Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-04-06

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, April 6, 1998

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON TURKISH ARSON REPORTS

The Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas said that Athens is examining information published yesterday in a Greek paper according to which Turkish secret service agents were behind a series of forest fires and bombings throughout Greece in the recent years.

According to the newspaper, “Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia”, a classified report was discovered at the Turkish Prime Minister’s office wherein it is stated that Turkey was involved in arson that broke out in Greek islands and tourist resorts in Crete and Rhodes during the premiership of Tansu Ciller.

According to the report, the reason behind the leak in the story is the chronic animosity between present Premier Mesut Yilmaz and Ms. Ciller.

"All of this (information) is being investigated carefully along with other information that has come to our attention in the past," Mr. Reppas said. PASOK deputy and former public order minister Stelios Papathemelis said the report vindicates the information authorities have had since 1995.

Mr. Papathemelis also said the report contained "the exact information" that the Greek government had collected.

[02] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT HUNGARY THIS MONTH

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will embark on an official three-day visit to Hungary at the invitation of his Hungarian counterpart Arpad Goncz, from April 22 to 24. President Stephanopoulos will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

During his stay in Budapest, the President will meet with the Hungarian Prime Minister Gula Horne and the President of the Hungarian Parliament.

[03] PRESIDENT OF POLAND TO VISIT GREECE TODAY

The President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski is to embark on an official, three-day visit to Athens today where he will hold talks with the Greek government and state leadership.

Mr. Kwasniewski is to be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis on Wednesday. He will also attend a Greek-Polish Business Conference on ways of expanding economic relations between the two countries to be held in Athens tomorrow.

The conference is sponsored by the Hellenic Organization for Small and Medium Size Enterprises and Handicrafts (EOMMEH) and prominent Greek and Polish companies and discussions will focus on possible cooperation in the sectors of energy, telecommunications, defense, agriculture and foodstuffs, metals, clothing, tourism etc.

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and his Polish counterpart Janus Steinhof will also attend.

[04] GREEK AND TURKISH CHIEFS OF STAFF MEET TODAY IN ATHENS

Greece's chief of staff, Wing Commander Athanasios Tzoganis received Turkey's military chief of staff, General Ismail Karadayi this afternoon in Athens, as the latter will take part in a meeting of the chiefs of staff of the Western European Union, of which Greece currently holds the rotating six-month presidency.

An announcement issued by the press office of the Greek General Staff points out that Mgrs. Karadayi and Tzoganis exchanged points of view on military matters and expressed their desire to take advantage of such opportunities in the future. It should be noted that both NATO’s secretary-general Javier Solana and the secretary-general of the WEU Jose Cutiliero have supported the start of military dialogue between the two countries.

According to reports, the General Staff of national defense has reviewed proposed changes on the role and powers of the WEU. Final decisions are to be taken during the WEU Defense and Foreign Ministers Meeting to be held next month in Rhodes.

[05] WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION MILITARY LEADERS IN GREECE

The general staff chiefs from the 18 countries-members of the Western European Union (WEU) are to meet in Athens tomorrow, in order to hold a session concerning the WEU’s present operation and future planning.

As Greece presently holds the WEU's rotating six-month presidency, the session will be chaired by Greek National Defense General Staff Chief Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis and will be attended by the WEU's secretary-general, the 18 WEU national general staff chiefs, military representatives of the 10 full members, the three associate members, the seven observer states as well as the WEU's planning department director and satellite center director.

[06] TURKISH CHIEF OF STAFF IN ATHENS TO TAKE PART IN WEU MEETING

Turkey's military chief of staff, General Ismail Karadayi, is currently in Athens where he will take part in a meeting of the chiefs of staff of the Western European Union, of which Greece currently holds the rotating six-month presidency.

A dinner will be held in their honor this evening by Greece's chief of staff, Wing Commander Athanasios Tzoganis. The participants are expected to discuss the future role and powers of the WEU's planning group, participation by affiliated countries in meetings of the military committee's group on WEU's policy on exercises, possible participation by members of WEU's military committee in NATO's military committee, and WEU's rules on exercises.

[07] “ECONOMIST” MAGAZINE TO HOLD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION IN GREECE

The London-based "Economist" magazine will organize its second roundtable discussion with the Greek government on April 8- 9, titled "Welcoming a New Business Era" and will feature an address by the European Commission President Jacques Santer.

The conference is to focus on issues concerning the Greek economy in light of the economic and monetary union, the role of the euro in the global economy and the contribution of the Olympic Games towards the overall development of Greece. Issues regarding NATO enlargement and its repercussions onto Greece will also be examined.

