Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-02-03

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 3 February 1998

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PARLIAMENT APPROVES AMENDMENT ON PUBLIC UTILITIES

The Greek Parliament has approved the government's amendment concerning changes in labor relations in public utilities and enterprises (DEKO), in spite of the strong objections voiced by trade unions.

The amendment was carried by 142 votes in favor and 121 against. Two deputies -former New Democracy ministers Vasilis Kontoyiannopoulos and Giorgos Souflias- abstained, while 35 were absent -20 of them being members of the ruling party.

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said public utilities have to undergo restructuring in order to survive.

[02] FARMERS LINE TRACTORS ALONG HIGHWAY, BUT HAVEN’T BLOCKED THE ROAD

The farmers of central Greece have parked their tractors along the length of the national highway, but haven’t proceeded to blocking the traffic .

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas again rejected farmers' calls for direct talks with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, saying there were specific bodies for this, while the Agriculture Ministry was "always open".

Meanwhile, farmers protesting the government's agricultural policy yesterday blocked the road leading into Preveza for half an hour. They said yesterday's protest, without the use of tractors, was a warning and that further action would follow in the coming days.

[03] GREEK FM: TURKEY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THE HAGUE

The Greek government wants Turkey to recognize the jurisdiction of the International court of Justice at The Hague, stated the country’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

Mr. Pangalos also criticized Greece’s main opposition party leader, New Democracy’s Kostas Karamanlis.

[04] CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS TO BE FILED OVER LAST YEAR’S CAPSIZED SHIP

The Piraeus Public Prosecutor is expected to embark on criminal proceedings today over the sinking of the Greek cargo ship "Distos" which capsized on December 28, 1996, off the port of Kimi on the island of Euboia, in which 20 persons drowned.

The public prosecutor stated he has received a summary of the expert report on the cause of the tragedy, which report focuses on the standard of maintenance of the ship.

The main burden of responsibility however appears to be attributed to the Hellenic Shipping Registry and the owner of the vessel, "Herakles", a subsidiary of the AGET cement company.

The cargo ship, laden with 5,300 tons of cement, left Volos on December 26, heading for Piraeus. The following day it sought shelter at the nearby island of Skiathos due to bad weather and sailed for the Athens port. Late on December 28 it capsized, after tilting 90 degrees.

[05] DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE

Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos yesterday received the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Mark Grossman, the Vice-chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff Joseph Ralston and ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns. According reports, the Minister and the US officials exchanged views and information on the recent crisis with Iraq and Mr. Grossman said that the US is awaiting for the diplomatic initiatives to defuse the crisis

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is said to have pointed out to Mr. Grossman that all diplomatic efforts must be exhausted for a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

[06] ND DEPUTIES FACING EXPULSION WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE PARTY’S DISCIPLINARY COUNCIL

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis brought party deputies Souflias, Manos, Kontoyiannopoulos, Kakkalos, Papaligouras, Akifoglou, Panagiotopoulos and Tatoulis before the party’s disciplinary council which will examine if they should be expelled from the party because they did not follow its line in the voting of the amendment for the adoption of reforms in the public sector agencies. New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis is exempt because, according to Mr. Karamanlis, he rises above political parties.

In last night’s voting of the controversial amendment, a number of deputies disagreed with the party line and offered their support to the policy followed by the government of the socialist party of PASOK, said Mr. Karamanlis, who stressed that with their stance those deputies chose to place themselves outside the party and therefore, they are being brought before party’s disciplinary council facing expulsion.

He said that Mr.Mitsotakis is exempt because as a former prime minister, with a long presence and contribution in political life, has acquired the right to express views that do not necessarily coincide with the party positions.

[07] THE GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOR THREATENS WITH A NEW STRIKE

The voting in Parliament last night on the controversial amendment concerning the reforms in the public sector agencies showed that both the governing socialist party of PASOK and the right-wing opposition party of New Democracy have in-party problems.

The president of the Greek Confederation of Labor threatened with new mobilizations if the government puts in force the amendment approved yesterday by the Parliament. Mr. Polizogopoulos announced that the confederation will appeal to the international labor office.

[08] INCREASE OF 2,35% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Today’s session in the Athens Stock Exchange was held in a positive climate. The stocks showed an increase of 2,35%. Stock exchange circles speculate that the voting on the controversial amendment concerning the reforms in the public sector agencies had a positive effect on the stock market.

Meanwhile, the compound interest issue was discussed in a meeting under minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou and the legislative regulation will be given to publicity next week.

