Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-04-28

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, April 28, 1998

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] METROPOLITE CHRISTODOULOS OF DIMITRIADA IS THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF GREECE

The new head of the Greek Church is Metropolite Christodoulos of Dimitriada. His name was announced a short while ago by Metropolite Chrisostomos of Messinia who wished in his message that the new Archbishop will lead the Church of Greece in a manner worthy of his predecessors with prudence and consistency.

The 59yearold new Archbishop has participated in many Church missions abroad and his rich pastoral work is widely recognized.

He is regarded as one of the most educated clergymen, he speaks a number of foreign languages, has studied law and is a theology professor. He was ordained a deacon in 1961.

The newly elected Archbishop had served as a secretary of the Holy Synod. He was elected Metropolite of Dimitriada in 1974. He belongs to the “Chrisopigi” brotherhood which is led by Metropolite Kallinikos of Pireaus and its members are the Metropolites of Samos and Kalavrita. Christodoulos, together with Metropolite Anthimos of Alexandroupolis had raised the issue of economic scandals within the Church two years ago.

He is regarded as very active and he is responsible for the opening of the radio and television station of the Church of Greece.

[02] THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF GREECE ISSUED A MESSAGE OF UNITY AND COOPERATION

The new Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece issued a message of unity after his election, underlining his devotion to the Church’s system of operation, while he appealed to all sides to support his work. Archbishop Christodoulos also pointed out the need for the Church to make new openings toward the people aimed at the solution of their problems, while at the same time protecting tradition.

Archbishop Christodoulos stressed that at the moment he does not want to present the reorganization plans for the Church but he expressed the certainty that everyone is aware of the need for the Church’s internal reorganization and its dynamic and live presence among the people.

[03] ARSENIS: THE ELECTION OF THE NEW ARCHBISHOP IS A HISTORIC MOMENT

Minister of education and religion Gerasimos Arsenis stated in his message after the election of the new Archbishop of Greece that this is a historic moment.

Mr. Arsenis said that he observed the election procedures on behalf of the government and referring to the new Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece, stressed that he takes over as head of the Greek Church just two years before the dawn of the 21st century in a new era in which the Church undoubtedly can and must play an increased role which pre-supposes the cooperation with the Greek state.

[04] ANKARA UNDERMINES EVERY PROSPECT OF CONVERGENCE WITH THE EU

With the policy it follows, Ankara undermines any prospect of convergence with the European Union, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, criticizing Turkey for challenging the Greek sovereignty over the islands of Fourni, Farmakonisi, Agathonisi and Pserimos.

Mr. Reppas stated that the Greek foreign minister has submitted three memoranda to the EU partners with detailed references to the Turkish provocation in the Aegean.

[05] PAPADIMOS: THE EXCHANGE RATE OF THE DRACHMA IS STABLE

Bank of Greece governor Mr. Loukas Papadimos states in his 1998 monetary policy report, which was presented in Parliament today, that the drachma’s exchange rate remains stable toward the foreign currencies.

Mr. Papadimos stresses that in the present year the drachma will not deviate more than 2,5% from the exchange rates set on March 13. He also mentions that the exchange rate of the drachma will remain stable toward the rest European currencies that belong to the Exchange Rate Mechanism.

The governor of the Bank of Greece characterized the rumors on a new devaluation of the drachma as unfounded. A similar statement was made by minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou from Paris where the summit of the Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Security takes place. Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there are hidden purposes behind the rumors on the devaluation of the drachma.

[06] NEW MEETING OF THE OA MANAGEMENT WITH THE PILOTS

The management of Olympic Airways had new talks with the airline pilots. The company’s president Theodoros Tsakiridis stated that until today there was a status of co-management that had as a result for OA to lose the right to determine the course of the company.

The OA president also stressed that from now on the right of management will be exercised and everything possible will be done for the company in order to win back the trust of the people and the lost ground.