The Economist's conference will also be addressed by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch, former US Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, main opposition New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, other party leaders, ministers, bank governors, members of the diplomatic corps and businessmen.

[08] PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO VISIT ATHENS THIS WEEK

The President of the European Commission Jacques Santer is to conduct an official visit to Greece between April 9-13.

During his stay in Athens, Mr. Santer will meet with state and government leaders and will also be the keynote speaker at an international conference on "Greeting a new Business Age", to be held in Athens by “The Economist” magazine on April 9.

Mr. Santer will also visit the island of Crete, where he will meet with representatives of local authorities and producers. This will be Mr. Santer's third official visit to Greece since assuming the top seat of the Commission in January 1995.

[09] THE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS BILL WILL BE PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT TOMORROW

The discussion on the Olympic Airways bill for the implementation of reforms in the state airline will open in Parliament tomorrow.

The dialogue held on Friday between the OA management and the representatives of the federation of civil aviation employees' unions was characterized as positive.

The Union of air and ground hostesses has also presented its own proposal for the revision of the company's work regulation.

The federation of civil aviation employees' unions has announced a 24-hour strike for tomorrow. The company's flying crew will strike on Wednesday.

[10] NATO’S PLANNING DIRECTOR EXPECTED IN GREECE TODAY

The chief of NATO's Planning Office, L. Dietriechsen, is scheduled to embark on a one-week official visit to Greece today, at the invitation of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics' (AFCEA) Greek bureau. During his stay, the NATO official will be received by National Defense General Staff Chief Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis and will also visit installations of the General Directorate of Armaments, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAB) and Intracom facilities, while he will also brief military officials on the NATO office's activities.

AFCEA, composed of NATO member-states, works for bringing together the defense industries and for improving the Alliance's administration and communication control systems.

[11] INTERBALKAN COOPERATION CENTER INAUGURATED IN KOZANI

Greece’s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis, shortly before the inauguration of the Center of Interbalkan Cooperation in Kozani yesterday, stated that one cannot talk of a united and modern Europe if the Balkan countries do not become members of the Union, adding that “on behalf of Greece, this constitutes a strategic choice.”

Referring to the center, Mr. Kranidiotis stated that it represents economic diplomacy, “a new concept in the arena of foreign policy which is equally significant with the traditional and conventional foreign policy.”

The Foreign Undersecretary explained that “economic diplomacy contributes so that borders, the separating lines, are transformed into bridges of cooperation.”

Moreover, Mr. Kranidiotis referred to the Greek government’s Balkan policy stating that it exercises a stable and productive two-fold policy: the first aspect is the development of constructive relations with the other Balkan states, and the second is the promotion of regional initiatives that aim at multisided cooperation and the region’s economic development.

A number of delegations from various Balkan countries also attended the inauguration.

Albania’s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Maco Lacrori referred to his country’s efforts to overcome its hurdles in order to place Albania into a course of stable developments.

“We believe that centers such as this can greatly contribute to the direction of development and cooperation,” Mr. Lacrori said.

The undersecretary of Albania’s Education Ministry, Andreas Martos, who is of Greek descent, noted that the Greek community and the Albanian immigrants currently in Greece can form a bridge of friendship and cooperation among the two peoples.

Among the score of officials present at the inauguration ceremony where the Consul General of Bulgaria Ilko Sivacev and the Macedonian Press Agency’s General Director Spyros Kouzinopoulos.

[12] OECD PROPOSES SALARY RAISES NOT HIGHER THAN 2.5%

In a recently published report, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) proposes that the Greek government proceed to salary raises in the private sector that will not surpass the 2.5% mark, as well as a series of measures for securing 125 billion drachmas.

At the same time, the governor of the Bank of Greece, Lukas Papademas, proposes a tighter fiscal policy and measures to contain inflation in order to enable the country to meet the criteria for the Economic and Monetary Union.

[13] RACISM, XENOPHOBIA CONDEMNED AT CENTER OF INTERBALKAN COOPERATION

Under the initiative of Kozani’s Prefect Paschalis Mitliagkas, the founding assembly of the Interbalkan Cooperation center took a step to condemn racism and xenophobia.

The undersecretary of Albania’s Education Ministry, Andreas Martos, who is of Greek descent, noted that the Greek community and the Albanian immigrants currently in Greece can form a bridge of friendship and cooperation among the two peoples. He also added that the recent wave of xenophobia and racism hurts not only the immigrants themselves but the Greek-Albanian relations, which have been excellent up to date.

