 1,7 million dollars, that was kept in 171 warehouses in order to be used by the Kurds.

According to the communique, the Turkish army suffered no losses, while 7 Kurdish Democratic Party rebels, who support Turkey, were injured.

[21] THE ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL VISIT TIRANA TOMORROW

Italian foreign minister Lamberto Dini will be on a 24-hour visit to Tirana tomorrow, where he will have talks with Albanian president Redzep Meidani, prime minister Fatos Nano, Albanian Parliament president Skender Ginusi, foreign minister Paskal Milo and Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha.

During the visit Mr.Dini will sign a cooperation agreement as well as, three separate agreements dealing with issues concerning the sectors of education, economy and foreign affairs.

[22] THE VISA REQUIREMENT WILL TURN MANY SERB TOURISTS AWAY FROM GREECE

The Yugoslav Association of Travel Agencies (JUTA) expressed the belief that the implementation of the Schengen accord on the issuing of visas will turn many Serb tourists away from Greece next summer.

According to the Yugoslav tourist operators, the implementation of the Schengen visa requires a complex procedure that will have as a result more delays and insecurity for the Serb tourists, who want to visit Greece.

The newspaper “Politika” writes that less Yugoslav tourists will choose Greece for their summer vacations if the Greeks put into effect the same visa issuing process followed by the rest western countries.

Also, the newspaper “Demokratia” underlines that from now on more time will be needed for the issuing of entry visas for Greece.

[23] ELEPHANTS IN RUSSIA DRINK VODKA TO DEAL WITH THE COLD

Elephants in Moscow’s Zoo drink vodka in order to deal with the extreme cold weather in the Russian capital.

According to the French news agency, the zoo keepers give to the elephants drinks high in alcohol to protect them from the low temperature that dropped to -28,8C yesterday.

[24] STAGNATION IN SOFIA - SKOPJE RELATIONS

“Bulgaria cannot accept the double standards in FYROM’s foreign policy”, Bulgarian Foreign Ministry delegate Ratko Vlaikov stressed, on the occasion of Kiro Gligorov’s yesterday speech in the Parliament. The Bulgarian diplomat claimed that his country has never doubted FYROM’s right to determine its official language but they will never accept any distortion of the history.

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