[07] AN ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE DELEGATION HAS ARRIVED IN THESSALONIKI

A five-member Ecumenical Patriarchate delegation has arrived in Thessaloniki to participate in the two-day meeting of the 15 autocephalous Orthodox Churches that will open on April 30 to make preparations for the synod of the year 2000.

The delegations of the Orthodox Churches will arrive in Thessaloniki tomorrow and minister of Macedonia-Thrace will give a formal dinner in their honor.

[08] GREEK PREMIER TO ATTEND EURO SUMMIT THIS WEEKEND

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to attend the European Union summit, to be held this weekend in Brussels, where the “15” will appoint the members which will first adopt the EU’s single currency, the Euro, by January 1, 1999.

Preceding Saturday’s Summit, the EU’s Economy and Finance Ministers are to meet on Friday in order to review the European Commission’s evaluation of economic performance of each member state. They will submit their recommendations to the “Euro” Summit attendees.

[09] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PILOTS CALL OFF PLANNED STRIKE

The pilots of the national air carrier Olympic Airways have canceled their planned strike after their association representatives held talks with the company’s board of directors yesterday and they were reassured that OA will not reduce the flight schedules.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that Olympic Airways will need to form strategic alliances with foreign airlines in the future in order to survive.

"The government is doing everything to make OA's revitalization plan a success. Despite errors and delays, the situation is in a phase of adaptation," Mr. Reppas stated.

[10] BRITISH EURO-DEPUTY WANTS PARTHENON MARBLES IN GREECE

British Eurodeputy Ken Coates, who is also the president of the Bertrand Russell Foundation for Peace, has openly advocated the position that the Parthenon Marbles that are currently housed at the British Museum should be returned to Greece.

Addressing the issue of "The Civilization and Freedom of Lord Byron against Lord Elgin" during a three-day series of events in honor of Lord Byron at the Athens Book Arcade, Mr. Coates stated that Lord Byron called Lord Elgin "a barbarian Scotsman" for having taken the Greek monuments.

[11] GREECE’S NATIONAL BANK BRANCHES OUT IN ROMANIA

The National Bank of Greece is to inaugurate a branch in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on May 14.

The bank already operates branches in Albania and plans to open new ones in Serbia.

Theodoros Karatzas, the bank's governor, will attend the opening ceremony, accompanied by a delegation of Greek bankers and businessmen.

[12] TZOGANIS-BULATOVIC MEETING IN BELGRADE

Chief of the Greek National Defence General Staff, wing- commander Athanasios Tzoganis met today with minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Pavle Bulatovic within the framework of his three-day visit to Belgrade.

The two officials agreed that bilateral cooperation presents a satisfactory development and particularly focused on the stability and security in the Balkans as well as the situation in Kossovo.

Mr Tzoganis reiterated Greece’s firm position that the Kossovo problem is an internal issue of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that the crisis in the region should be resolved through political means and democratic dialogue.

[13] GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID TO IRAQ

The group of Greek Parliament deputies, who brought with them an amount of humanitarian aid for the children of Iraq, met today in Baghdad with the head of the Iraqi Parliament Committee for External Affairs Halid Aldaui.

Mr Aldaui thanked the Greek deputies, Giorgos Katsibardis and Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos of the governing party of PASOK and Spyros Danelis of the left party of Synaspismos, for their offer as well as for their willingness to explore the eventuality for sick Iraqi children to be hospitalised in Greece.

The Greek deputies group completed their mission to the country with the delivery of medicine to the Health ministry of Iraq. The delegation was carrying 120 kilos of medicine that were offered by several hospitals of Athens and with the help of the deputy president of the Social Security Institution, Antonis Karras.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[14] RUSSIA WILL DELIVER THE S-300 TO CYPRUS IN AUGUST

Russia will deliver the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Cyprus in August, according to Gevgeni Ananiev head of the state weapons manufacturer.

The two sides have agreed to go through with the 600 million dollar contact for the delivery of the ground-to-air missiles which was signed in January last year in spite of Ankara’s strong reaction.