Greece’s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis and undersecretary of Development Anna Diamantopoulou also made extensive references on the same matter.

Mr. Kranidiotis, specifically, condemned the isolated events which , as he stated, do not correspond with the Greek mentality and hospitality, who have always been hospitable having the open mind of Ulysses, and which do not correspond to the real facts and elements.

Ms.Diamantopoulou was caustic on the matter of xenophobia and stressed that the latest outbreak of incidents are isolated and have nothing to do with the Greek people and their history.

“This initiative is a positive and organized response and relays the deep sentiments of cooperation held by the Greek people for their neighbors,” she stated.

Albania’s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Maco Lacrori stated that the positive messages brought by the immigrants to their host countries assist greatly in improving the climate.

“If someone commits a crime this criminal act should be denounced by all of us, because the law has to be upheld by all of us,” he stated, adding that “ we should condemn the crime, not the fact hat the act was committed by a Greek, or an Albanian or a Bulgarian, and so forth.”

[14] THE BILL ON THE REFORM OF OA WILL BE PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT TOMORROW

[15] TZOGANIS-KARADAYI MEETING IN ATHENS

[16] 4.32% RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

[17] STEPHANOPOULOS - KWASNIEWSKI MEETING IN ATHENS

Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos met with his Polish counterpart Alexander Kwasniewski in Athens today. In the meeting the two men stressed that their countries share excellent relations, while Poland’s EU accession course was also discussed.

A meeting of the two government delegations was held afterwards with the participation of Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos, national economy and finance minister Yiannos Papantoniou and culture minister Evangelos Venizelos. Mr. Kwasniewski also met with Greek Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis.

[18] THE NEW BILL ON WORK RELATIONS PROMOTES RADICAL CHANGES

The new bill regulating work relations, that will be submitted in Parliament in the first two weeks of May, is expected to bring radical changes to the employment status quo.

Flexible time-schedule, reduced wages, changes in the acceptable number of lay offs, part-time employment and restrictions in the employment of pensioners, are a few of the key- points in the suggested labor ministry draft bill. The cabinet is expected to approve the proposal next Friday.

Minister of labor Miltiadis Papaioannou, referring to the tough measures in the new draft bill, stated that the changes will be hard on the workers but efforts will be made to lessen their effects.

The representatives of the workers’ unions appear ready for mobilizations in case the government does not show compliance at least to some of the points concerning the work relations.

[19] THE CONDITION OF ARCHBISHOP SERAPHIM IS STABLE BUT CRITICAL

The state of health of Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece Seraphim remains stable but critical. The Archbishop continues to be hospitalized and today he underwent a dialysis treatment, while measures are taken to protect him from hospital infections.

The permanent Holy Synod will meet tomorrow and according to information, the issue of the Archbishop’s replacement will not be raised.

[20] A NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ATTEMPTED TO ENTER GREECE YESTERDAY

Seventy one illegal immigrants were put ashore at Prasonisia last night, an island at the north coasts of Sitia in the south Aegean island of Crete. The illegal immigrants were spotted by fishermen today and were arrested by the Coast Guard.

Meanwhile, 4 Turkish slave-traders brought 60 Kurdish illegal immigrants to the island of Simi. The Greek Coast Guard arrested the Turks, while the illegal immigrants will be taken to the island of Rhodes. Also, in another incident, Turkish slave-traders brought 11 Iraqi illegal immigrants to the south-eastern Aegean island of Samos.

[21] 600 ATHLETES PARTICIPATE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN ATHENS

Over 600 athletes, representing 24 countries, participate in the Mediterranean Special Olympics that will open today in the Olympic Stadium in Athens.

Greek track and field champions Angelos Pavlakakis and Katerina Koffa will be present in the opening ceremony. The event will be completed on Thursday.

[22] TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AND SABOTAGE BY TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS IN GREECE

Greece had briefed the press offices abroad since February 11 on the information regarding the terrorist activities and sabotage by Turkish organizations in Greece, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who added that the information was revealed by an Athens newspaper on January 9. It was then that the Greek ambassador to NATO was ordered to brief all his NATO counterparts, while the press offices abroad had received clear orders and information material.

Mr. Reppas stated that these Turkish moves reveal that Ankara with its position undermines the Greek-Turkish relations.

Meanwhile, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Kostas Bikas also stated that NATO was briefed since February 9 on the issue of the arsons by Turkish agencies which were targeting the Greek forests.

