Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-02-26

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 26 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] EGNATIA ROUTE WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE YEAR 2002

The President of the “Egnatia S.A.” company Dimitris Fatouros stated that the Egnatia route project will be completed by the year 2002.

Moreover, he stressed that by the year 2001, 620 out of the project’s 687 kilometres will have been completed or will be under construction.

He also stated that aside from the 122 kilometres that have already been constructed, another 427 will be completed by the end of this year.

[02] ARCHBISHOP SERAPHIM TO UNDERGO DIALYSIS TREATMENT AGAIN

Archbishop Seraphim, who has been hospitalised since Tuesday at Athens’ Laiko Hospital, is to undergo dialysis treatment again today.

According to the medical reports, the Archbishop is being treated with a strong dosage of antibiotics and, in spite of the severe virus he is suffering from, his condition is under control.

[03] ALBANIA’S EX-PRESIDENT COULD BE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL TOMORROW

Albania’s former president Ramiz Alia, who underwent open- heart surgery in Thessaloniki, is expected to be released from the George Papanikolaou hospital tomorrow.

Mr. Alia underwent a quadruple bypass, performed by the well -known heart surgeon, Professor Panayiotis Spyrou.

According to medical reports, Albania’s last communist leader is recuperating normally and has already communicated with his relatives.

[04] THERMI MUNICIPALITY OFFERS GREEK LANGUAGE LESSONS TO REPATRIATES

The Municipality of Thermi, in co-operation with the Secretariat-General for Repatriates of the Ministry of Macedonia- Thrace, is to organise a programme of Greek language classes for adults who have returned to Greece after having lived abroad for years.

The lessons are to start on March 3 and will be held until June 3. The classes will be held in the evening hours at Thermi’s First elementary school.

[05] GREECE’S TOURISM REVENUE REACHES SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY

A ten percent increase in tourism is expected this year, increasing by 1.5% the country’s Gross National Product.

The British are at the top of the list of tourists expected to visit Greece this summer, thanks to the pound’s appreciation which will significantly propel the attraction of British tourists while at the same time not force the Greek hoteliers to drop their prices.

The institute of Economic Studies and Forecasts has just issued its fourth report wherein it mentions that tourism, either directly or indirectly, represents 14% of the country’s domestic product.

According to the Institute’s director, Professor Panayiotis Pavlopoulos, the official data significantly underestimate the number of overnight stays, which in reality are double. According to Mr.Pavlopoulos, over 90 million tourists stay overnight in Greece per year, pouring in revenue of over seven billion dollars.

[06] TOUGH RESPONSE BY SIMITIS TO THE TURKISH PROVOCATION

The threats do not scare us, we have the will and the means to give a decisive response any time, underlined prime minister Kostas Simitis in his speech before the Parliament, sending a clear message to the Turkish leadership in response to its provocation against Greece.

The problems we face with Turkey are created by Ankara’s unacceptable claims and pressures, stated the prime minister and pointed out that the Greek government has made it clear that Greece’s sovereign rights are not put up for discussion and the idea of a package discussion which is sought by Ankara is not acceptable. Mr. Simitis stated that the basic point of the Greek political proposal is the decisive role the International Court of Justice in the Hague can play.

The prime minister stated that the Turkish violations of the Greek air space are causing tension and threaten peace, while he added that Greece by safeguarding its sovereign rights refuses to adopt a policy of tension, stressing that this was the reason that led it to accept the discussion on the confidence-building- measures with Turkey within the framework of NATO.

Regarding the Cyprus problem, the prime minister stressed that the political solution is not a pre-condition for progress in the EU accession negotiations and stressed that the Greek government will continue to work closely with the Cyprus government. Mr. Simitis also added that president Clerides’ proposal for the demilitarization of the island or its gradual disarmament moves to the right direction.

[07] THE LEADER OF ND LAUNCHED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT POLICY ON THE GREEK-TURKISH ISSUES

Right-wing opposition party leader Kostas Karamanlis, speaking in Parliament accused the socialist government of PASOK of continuous compliance toward Turkey.

Mr. Karamanlis disputed the position that there is mobility in Greece’s foreign policy and stated that the policy adopted can not protect the national interests and rights. He also disagreed with the speculation of the prime minister that Turkey has been isolated internationally.

