Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-04-08

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, April 8, 1998

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT OFFERS SOLUTION TO THESSALONIKI’S TRAFFIC PROBLEM

Greek minister of Environment, Land Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis assured in a press conference today that the projects concerning the metro and the underwater arterial road as well as the traffic research including the necessary measures against the traffic problems in Thessaloniki would be presented to the people of the town until the end of spring.

Mr Laliotis stressed that the research elaborated by the Regulating Organization of Thessaloniki would be completed soon and the underwater arterial road was in the last phase of study. According to mr Laliotis it is up to the city’s authorities to announce a competition for the necessary research, which is estimated to cost 1,2 billion drachmas granted by the government.

[02] CONSTRUCTION OF THESSALONIKI’S METRO TO START THIS YEAR

After the European Commission gave the “green light” yesterday, the Greek government is confident that the construction of Thessaloniki’s metro project will get underway before the end of this year.

According to a draft plan submitted by the Municipality of Thessaloniki, based on which the bidding for the project was declared, the underground will start from the city’s railway station and will end at one of its farthest regions, Nea Elvetia. The tunnels’ length will be about eight kilometers, while the time needed to travel from end to end will be 14 minutes.

[03] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS DRAFTBILL HEARD IN PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY

The draftbill containing the proposed changes to be implemented on the structure of the national air carrier Olympic Airways was heard in Parliament yesterday evening where it became apparent the juxtaposition between the two sides is not about to end.

Meanwhile, the O.A. staff held a 24-hour strike yesterday, while the situation at the country’s airports continuous to be chaotic.

The bill will be voted on tomorrow.

[04] FORMER GREEK PRESIDENT KARAMANLIS TO UNDERGO MEDICAL EXAMS

Former Greek president Konstantinos Karamanlis, who was hospitalized yesterday at Athens’ "Hygia" Hospital for a respiratory viral infection, is to undergo medical examinations today.

The 91-year-old ex-president is accompanied by his personal physician who appeared confident that Mr. Karamanlis will be well.

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

The London-based "Economist" magazine will organize its second roundtable discussion with the Greek government today and tomorrow, 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.

[06] PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW

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 Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, as well as with the leader of the country’s main opposition party, New Democracy’s Kostas Karamanlis.

The Commission’s president 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 tomorrow.

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.

[07] COUNTRY’S COMMERCIAL PORTS CLOSE FOR 48-HOUR STRIKE

Greece’s dockworkers are to embark on a 48-hour strike today, protesting the government’s privatization plans, essentially paralyzing all of the country’s commercial ports.

Also, the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) will be taking part in the 24-hour nationwide strike called for tomorrow by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE, “in protest to the government's policy of one-sided austerity and abolition of vested rights which is aimed at the people and the workers, " according to their announcement.

[08] NORTHERN GREECE’S TOURISM OFFICIALS ON SCHENGEN PACT

Tourism officials and agents in northern Greece have welcomed the foreign ministry’s recent messages concerning the issuance of visas tourist agents said they considered messages by the foreign ministry regarding visas issued in the framework of the Schengen Pact.

After a conference organized by the Federation of Tourist Offices and HELEXPO regarding the Schengen Pact’s repercussions on tourism, Union President P. Bamidis and board member Erofili Pantelidou said that since Greece started implementing the Schengen Pact, the beginning of this year, a decrease in tourist arrivals is being observed mostly from Russia, other former Soviet republics and Balkan countries due to bureaucratic red tape and staff shortages at Greek embassies and consulates.

As such, they proposed a deviation in the Pact for reasons of national interest, specifically Article 5, Paragraph 2, which the foreign ministry is to take into consideration.

[09] GOVERNMENT AMENDS DRAFTBILL ON OLYMPIC AIRWAYS

In its efforts to push the tabled legislation on the revitalization of Olympic Airways, the government last night amended key parts of the draftbill.

The provision abolish all previous collective bargaining agreements while labor regulations will be abolished once the related laws are published in the government gazette, instead of by decision of the company's board, which means that the provisions currently in force are extended.

Moreover, Transportation and Communications Minister Tasos Mantelis, withdrew a stipulation which bound OA employees to state within five days whether or not they accept the new labor regulations.

[10] DEVELOPMENT MINISTER TO INAUGURATE TOURIST PANORAMA ‘98

The Minister of Development Vaso Papandreou is to inaugurate this year’s "Tourist Panorama", the largest exhibition concerning domestic tourism, in Athens today. About 600 exhibitors are expected to take place in the exhibition which aims at bringing tourist enterprises and local tourist destinations into contact with the public. The exhibition will last until Sunday and will be open to the public.

[11] BOYCOTT ON MEAT AND FRESH PRODUCE SUCCESSFUL SO FAR

The first day of the nationwide boycott on meat and fresh produce declared by the Consumer Institute (INKA) has been successful as over than 17 percent of Greeks around the country refused to buy these items in protest of their price rises and profiteering outbreaks.