Referring to the course of the Cyprus issue on the occasion of the visit by US presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke to the island, Mr. Reppas stated that Greece wants the Cyprus issue to be resolved within the framework of the UN resolutions.

Mr. Reppas stated that Mr. Holbrooke once again was met with Mr. Denktash’s intransigence but the fact that he does not see a solution to the Cyprus issue does not mean that Cyprus should not become an EU member.

[23] MATSO LAKRORI: YES, TO KOSOVO’S SELF-DETERMINATION AND TO THE EXISTING BORDERS

The problem in Kosovo can be resolved only through a permanent and firm solution that will respect the existing borders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the right to self- determination for the Albanian-speaking population in Kosovo, stated to MPA Albanian undersecretary of foreign affairs Matso Lakrori, who visited Greece to attend the opening of the Inter- Balkan Cooperation Center that was established by the prefecture of Kozani in north-western Greece.

The 50yearold professor in the Tirana Polytechnic also pointed out that an effort for the information of the public opinion should be made in order to achieve the peaceful solution of the problems and avoid acts of violence, stressing that the tragedy of Bosnia should not be repeated.

Mr. Lakrori pointed out the efforts made by his government for the normalization of the situation in his country and the restoration of its economy and underlined the great help offered by Greece toward this direction.

Referring to the incidents of xenophobia and racism, the Albanian undersecretary of foreign affairs stated that the climate will improve if public opinion is informed on the positive elements brought by the immigrants to their new countries.

[24] “HELLENES ABROAD” ON A MAP AND CD-ROM

An intensive effort to chart Hellenism all over the world began with the creation of the map of “Hellenes Abroad” which was imprinted under the initiative and financing of the Macedonia - Thrace Ministry within the framework of the Ministry’s 5-year project cooperation with the International Chart Service.

The project includes a world map, 8,5 square meters in extent, which the Macedonia -Thrace Ministry donated to the Council for the Hellenes Abroad accompanied by a CD-ROM with detailed information as well as maps in Greek and English.

During the presentation of the map, Macedonia -Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos noted that, in the future, it would be possible for more information about deputies of Greek descent abroad, Greek businessmen as well as organizations like chambers etc to be added to the project.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[25] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL CRITICIZES MILOSEVIC OVER REFERENDUM

The secretary-general of NATO, Javier Solana, has strongly criticized the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic for his plan to hold a referendum on bringing in outside mediation to help solve the crisis in the province of Kosovo.

Mr. Solana, speaking on a visit to Bulgaria, said Mr. Milosevic was making another mistake.

"I am sure that the international community, after two meetings of the Contact Group and with a third one coming in weeks - as things are not moving in the right direction - will perceive this as a maneuver to gain time and therefore to increase the risk of conflict," Mr. Solana stated. Kossovo’s Albanians have also attacked the idea. Their political leader, Ibrahim Rugova, said it was aimed at blocking international commitment to solving the crisis.

Mr. Rugova accused the Serbs of defying the international community and stated that "negotiations should and must take place under third-party mediation."

[26] RICHARD HOLBROOKE WARNS OF U.S. GIVING UP EFFORT

The United States presidential emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke warned yesterday that Washington would not continue its efforts for a resolution of the Cyprus issue if progress is not soon noted.

"The United States will not spend the rest of the century trying to achieve a settlement between the two sides if they do not desire one," he said before departing from Cyprus yesterday, concluding two days of separate talks with both Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash.

"When we come back in a month's time we shall look for proof of a genuine desire to push forward, otherwise, there is no point in continuing this sort of proximate diplomacy until it becomes void and sterile," he added.

"If the two sides wish to enter into, not exactly a marriage, but a settlement, a federation, each one should make some moves. If one side or the other does not wish to budge, there is nothing we can do to force them," he stressed.

The US diplomat reiterated Washington's position that the US does not and cannot recognize the Turkish-Cypriot regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

He said that he would return to the island around the first of May while his aide, US State Department special coordinator on Cyprus Thomas Miller, would in the meantime continue efforts in the region.

Referring to Mr. Denktash’s demand for recognition of his regime, Mr. Holbrooke "our position is equally clear: We do not recognize the independent sovereign TRNC (self-declared Turkish Cypriot regime). We cannot do that, that is not our position.

"We recognize the Republic of Cyprus and we recognize Glafcos Clerides as its president. It has an international character," he added. Describing Mr. Denktash as a "tenacious advocate" of his position, Mr. Holbrooke said "he did not yield an inch, nor did I expect him to."