Regarding the new structure of NATO, Mr. Karamanlis underlined that the Greek government could have asked for the postponement of its implementation in the Aegean, because Greece is the only EU member state that faces a clear threat against its territorial integrity based on the statements made by Turkish president Suleiman Demirel. He also maintained that the government gives its consent to the dispute of its sovereign rights in the Aegean when it calls on Ankara to appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague for the solution of the problems it raises.

Mr. Karamanlis suggested to the government to form the Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense and to invoke the law of the sea in the dispute with Turkey. Also, to upgrade the foreign ministry agencies, move ahead with the modernization of the armed forces and bring to international organizations the issues concerning the rights of the Greeks in Turkey, the residents of the islands of Imvros and Tenedos and the prospects of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[08] THE TENSION IN NEW DEMOCRACY INTESIFIES

The crisis in the right-wing opposition party of New Democracy and especially in the relations of its leader Kostas Karamanlis with its honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis, intensifies.

The former prime minister responded that since Mr. Karamanlis was elected to the party leadership he has not telephoned him not even once to ask for his opinion on any issue.

Meanwhile, Mr. Souflias, one of the ND deputies who were expelled from the party, stated that the reorganization of the party is necessary and that the “ownership frenzy” in New Democracy will result to the creation of a new party.

[09] CHANGE OF WORK REGULATIONS IN THE STATE POSTAL SERVICE

The employees and the management in the State Postal Service reached an agreement to change the work regulations, a fact that facilitates dialogue for the reform of the problem ridden state agencies.

The new regulations include the establishment of a new system for the appointment of managers, the change in the process concerning overtime and transfers of employees and the increase in postal fees.

[10] QUEEN ELIZABETH HONORED THE BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL IN THESSALONIKI

Britain‘s honorary consul general in Thessaloniki Mr. Giorgos Doukas, holding the position since 1985, was honored by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth B’ with the medal of the British Empire.

Mr. Doukas was decorated in recognition of his contribution to the development of the Greek-British trade and economic relations in northern Greece. Also, he was honored for the assistance he offers to the British citizens who are visiting or live in the region.

[11] NEW PROSPECTS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN GREECE AND RUSSIA

The new prospects for the expansion of the economic cooperation between Greece and Russia were examined during the visit of Russian ambassador to Athens Ms. Valentina Matvienko to the dairy plant “FAGE” near Athens.

Ms. Matvienko announced the future visit of Russian prime minister Victor Tsernomirdin to Greece and underlined the need for concrete proposals concerning the direction of the bilateral economic cooperation.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] TURKEY THREATENS WITH A WARM INCIDENT IN THE AEGEAN

The Turkish government is threatening Greece with a warm incident in the Aegean Sea, after the Greek government rejected the direct talks -spanning all matters- proposal submitted by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ismael Cem.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Greece will be responsible for accidents that may take place, as it characteristically stated, while it also blames the Greek side that it opts for a tension strategy.

Greece has made proposals of peace and stability and Turkey is now before its political responsibilities, the spokesperson of Greece’s Foreign Ministry Konstantinos Bikas stated.

[13] JUKANOVIC ASKS FOR DIALOGUE OVER KOSSOVO

The President of Montenegro Mr. Jukanovic has criticised the authorities of Belgrade for the policy they have followed in Kossovo and asked that a “certain degree of autonomy” be granted.

“Yugoslavia cannot be included in the international community if it does not open dialogue over the matter of Kossovo,” he stated.

[14] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES TO MEET WITH SIR DAVID HANNAY TOMORROW

Britain’s special envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay is to arrive in Cyprus this evening for a two-day official visit.

Sir Hannay will be received by the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides tomorrow and he will also have meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yiannakis Kasoulides and Greece’s Under-secretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis who is currently on a three-day official visit to the island.

The British diplomat will also visit the occupied territory where he will meet with leaders of the Turkish-Cypriot parties.

[15] EC’S BAN ON CONSUMPTION OF COW, LAMB INTESTINES WILL BE LIFTED

A new decision, taken yesterday by the European Commission, on the directive banning cow and lamb intestines whose consumption was suspected of spreading “mad cow disease” will allow for the exclusion in certain member-states of the European Union where no outbreaks of the “mad cow” disease have been reported.

The directive was to be enforced on January 1, was later postponed to April 1 and its implementation date has now been moved to July 1.

The Commission is to decide on the countries to be excluded by the end of the year, during which time the directive will not apply in countries that have requested to be excluded from the ban.

Greece is on the list of such EU countries, along with Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Spain.

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