Macedonian Press Agency: News in English,98-01-22

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 22 January 1998

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] BANKS AND PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES CLOSED TODAY, 24-HOUR STRIKE

Greece’s trade unions have announced a 24-strike in civil services and transportation today, protesting against the term concerning the change of the general rule about the staff’s obligations in the civil services.

The country’s largest union, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) has forwarded a letter to all parliamentarians wherein they ask that new regulations be enforced concerning collective bargaining.

[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER LASHES AGAINST PREMIER

The leader of Greece’s main opposition party New Democracy’s Kostas Karamanlis, speaking in Parliament last evening, characterized the draft tax bill submitted by the ruling party PASOK as “a model of carelessness”.

According to Mr. Karamanlis, the bill lacks strategy since it raises the number of new taxes from the 13 planned ones, to 24.

He also stated that the government is “a champion of taxes”.

[03] PRESIDENT OF WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION’S PARLIAMENT IN ATHENS TODAY

The President of the Western European Union (WEU) Parliamentary Assembly Luis-Maria de Puig is to arrive in Athens today for a two-day visit.

Invited by the Greek government, Mr. de Puig will meet with the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, as well as parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, and main opposition New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis.

[04] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH THE US ARMY CHIEF

US army chief general Reimer met with Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos in Pentagon today.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos informed the US general on the developments in the issues of Greek national importance and the Turkish provocation in the Aegean.

The US official was also received by the Chief of the General Army Staff and visited the Chief of the National Defense General Staff.

[05] THE TAX DRAFT BILL WAS VOTED THROUGH IN PARLIAMENT

The tax draft bill that includes regulation which provides for the change of the rules concerning the employees in public service agencies was voted through in Parliament.

The rules in question are the cause of today’s strike organized by the General Confederation of Labor which has created big problems in transportation, banks and other state organizations.

Due to the strike there were also problems in the railway transportation and in the Olympic Airways flights. Most of the banks remained closed, while also on a strike were those working in the State Electricity Company and the State Telecommunications Organization.

[06] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL OPEN IN THESSALONIKI IN FEBRUARY

The Black Sea Bank will open in Thessaloniki in February. The pre-conditions for the operation of the bank have been met after Bulgaria, Ukraine and according to information Moldavia submitted their participation share in the bank’s initial share capital.

The bank’s board of directors will meet in Thessaloniki on February 5-6 and the formal inauguration will take place in May.

[07] DRAFT BILL ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE STATE OIL COMPANY

The draft bill on the privatization of the Greek State Oil Company has been submitted in Parliament.

The government’s intention is to complete the procedure for the privatization of the State Oil Company Group and the duty free shops before the end of 1998.

[08] VISA ISSUE SERVICE IN MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTRY

A special service to issue visas to Greeks who returned to Greece from former USSR-states will be established in the Macedonia -Thrace Ministry with the cooperation of the Foreign Ministry. Macedonia-Thrace Minister Fillipos Petsalnikos said that the establishment of such a service was essential as most of these people from states of the former USSR have settled in Macedonia.

The service will officially begin its operation on Monday, the 26th of January and visas will be issued on the same day according to a priority order.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] US CONGRESS REPORT ON CYPRUS

The Cypriot government’s decision to purchase the anti- aircraft missile system S-300 and the confirmation of Cyprus’ EU accession course, are two actions that have complicated the efforts for the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

This is maintained in the latest issue of a US Congress Research Agency report which conducts research and draws up studies on a regular basis regarding the course toward the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The report was published in the US newspaper “Washington Times” and among others it points out that in view of the presidential elections in Cyprus there was some progress made on the issue of the missing. The report also stresses the importance of Mr. Richard Holbrooke’s appointment as the US presidential envoy to Cyprus, as well as the initiatives undertaken by certain members of the US Congress to increase the pressures exerted on Turkey to withdraw its occupation forces from the northern part of the island.

The report also includes evaluations of the meetings Mr. Holbrooke had with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[10] RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR: S-300 MISSILES WILL BE DELIVERED TO CYPRUS

Russia’s Ambassador in Athens Valentina Matvienko has stressed her government’s will to deliver the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Cyprus within this year.

In a press conference yesterday, Ms. Matvienko said that "no threat from Turkey or any other country can change our decision.

“If the Cypriot government wants the missiles, Russia will fulfill its obligations, because these systems are of a defensive nature and it is Nicosia's undeniable right to defend itself. "

When asked how Russia would react if Turkey carried out its threat to attack any ships carrying the missiles, Ms. Matvienko condemned Ankara for resorting to threats.

"As we enter the 21st century, politicians and diplomats should not be using the language of war threats. I do not think Turkey has such a capability and I believe that the international community has many ways to put in its place any state which violates international law and uses the language of threats," the Russian Ambassador said.

[11] THE MILITARY BASE IN PAPHOS WILL BE NAMED AFTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU

The military base in Paphos will be named after Andreas Papandreou, stated Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides.

The Cypriot president said that the base will be inaugurated in a few days and will be dedicated to the memory of the late Greek leader, who was among the first to suggest the creation of a joint defense region.

[12] MOST POLITICAL ASYLUM APPLICATIONS IN GERMANY ARE FILED BY TURKS

Most political asylum applications in Germany are filed by Turks, according to data published in the latest issue of the New York based German Information Center weekly review.

In spite of the fact that less Turkish nationals requested political asylum in Germany in 1997, their number was significant and reached 16.840, compared to 1996 when it was 23.814.

The total number of applications for political asylum in Germany in 1997 was 104.353. The second place, after the Turks, is occupied by the Yugoslavs with 14.789 applications and the third by the Iraqis with 14.088.

[13] THE PRIME MINISTER OF LUXEMBOURG IS IN LOVE WITH GREECE

Prime minister of Luxembourg Jean Claude Junker in an interview to the Greek state television station ERT for the show “Leaders”, stated that he is in love with Greece, its history and civilization.

The prime minister of Luxembourg underlined that he always had good relations with all the Greek governments, adding that he has a friendly relationship with Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis.

Responding to a question by the reporter who made the interview, Mr.Junker said that he was taking under consideration the positions of Greece every time he had to think under the identity of the holder of the EU presidency.

Referring to the issues of clearly Greek interest, the prime minister of Luxembourg pointed out that under his presidency the 15 EU partners adopted a joint position on the relations of the EU with Turkey for the first time.

[14] 28 PKK REBELS WERE KILLED IN CLASHES WITH THE TURKISH SECURITY FORCES

Twenty-eight Kurdish PKK rebels were killed in the past two days in clashes with the Turkish security forces near Sirnak in south-eastern Turkey.

According to a statement issued by the local authorities, during the military operation against the PKK 20 rebels were killed yesterday, while eight more were killed today. As it was made known, the operations of the Turkish security forces will continue.

Meanwhile, the Turkish generals briefed prime minister Mesut Yilmaz on the outcome of the operation of the Turkish army against the Kurds in south-eastern Turkey.

The generals announced that the army has put the Kurdish rebels under control and requested from Mr.Yilmaz to hammer out an investment program for the development of the region.

[15] STOJIANOV SENDS MESSAGE TO BULGARIANS

Bulgarian President Petar Stojianov, in a message to the people of Bulgaria, on the occasion of his first anniversary of the undertaking of the presidential duties, said that national consensus is the biggest achievement of political life in the country.

According to mr Stojianov the change in the political and parliamentary status after last year’s general elections was not the most important outcome of 1997 as the then dramatic events “for the first time gave birth to national consensus on the basic affairs of the country: reforms in economy, abolition of crime and corruption, a foreign policy that offers peace and stable development to the country”.

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