[09] THE BLACK SEA BANK BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL MEET IN THESSALONIKI NEXT THURSDAY

The 1st meeting of the Black Sea Bank Board of Directors will be held in Thessaloniki next Thursday. The bank will be based in Thessaloniki and as it was made known, the preparatory committee will present its report during the meeting.

The formal inauguration and opening of the bank will be held by Greek minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou in early summer.

[10] MITSOTAKIS SUPPORTS THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated that he supports the dialogue between Greece and Turkey but added that at the moment none of the two countries is ready to start this procedure. The above were stated yesterday by Mr. Mitsotakis in an interview to the state television network NET. Mr. Mitsotakis disagreed with the proposal made by foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos who called on Ankara to appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague in order to settle its disputes with Greece.

The former prime minister criticized Miltiadis Evert saying that the policy he had followed led New Democracy to an election defeat, while he attacked again the so-called “intertwined interests” stating that the country is governed by them and not by prime minister Kostas Simitis.

[11] EIGHT NEW DEMOCRACY DEPUTIES TO THE PARTY’S AUTHORITY COUNCIL

The leader of the main opposition party of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis brought eight party deputies before the party’s authority council which will examine the question of their expulsion from the party because they did not follow its line in the voting of the amendment for the improvement of the Companies of Social Benefit.

The honorary President of New Democracy Konstantinos Mitsotakis who also did not follow the party’s line was exempt because, as mr Karamanlis said, he is above political parties.

[12] FARMERS REMAIN IN THEIR POSITIONS ON THE ROAD JUNCTIONS

Farmers, who continue their rallies, remain on the road near Larisa and Velestino in Central Greece, and Malgara and Stivos near Thessaloniki. However, they have not blocked the roads yet and therefore vehicles drive through without any problems. A member of the farmers’ Co-ordination Committee, Vangelis Boutas, expressed the committee’s satisfaction about the attendance in yesterday’s rallies and stressed that contacts with local farmers continue so that they participate.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] THE MINISTERS OF ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FROM GREECE, BULGARIA AND ROMANIA WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI

Issues concerning infra-structures and transportation are expected to be discussed in Thessaloniki on Thursday in the meeting of the ministers of transportation and environment from Greece, Bulgaria and Romania.

The three-day meeting will start tomorrow and will be completed on Thursday night.

[14] MORE SPANISH TOURISTS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT GREECE THIS YEAR

The Spanish tourists, who will prefer to spend their summer vacations in Greece this year, will be 7-8% more compared to 1997.

The speculation was made by the Greek Tourist Organization president Yiannis Stefanidis, who is heading the Greek delegation in the 18th international fair “Fitour ‘98” in Madrid, in which 16 Greek businesses take part.

Last year, Greece had been visited by 106.000 Spanish tourists and compared to 1996 the increase observed was 7%.

[15] GIORGOS IAKOVOU IS THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN CYPRUS

An opinion poll conducted by the polling company AMEP on behalf of the Greek television network ANT1, showed that Giorgos Iakovou is the favorite to win the second round of the presidential elections in Cyprus with 47,1%.

Today’s president Glafkos Clerides comes second with 45,6%, while the blank ballot papers are 3,4% and the undecided voters are 7,4%.

[16] AN ARMENIAN MONASTERY IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IS BEING TURNED INTO A HOTEL

The issue of the continuing destruction of the Cypriot cultural and religious heritage by the Turks, which is being observed in the occupied territories of northern Cyprus, has been brought before the European Commission by Greek Euro-deputy Nikitas Kaklamanis on the occasion of the Turkish occupation forces’ plans to turn a historical Armenian monastery into a hotel.

According to the Turkish-Cypriot newspaper “Kibris Postasi”, the Armenian monastery “Sourp Magar” which is close to the occupied town of Kerinia, dates back to 1000AD and was bombarded by the Turkish occupation forces, will be turned into a hotel, while it will be on a lease for 49 years with an annual rent of 20 thousand dollars.

[17] TURKEY WARNS IRAQ

Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz expressed today his conviction that if Iraq failed to cooperate with the UN weapon inspectors, USA would proceed to military action. Mr Yilmaz stressed that what Turkey expects from Baghdad is to fulfil its obligations towards the UN and he underlined that if this did not happen, Iraq would lose the right to criticise any action Turkey might take in the future. In a television interview, mr Yilmaz appeared certain that the US are determined to take military action unless Iraq allowed access in all presidential sites to UN inspectors.

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