Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-02-24

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 24 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] GREECE TO RESPOND TODAY TO TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER’S PROPOSALS

The Greek government is expected to respond today to the proposals submitted by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ismael Cem regarding Greek-Turkish relations.

Yesterday, government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stressed that there is no specific formula for the signing of a friendship or non-aggression pact between the two neighbors.

Moreover, Mr. Reppas stated that it would be good if Turkey gave tangible examples of being a state of justice that respects the international accords and the rules of international law.

[02] GREEK TEACHERS, PROFESSORS EMBARK ON 24-HOUR STRIKE TOMORROW

Greece’s teachers and professors are to embark on a 24-hour strike tomorrow, conducting rallies in Thessaloniki, Athens and other large cities throughout the country.

They ask that their economic demands be met, while they are also opposed to the state’s system of valuation and they ask that the post-placement list be gradually abolished.

[03] FOREIGN MINISTER PANGALOS ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO EGYPT

Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo yesterday, during his official three-day visit to Egypt, which began on Sunday.

After meeting with President Mubarak, Mr. Pangalos referred to the joint naval exercises held by Turkey and Israel, and stated that "Turkey's ties with Israel are not simply just for exercises as some people pretend."

"We very well know that this is a strategic alliance and that it is the wrong kind for everybody. This is an alliance of wrongdoers that brings us to a Cold War situation. It is not in keeping with contemporary times," he added.

Messrs. Pangalos and Mubarak also discussed regional issues and Greek-Egyptian military ties.

Mr. Pangalos also met with his Egyptian counterpart Amr Moussa yesterday.

[04] GREECE’S FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY DEPARTS FOR CYPRUS TODAY

Greece’s Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis is to depart for a six-day visit to Cyprus today.

Mr. Kranidiotis will discuss the Cypriot President’s Glafkos Clerides’ visit to Athens next month, scheduled for March 10, as well as matters regarding Cyprus' accession course to the European Union and the participation of Turkish Cypriots in membership talks.

Tomorrow, The Greek Foreign Under-secretary will meet with President Clerides, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and House President Spyros Kyprianou.

Mr. Kranidiotis will also meet political party leaders, Archbishop Chrysostomos and the commander of the National Guard.

He will have talks with Britain's representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay, who will be visiting the island, US ambassador Kenneth Brill as well as EU special envoy to the Middle East.

[05] REPPAS: GREECE PROVES ITS WILLINGNESS FOR A RAPPROCHEMENT WITH TURKEY

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, on the occasion of Greece’s response to the proposals of Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem, stated that Greece proves its willingness for a rapprochement with Turkey through the proposals it has presented. Mr. Reppas expressed the wish that the approach proposed by Greece will find a response.

Mr. Reppas also referred to the letter British prime minister Tony Blair addressed to Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides in which he points out his opposition to the installation of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus and speaks of a Turkish Cypriot participation in the EU accession negotiations.

Mr. Reppas stated that Greece wants the Turkish Cypriots’ participation in the talks but in a way that will not lead to the recognition of the Turkish Cypriot regime in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus and will not raise obstacles to Cyprus’ EU accession course. Regarding the S-300 missiles, Mr. Reppas stressed that it is Cyprus’ inalienable right to take measures for its defense.

[06] THE GREEK RESPONSE TO THE TURKISH PROPOSALS WILL BE DELIVERED TODAY

Greece’s negative response to the proposals of Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem will be delivered today by Greek ambassador to Ankara Dimitris Nezeritis.

According to information, in the text it is mentioned that the Turkish side has rejected in their entirety the Greek proposals for a step-by-step approach and that the problems will be resolved through international organizations and the international court. It is also clarified that the issue of the continental shelf remains pending for the Greek side.

Also, a special reference is made to the Madrid agreement and to the committee of experts which has been essentially turned down by Turkey.

[07] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE SHOWED SIGNS OF RECOVERY

The share prices in the Athens Stock Exchange recovered at noon today after yesterday’s fall and the general price index showed an increase of 2,20%.

Also, a positive climate has been created in the inter-bank market, while the drachma exchange rate appears strengthened compared to the main foreign currencies.

[08] KARAMANLIS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT POLICY

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, in a press conference during the formal dinner of the Foreign Press Correspondents Association in Athens, launched an attack against the policy followed by the governing socialist party of PASOK, while he also referred to the role of ND honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis and former prime minister Miltiadis Evert.

The biggest mistake of the government is that it implements a policy that aims at a European convergence by name only, and even this is not going well, said Mr. Karamanlis pointing out that the country should participate in the European developments on an equal basis with the rest EU countries to avoid being left on the margins.

He accused the government of mistakes and omissions, while he spoke of a prolonged decadence, inadequacy and inability to promote the right policy. He also pointed out that the citizens are burdened with large taxes, while the investment activities in Greece are being blocked or even chased away.