According to INKA, the five-day boycott that began on Monday has been highly successful so far, with some areas reporting a consumer participation rate of 38 percent .

A survey showed that nine out of ten Greek consumers agree with the boycott and seven out of ten believe the results would have a positive effect on prices.

[12] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF POLAND

Prime minister Kostas Simitis met in Athens this afternoon with Polish president Alexander Kwasniewski who completed his formal visit to Greece.

President Kwasniewski’s visit took place within the framework of the contacts Poland has for the promotion of its accession course toward the European Union and NATO.

Prime minister Simitis expressed Greece’s willingness to offer advise to Poland based on its long experience in the EU. Mr. Simitis is scheduled to visit Poland in early November.

[13] ANKARA DOES NOT RESPECT INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THIS IS THE MAIN PROBLEM IN THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Chief of Greek National Defense Staff, wing commander Athanasios Tzoganis in his meeting with Turkish Chief of Staff, general Ismail Hakki Karadayi pointed out the fact that Ankara with its moves shows no respect to International Law and this is the main problem in the Greek-Turkish relations.

The above were stated by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas when asked to comment on the Tzoganis-Karadayi meeting that was held within the framework of the Western European Union Chiefs of Staff meeting which was held at the seaside resort of Vouliagmeni near Athens.

However, Mr. Reppas stated that efforts are being made for a rapprochement between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Turkish intransigence in the issue of the Cyprus problem was condemned by the Greek Parliament deputies attending the 99th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference that is being held in Namibia.

[14] REPPAS COMMENTED ON LAST NIGHT’S ROCKET ATTACK

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referred to last night’s rocket attack against a branch of Citibank in an Athens suburb. Mr. Reppas stated that this action was targeting democracy and political stability in Greece.

The government spokesman stated that efforts are being made for the arrest of those who are responsible for the attack, adding that police looks for common elements between last night’s attack and the other three that were made in Athens since last February targeting American interests.

In last night’s attack the terrorists launched a rocket that did not explode but when it hit the front of the bank it caused extensive damage.

[15] THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY ANNOUNCED THE SPEEDING-UP OF PRIVATIZATIONS

Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou, speaking in the conference organized by the magazine “Economist” in Athens, announced the speeding-up of privatizations in the large public service companies to reach a percentage of 49%.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that by the year 2000, at the latest, all changes in the social security system will be implemented.

National Bank of Greece governor Mr. Theodoros Karatzas stated that state companies and private banks must be merged in the immediate future in order to be able to deal with competition.

Bank of Greece deputy governor Mr. Dimopoulos pointed out that if the drachma had remained outside the European exchange rate mechanism Greece would have faced very unpleasant developments.

[16] THESSALONIKI’S METRO WILL BE READY IN 5 YEARS

Minister of environment, land planning and public works Kostas Laliotis announced in Thessaloniki today that the dispute between the Greek state and the “Makedonikon Metro” consortium has ended. Mr. Laliotis stated that the decision was reached by the European Union college of commissioners.

The construction of the project will pick up from where it had stopped in June 1997 and it is estimated that it will be completed in five years.

[17] THERE WILL BE NO OLYMPIC AIRWAYS STRIKE IN EASTER

A new era will dawn for Olympic Airways on Friday morning underlined minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou speaking in the conference organized in Athens by the British publishing house “Economist”.

President of the Federation of Civil Aviation Employees’ Unions Michalis Perros gave the assurance that during the Easter holidays there will be no strikes in Olympic Airways.

Meanwhile, the OA management will meet again today with the Air and Ground Hostesses Union.

[18] THE STATE OF HEALTH OF KONSTANTINOS KARAMANLIS IS IMPROVING

The state of health of Konstantinos Karamanlis improves steadily, according to the second medical bulletin that was issued by his doctors in the “Hygia” Hospital in Athens.

Mr. Karamanlis was rushed to the hospital yesterday and the doctors diagnosed that he had an infection in the respiratory system.

The former president’s personal doctor, Mr. Belonias stated regarding the seriousness of his patient’s infection that it was not deemed necessary to put him in intensive care.

[19] PATRIARCH PETROS OF ALEXANDRIA IS IN HOSPITAL

Patriarch Petros of Alexandria is hospitalized in the Onasion Cardiology Center in Athens suffering from heart attack.

The 49yearold Patriarch, who comes from Cyprus, was rushed to the Athens hospital and no report on his condition has been issued yet.

[20] ARCHBISHOP SERAPHIM’S CONDITION REMAINS CRITICAL

The state of health of Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece, Seraphim, who is still hospitalized in Athens, remains critical.

The Archbishop underwent again a dialysis treatment and the doctors are waiting to see how he will react to it. His blood pressure remains at normal levels and he is not on a life support system.

