Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-02-23

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 23 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] REPPAS: THE AGREEMENT IN IRAQ IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Greek government spokesman Dimitiris Reppas characterized as very positive development the agreement signed this morning by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and Iraqi foreign minister Tarek Aziz for the access of the UN weapons inspectors to all the presidential and military sites in Iraq in order to conclude if there are biological or chemical weapons stored there.

The terms of the agreement will be examined in detail by the UN Security Council tomorrow.

Mr. Reppas stated that Greece expresses its satisfaction because it had intervened for the continuation of the efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis. The Greek government spokesman also expressed the wish that the whole process will be completed with the assent of the United States and the other UN Security Council members in order to avoid a military conflict in the region of the Persian Gulf.

[02] PANGALOS CRITICIZED THE MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos criticized strongly the military cooperation between Israel and Turkey in statements he made after his meeting in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart.

Mr. Pangalos stated that it is an agreement reached between violators, adding that it is not limited in just holding joint military exercises.

[03] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE TUMBLED AGAIN

The Athens Stock Exchange general price index tumbled again today after the announcement by the international organization Moody’s over the imminent downgrading of Greece’s credit ability in combination with the interest rate increase in the inter- banking market.

The general price index dropped by 2,43% at noon today. The volume of transactions was at very high levels and its value reached 15,8 billion drachmas.

[04] SIMITIS-SKANDALIDIS MEETING

Governing socialist party of PASOK central committee secretary Kostas Skandalidis met with prime minister Kostas Simitis, while PASOK’s executive bureau meeting is expected with great interest this evening after the crisis observed during PASOK’s youth congress.

Meanwhile, the group leaning toward the outgoing PASOK youth leadership won the absolute majority in the new central council.

[05] INTERNATIONAL POST GRADUATE CENTER OF GREEK STUDIES IN ALEXANDRIA

A protocol aimed at the better exploitation of the education institutes of the Greek community in Alexandria, Egypt and the founding and operation of the Alexander the Great University was signed in the city of Alexandria by the Greek foreign ministry and the Greek community in this ancient Egyptian city.

On behalf of the Greek state, the protocol was signed by minister of foreign affairs Theodoros Pangalos and on behalf of the Greek community by its president and regional Council of Hellenes Abroad president Stefanos Tamvakis.

The Greek foreign minister, who is on a formal visit to Egypt, met with Patriarch Peter of Alexandria.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] THE EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN BRUSSELS TODAY

The relations of the European Union with Turkey are under discussion in Brussels today by the 15 EU foreign ministers. Greece is represented by deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou.

According to information, the United States promote a non aggression pact between Greece and Turkey.

Meanwhile, a Cypriot delegation opened contacts in Brussels today with EU officials for the preparation of the negotiations for the EU accession.

Based on information from Istanbul, close associates of Turkish president Suleiman Demirel maintain that during his visit to Paris he got France’s promise that Cyprus’ accession into the EU will be blocked in case the Turkish Cypriots are not included in the accession negotiations, if the Greek veto on the EU funds continues and if the Russian S-300 missiles are installed in Cyprus.

[07] CYPRUS’ APPEAL PROCEDURE AGAINST TURKEY OPENED TODAY

The procedures of Cyprus’ 4th inter-state appeal against Turkey, regarding the violation of human rights on the island, opened at the Lydra Palace hotel yesterday. The procedure, that takes place behind closed doors, opened with testimonies of Turkish Cypriots that will help the responsible committee to reach conclusions as to what happened in order for the procedure to move ahead. The lawyers representing the two sides will appear before the European Court on Human Rights as soon as the testimonies are completed.

Reliable legal circles stated that it will be the first time that the Cypriot Republic will manage to bring Turkey before an international court of justice for the continuing violations of human rights committed by the Turkish occupation forces in the northern part of the island.

[08] THE SITUATION IN NORTH ALBANIA REMAINS UNSETTLED

The situation in north Albania continues to be unsettled after yesterday’s incidents in the town of Skoder when a group of armed men entered the town’s police station and freed over 30 inmates. The unidentified gunmen opened fire with machine guns and anti-tank missiles and as a result 3 police officers were injured.

According to reports, bomb blasts occurred in public buildings, while the building where the local court house, the bank and library are housed was set on fire and many shops were looted.

Gun fire and bomb blasts could be heard throughout the night and local residents were in a state of panic as the situation was a reminder of the popular uprising of last March.

Minister of interior Nerital Tseka, in statements he made to Tirana’s state television, spoke of terrorist activities aimed at the destabilization of the country.

Based on the latest information, elite forces of the Albanian police with the support of army helicopters have retaken the control of the city. Hundreds of police officers exchanged gunfire with about 100 hooded gunmen and have surrounded them behind a bridge at the city entrance.

Meanwhile, the governing Socialist party accuses Sali Berisha’s Democratic party of being the instigator and organizer of the incidents. In a statement issued by the Socialist party it is stressed that the incidents serve political purposes and were aimed at the country’s destabilization.

[09] SIX GREEK COMPANIES ARE AMONG THE FIRMS BIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD NETWORKS IN FYROM

Ten foreign companies, among them 6 from Greece, will place tenders for the construction of the road networks of Veles-Prilep and Bitola-Metzitlia in FYROM.

According to the FYROM ministry of transportation, the Veles- Prilep road network is part of the European north-south road corridor and its construction cost is estimated at 110 million dollars, while the budget for the construction of the Bitola- Metziltia road network is estimated at 20 million dollars.

[10] THE CHURCH OF ST. SOFIA IN ISTANBUL IS CLOSE TO COLLAPSE

The New York Sunday Times in its travel section presented with the darkest colors the condition of the St. Sofia church in Istanbul. The newspaper mentions that many Turkish Muslims are against the decision to use St. Sofia as a museum and demand to be turned again into a mosque. An extensive reference is also made to the complete lack of maintenance and repair work in the building complex of St. Sofia.

Meanwhile, the EU through the British presidency has requested from Ankara to respect the Lausanne agreement for the protection of the Greek Orthodox minority and the religious monuments in Turkey.

[11] GERMAN BUSINESSMEN VISITED THE TOWN OF ORESTIADA

A wide-scale meeting with the participation of German businessmen was held at the office of the mayor of Orestiada in north-eastern Greece.

One of the members of the German delegation was Michael Beisegel, a significant share holder in an economic-investment advisers’ firm which is active in all the European countries and in many states all over the world.

The German businessmen visited Orestiada to examine the potential for independent investments as well as, the cooperation potential with Greek businesses in the region for the materialization of joint investments.

[12] THE EU COMMISSION CAN NOT MEET THE GREEK FARMERS’ DEMANDS

The European Commission, in a response to Greek Euro-deputy of the Communist party Vasilis Efremidis, mentions that the Greek farmers have misunderstood the “Agenda 2000”.

The EU Commission underlines that the goal of the “Agenda 2000” policy is to improve the competitiveness of products by limiting the price supports and also by increasing the direct payments.

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