Referring to the Greek-Turkish relations, he pointed out that Greece’s foreign policy becomes milder toward Turkey at a time when Ankara escalates its provocation toward Greece. He said that Turkey does not meet any of the pre-conditions for the normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations and the consolidation of peace, while on the International Court of Justice in The Hague, he said that it has authority over issues such as the continental shelf and not over problems of sovereign rights that are being raised by Ankara.

Mr. Karamanlis, responding to questions concerning in-party issues, the role of Mr. Mitsotakis and his relations with Mr. Evert, reiterated that he is ready to turn a new page in the history of the party and not allow the repeat of morbid phenomena in the party of New Democracy.

[09] THE PRIVATIZATION OF OLYMPIC CATERING HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Technical obstacles and legal problems led to the cancellation of the privatization of 25% of the Olympic Catering, the subsidiary company of the state airline Olympic Airways, according to a decision reached during yesterday’s meeting of the Olympic Airways management.

The privatization issue is expected to be examined again when the existing problems are resolved. The Greek government’s intention is to privatize 25 % of the company and no specific time- table has been set.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS PERSIAN GULF TODAY

United States President Bill Clinton stressed that the State Department intends to act dynamically, even on its own, if Saddam Huesein fails to uphold the agreement he reached with the United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan.

Moreover, President Clinton stated that the American troops are to remain in the Persian Gulf region in order to supervise the application of the said agreement.

Today, Mr. Annan is to brief the UN Security Council members.

[11] GREEK, ROMANIAN, BULGARIAN PUBLIC ORDER MINISTERS TO MEET

The Public Order Ministers of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania are to meet in Thessaloniki on March 6-8.

The purpose of the meeting is to strengthen the ties of friendship[ among the three countries and to consolidate their cooperation.

Moreover, the officials are to discuss measures to combat organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

[12] BRITISH PM BLAIR CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT CLERIDES ON RE- ELECTION

British Prime Minister Toni Blair addressed a letter to Cyprus President Glafkos Clerides congratulating him on his re- election to the Presidency while also expressing his opposition to the establishment of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Cyprus. Moreover, the British Premier, who is currently presiding over the EU’s European Council refers to the participation of the Turkish-Cypriots in the island’s accession negotiations that are to begin on March 30.

Premier Blair wrote that he expects President Clerides to “make a good and honest effort” so that the Turkish-Cypriots will feel that they are viewed as an equal community. However, he does add that the result of this effort is not solely dependant upon Mr. Clerides.

[13] AMBASSADORS ZACHARAKIS AND TOSEFSKI WILL MEET IN NEW YORK TODAY

Greek ambassador Christos Zacharakis and his counterpart from FYROM Ivan Tosefski were scheduled to meet in the UN headquarters in New York today to discuss the issue of the name that will be used by FYROM.

In the meeting will also take part UN special mediator Cyrus Vance and his assistant Mathew Nimitz.

[14] THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE PEACE EFFORTS IN THE PERSIAN GULF

The UN Security Council will be briefed this afternoon by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the agreement reached for the weapons inspections in Iraq.

Mr. Annan stated that according to his opinion, the discussion in the Security Council will not be a hard one. Based on the agreement reached in Baghdad, Iraq is committed to offer to the UN weapons’ inspectors immediate and unconditional access to its military installations.

[15] THE NUMBER OF DANISH TOURISTS VISITING GREECE WILL RISE

The largest Danish newspaper “Jyllands Posten” writes that Greece is this year’s big winner in the fight to attract Danish tourists.

As it is mentioned in the newspaper, the tourist interest for Greece is especially strong and the country is being reestablished as one of the favorite tourist destinations for the Danish tourists. According to tour operators, the bookings for old familiar destinations such as, the islands of Crete, Rhodes and Kos have surpassed all expectations and the same trend is being observed for small and not much visited Aegean islands.

[16] AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GREEK FOREIGN TRADE ORGANIZATION AND THE YUGOSLAV ECONOMIC CHAMBER

An agreement was signed in Belgrade yesterday between the Greek Foreign Trade Organization and the Yugoslav Economic Chamber for the development and promotion of cooperation between them.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Greek side by the organization’s president Yiannis Tzen and on behalf of the Yugoslav side by the Economic Chamber president Michailo Milojevic.

The objective of the agreement is to facilitate future cooperation between the Greek and the Yugoslav businesses and to make the exchange of information on the market and the product demand in both countries easier. Also, the agreement is expected to promote cooperation between Greek and Yugoslav companies in the sector of marketing and in the presentation of products in international exhibitions.

[17] EARLY ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN TURKEY NEXT JUNE

Turkey is possible to be led to early elections in June, but Prime minister Mesut Yilmaz is not considering the likelihood in spite of the fact that he is being pressured by workers’ unions.

The Turkish newspaper “Hurriyet”, in a front page article under the headline “Elections in June”, mentions that the presiding board of the Motherland party has decided that early parliamentary elections should be held at the same time with interim elections, while prime minister Mesut Yilmaz will discuss the issue with his government partners and afterwards he is expected to present the option to the rest of the political parties in the country.

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