Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-03-12

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, March 12, 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 RESPECTS THE MINORITIES

Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis speaking in Parliament stressed that Greece respects its international obligations toward the minorities, while he pointed out that Greece is not afraid of “isolated” and marginal views such as those expressed by European Center for Minority Issues, ECMI, director professor Stefan Trembst.

The statement was made in response to a question by a ND Parliament deputy, who mentioned that the ECMI is being financed by the European Commission, Germany and Denmark and works for the creation of an Albanian issue in Greece and supports the autonomous rule of Thrace in north-eastern Greece.

Undersecretary of foreign affairs Mr. Kranidiotis stressed that the Greek embassy in Bonn has protested against the stance of professor Trembst, pointing out that the above mentioned positions are personal views of the professor and are not included in the work of the ECMI.

Finally, Mr. Kranidiotis underlined that Greece is not involved in the funding of the Center clarifying that this is done directly by the European Commission through the INTERREG II program.

[02] THE LABOR MINISTER ANNOUNCED MERGERS OF SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS

The Greek minister of labor announced radical reforms and mergers of social security funds in the 29th conference of the Greek General Confederation of Labor that opened in the city of Kavala today.

Mr. Papaioannou stressed that Greece sooner or later will have to adopt the 35-hour work-week, a necessity that is gradually recognized by most EU members. The Greek minister of labor also maintained that the government policy had as a result the creation of 70.000 new job positions.

[03] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS UNDERWENT SURGERY

New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis underwent a successful operation to treat the injury he suffered in his right leg during a football match between Parliament deputies in Athens yesterday.

Mr. Karamanlis suffered a rupture of the tendon in his leg and Mr. Bitounis, the surgeon who operated on him, stated that after the operation Mr. Karamanlis was in good spirits and that his leg was put in a cast, adding that he is expected to be released from hospital on Saturday or Sunday.

[04] THE PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGARY WILL BE IN ATHENS NEXT WEEK

Prime minister of Hungary Gjula Horn will be in Athens next Wednesday for talks with his Greek counterpart Kostas Simitis and the Greek political party leaders.

The talks of the two prime ministers will focus on the further development of bilateral relations as well as, on Hungary’s accession course into the European Union and NATO.

[05] V.PAPANDREOU: THE UNIT OF THE PUBLIC ELECTRICITY COMPANY IN FLORINA WILL OPERATE

Greek Minister of Development Vaso Papandreou reassured today that the unit of the Public Electricity Company would be constructed and operate in Florina within the scheduled timetable.

Mrs Papandreou during a visit to the area where the unit will be built sharply attacked against everyone opposed to the operation of the unit and clarified that the government was determined to proceed with the materialization of the project and would do so. Addressing the people of Florina stressed that the project was their own achievement and they should not feel indebted to anyone.

[06] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL HAVE TWO VICE-PRESIDENTS

The Black Sea Bank will have two vice-presidents and will be in full operation by the end of the year or in early 1999.

The proposal to have two vice-presidents and a general secretary, that was made by vice-president of the National Bank of Greece and representative of Greece in the Black Sea Bank Council of Governors Mr. Nikolaos Karamouzis, was accepted in spite of the initial objections raised by Turkey.

Based on the final text of the agreement, the term of the two vice-presidents from Russia and Bulgaria and the general secretary from Greece will last three years, while a rotating system will be implemented to avoid the likelihood of conflict with other members of the council. [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] GREEK PREMIER FOR A WIDE AUTONOMY TO KOSOVO

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, responding to a question by MPA regarding the European leaders’ decisions over the situation in the Balkans and especially in Kosovo, reiterated that Greece had set as preconditions for a solution to the crisis the condemnation of every secession move, terrorism and armed violence, the maintenance of the existing states and borders in the Balkans, the respect of human rights, the taking of all necessary measures from both sides so as to gradually defuse the tension and the opening of a sincere and unconditional dialogue.

Mr Simitis expressed the belief that if all of the above were materialized there would be a solution concerning the recognition of a wide autonomy to Kosovo without an alteration of the existing Yugoslav borders.

Greek prime minister also referred to the visit of Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos to Belgrade and underlined that Greece had repeatedly asked Yugoslavia to help solve the problem, to implement the educational reform and to begin serious, high- level talks with the Albanian leadership in Kosovo.

Closing, mr Simitis expressed his hope that Yugoslavia would realize the necessity of these measures and proceed with their materialization.

[08] BELGRADE: “NO” TO GONZALES MEDIATION

Belgrade turned down the mediation of former Prime Minister of Spain Felipe Gonzales for Kosovo.

The spokesman of the Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic’s Socialist Party Ivica Dasic stressed that Serbia would discuss its problems with its people without internationalizing them and without an international mediation, clarifying that Belgrade was opposed to the visit of mr Gonzales on its territory. It should be noted that mr Gonzales accepted the proposal of the Contact Group to mediate the Kosovo crisis under the condition that it was accepted by the yugoslav authorities as well.

[09] THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OPENED IN LONDON

The European Conference of the EU state leaders and the leaders of the 11 candidate states for EU membership opened in London today without the participation of Turkey.

In the conference, besides the issue of the EU expansion, will also be discussed the fight against illegal drug-trafficking and organized crime, the cooperation for the protection of the environment and the problem of Kosovo.

Turkey refused to participate in the conference after the rejection of its bid for EU membership in the first and second round of the EU expansion, in the Luxembourg Summit meeting last December.

Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides will present today his government’s proposal for the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EU accession negotiations.

Meanwhile, Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, when asked if he will accept Turkish foreign minister Ishmael Cem’s invitation for dialogue, responded that the proposal will be examined, but he added that it is just another proposal aimed at creating impressions. Mr. Simitis said that Greece expects from Turkey concrete proposals and not a war of impressions, while he reiterated that the political negotiation sought after by Turkey has no meaning and once again he backed the step-by-step approach.

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