[21] THE YOUNG GREEKS LIVING ABROAD WILL HOLD THEIR 1ST CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI

The representatives of Greek community organizations participating in the Council of Hellenes Abroad will meet in Thessaloniki and their three-day conference will take place from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, April 12.

In the conference, that is organized by the Council of Hellenes Abroad- Region of Europe, will take part young people aged 18-28, who are members of the organizations of Greeks living in European countries.

The conference will be under the auspices of minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos and its title will be “Thrace, the Aegean, Cyprus - The borders of the united Europe”.

Among the topics that will be examined during the conference will be the Cyprus issue, the Greek-Turkish relations, the issue of the Aegean island of Imvros and the Greek minority in Albania as well as, issues concerning human rights.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[22] HARVARD TO HOST BALKAN CINEMA FESTIVAL

Harvard University is to host the first Balkan Cinema Festival, co-organized and financed by the Socrates Kokkalis program, Harvard's Southeastern Europe Society and the John Kennedy faculty of the school. Six films are to be screened between April 10-12, namely "The Time of the Gypsies", "Round Up", "Blind Chance", "The Oak", "Eskiye" and "Balkanizater". Also, a discussion will be held titled "the Serb Deadlock: The Policy of Nationalities in the Past Decade."

[23] GREEK PREMIER TRAVELS TO BULGARIA NEXT WEEK

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to conduct a two-day visit to Bulgaria on April 14-15, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos and Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou

Mr. Simitis will be received by the Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and his Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Kostov.

According to Bulgarian press reports, the two premiers will discuss regional security, while the foreign ministers of Greece and Bulgaria (Nadejda Michailova) will discuss Bulgaria’s candidacy for accession to the European Union.

[24] GREECE’S STANCE ON THRACE’S MUSLIMS IS IRREPROACHABLE

The review committee of the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly has hailed the Greek government’s decision to abolish Article 19 of the citizenship code as a “highly significant development.”

As such, the committee opted not to proceed into as “review process: for the conditions of the Muslim population residing in western Thrace, thereby rejecting Turkey’s insistent claim.

Committee members traveled to various regions of Thrace and met numerous times with members of the Greek parliament prior to deciding not to proceed with further checks.

The Committee’s chief Guido de Marco, a former minister in Malta, wrote in his review that “experience showed that democratic changes can be achieved through constructive dialogue, without setting forth any other process.” In regards to other countries, the C of E committee is making recommendations to the Czech republic, Lithuania and Albania, while it will embark on a review process for Lethonia. Moreover, it will adopt “report plans” for the situation in FYROM, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, Moldavia, Russia and Croatia.

Interestingly so, nothing is mentioned for Turkey, in spite of the fact that in 1995 the plenary session of the C of E had decided to cancel Turkey’s participation in the organization in the case that this country failed to meet the relevant criteria within a specific time period.

[25] BELGRADE IS SATISFIED WITH THE VOTE IN PARLIAMENT

The leading members of most political parties in Serbia expressed complete satisfaction for the result of the recent vote in the Serb Parliament.

The Parliament deputies approved with their vote the proposal of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic to hold a referendum concerning the question on whether to accept or not an international mediation for the solution of the crisis in Kosovo.

[26] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS ON EMPLOYMENT AND THE LEFT

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, in an interview he gave in London yesterday after the end of the conference of the EU Socialist party leaders, he spoke about the prospects opened for the European Union and outlined the ways in which the Socialist parties can affect the EU policy.

He pointed out the unanimous view that prevailed namely, to continue the efforts for the European Economic and Monetary Union because it will secure better living conditions for the European people.

On the issue of employment and the creation of new job positions that dominated in yesterday’s meeting, Mr. Simitis pointed out that no immediate responses can be given and added that the issue of employment was discussed within the framework of employability. This term means that under the new conditions that form in the world market there should be a systematic training of workers so that in every phase of their lives to be able to adjust to the developments and find work, stressed Mr. Simitis adding that education and training play a significant role.

The Greek prime minister stated that a certain type of training is needed, mainly vocational training as well as, the active contribution of companies toward this direction. He said that employment should have the characteristics of stability that will offer to the people a sense of security for the future.

Mr. Simitis also spoke about the convergence of the socialist left and the center-left saying that the new political formation that will emerge should target the middle class which until now was overlooked by the socialist parties and the left in general.

[27] PASCAL MILO IN UNOFFICIAL VISIT TO FYROM

Albanian Foreign minister Pascal Milo arrived unexpectedly today in Skopje where he met with his FYROM counterpart Blagoj Handziski.

According to the state radio station, the two officials discussed bilateral issues, the development of the relations between the two countries, the eventuality of a meeting of the presidents of FYROM Kiro Gligorov and Albania Reixhep Meidani as well as the situation in Kosovo.

Regarding bilateral relations, emphasis was given to the implementation of the agreements the two countries signed, particularly in the economic sector.

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