Replying to other questions, he said the US "opposes partition" in Cyprus.

[27] ISRAEL DOES NOT RECOGNIZE TURKISH-CYPRIOT ENCLAVE

Israel’s Ambassador to Nicosia Semi Jur, stated today that his country does not recognize the Turkish-Cypriot breakaway state led by Rauf Denktash, adding that the military cooperation pact signed recently between Turkey and Israel is not aimed against any third country.

Moreover, the Israeli diplomat stated that Israel supports United Nations Resolution 541 which calls for a united, sovereign Cyprus, as well as the international efforts exerted to apply the said resolution.

Referring to Israel’s ties with Turkey, the Ambassador stressed that his country has not signed an alliance agreement with any other country, pointing out that the agreement with Turkey is a “cooperation” one and assured that it is not aimed against Greece, Cyprus or any other country.

[28] SERB PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE TODAY OVER REFERENDUM

The Serb Parliament is to hold an extraordinary meeting today in order to examine President Slobodan Milosevic’ proposal to hold a referendum over foreign mediation on the Kossovo issue.

Mr. Milosevic’s proposal is expected to gain the House’s approval as both his Socialist Party and Voislav Seseli’s nationalist faction, which participates in the government coalition, have already expressed their approval of a referendum.

Last week, Yugoslavia rejected the imposition of a new United Nations arms embargo as "unfounded" and unacceptable interference in its affairs.

"The resolution is completely unfounded and sets a precedent in the sense that the internal affairs of a country were debated without that country's consent," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The UN Security Council voted last Tuesday, 14-0, with China abstaining, for the embargo.

The Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said "the problems in Kosovo arise from separatism and terrorism, not from any attempt to curb rights and freedoms of national minorities.

"That means the pressure brought to bear on the Serbian government and Yugoslavia is unfounded and unacceptable, and can only encourage those who harbor unreal and dangerous illusions and aims."

Diplomatic sources in Belgrade did not expect the embargo to have any immediate impact on the Kossovo crisis.

[29] THE EU COMMISSION WANTS THE RURAL POPULATION TO BE CUT DOWN

The EU Commission wants the rural population to be reduced in numbers, based on the response it gave to questions made by three Euro-deputies, two Greeks and a British.

This EU decision will greatly affect the Greek farm production and economy as Greece remains the only EU member-state with a farm population that corresponds to over 20% of the country’s overall population, while the percentages for Ireland and Spain, which are also being regarded as rural countries, are 12% and 9% respectively.

The new reforms in the common EU farm policy will affect production and the income of the Greek farmers.

[30] THE GREEK-CANADIANS PROTEST TO THE SALE OF NUCLEAR REACTORS TO TURKEY

The Greek community in Canada and leading members of the anti- nuclear movement will make joint protests requesting from the Canadian government not to proceed with the sale of nuclear reactors to Turkey.

Within the framework of the mobilizations, a meeting will be held between the Greek-Canadian Congress and the Canadian minister of energy and natural resources. In the meeting the Greek community in Canada will express the strong concern of the Greek- Canadian voters over the issue and will request from the Canadian government not to proceed with the sale, maintaining that such a move will bring terrifying environmental changes to the Mediterranean region.

Mr. Dave Martin, leading member of the Nuclear Awareness Project organization recently visited the region in Turkey where the nuclear plant will be built. Specifically, he visited the Akugiu Bei region in south-eastern Mediterranean across Cyprus, together with German environmentalists, and had contacts with local authorities and residents. Speaking to the Greek-Canadian organizations, Mr. Martin pointed out that the people living in the region object to the nuclear plant but the Turkish government is not expected to take under consideration their concern over the ecological disaster a nuclear plant will cause to the region.

According to information, the Turkish government is expected to announce during the summer that an agreement has been reached with the Canadian nuclear energy company, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd for the purchase of Candu nuclear reactors and that their installation will begin in January 1999.

[31] SKOPJE-BELGRADE CONSULTATIONS ABOUT THE BORDERS

The consultations of the joint committee which includes representatives of the Foreign Ministries of FYROM and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia concerning the determination of the border line between the two countries continued today in Belgrade.

According to the state radio station, the Yugoslav side appeared to have claims on territories that belong to FYROM.

Yugoslav newspapers published parts of the interview given by Yugoslav ambassador in Skopje Zoran Yannakevic who blamed FYROM for the obstacles appeared in solving the problem saying that “Skopje think that the former governmental borders are also interstate borders”, opinion which is not approved by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

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