The position of the Greek and the Cypriot government is that the missiles will be used for defensive purposes only, while Ankara is against their installation in Cyprus making it clear that if there is a need it will use violence to stop their delivery.

[15] A GREEK-AUSTRALIAN WOMAN WON THE FIRST PLACE IN A SCIENTIFIC COMPETITION

The 26yearold Greek-Australian Kalliopi Vasilopoulou, the youngest lecturer in the Australian Defense Academy, was declared winner of the Mechanical Engineering Competition in Brisbaine. Kalliopi Vasilopoulou is one of the two women teaching in the Space Mechanical Engineering School in the University of Camberra. Part of the report that won her the first prize concerns the design of helicopter propellers that will improve their speed and make them more fuel efficient.

Kalliopi Vasilopoulou was born in Melbourne. Her father Nikitas is from Kalamata and her mother Sofia is from the island of Naxos.

[16] TURKEY CHALLENGES SOVEREIGNTY OF FOUR GREEK ISLANDS

Turkey has proceeded to another provocation against Greece.

According to Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, during yesterday’s European Union’s Foreign Ministers Council held at Luxembourg, Ankara is challenging the Greek sovereignty of four islands, namely Fourni, Agathonisi, Farmakonisi and Pserimo.

Moreover, Mr. Pangalos stressed that Greece will not lift its veto over Turkey’s funding from the EU.

[17] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED, BUT CALM, OVER TURKEY’S CHALLENGE

Greek Foreign Ministry officials are concerned, yet remain calm, over the recent provocation displayed by Turkey in regards to four islands in southeastern Aegean.

Addressing the European Union’s Council of General Affairs in Brussels yesterday, Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos provided the EU’s Foreign Ministers with a memorandum that revealed the Turkish move to challenge the sovereignty of four Greek islands. Specifically, on March 26, Turkey questioned the sovereignty of the islands Fournoi, Agathonisi, Farmakonisi and Pserimos. These are middle-sized islands all inhabited. They are part of Greece by virtue of the Treaty of Lausanne (1923), and the Peace Treaty of Paris (1947).

The Turkish challenge was issued at the same time as Greece had filed a demarche over the violations of the Athens FIR by Turkish fighter jets. "After Imia, Turkey is escalating its aggressiveness against Greece," the Greek FM said, adding that under such conditions Athens cannot lift its reservations against the adoption of the financial protocol - concerning 375 million ECU - for Turkey.

The second memorandum given by Mr. Pangalos to his European counterparts referred to Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's refusal, as communicated to Greece, to travel to Rhodes on May 11- 12 in order to meet with his Greek counterpart on the sidelines of the West European Union's ministerial session. With this position, Turkey makes it clear that it does not desire dialogue with Greece and a peaceful solution to whatever differences, Mr. Pangalos stated.

[18] NEW EPISODES ERUPT AT KOSSOVO

New episodes erupted yesterday between the Serb army and members of the Albanian community of Kossovo.

The President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic reiterated that his country will not accept foreign intervention on the mater of Kossovo.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s 15 member-states have agreed to proceed to additional sanctions against Belgrade.

[19] 12 YEARS SINCE THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT, NO PLANS TO CLOSE IT

The formidable nuclear accident at Chernobyl in the Ukraine occurred twelve years ago but, in spite of the devastating repercussions of that event, no measures have been taken to permanently close the nuclear plant.

On the contrary, one of the plant’s reactors, Number Three, is to be restarted again this month, according to the station’s personnel.

Reactor Number Three -- the only one of four reactors which has functioned since Chernobyl's Number Four reactor exploded on April 26, 1986 -- was shut down last year after cracks were discovered in the cooling system's pipes.

[20] GREEK LABOR MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO EGYPT

Greece’s Minister of Labor and Social Security Miltiades Papaioannou wrapped up his official three-day visit to Egypt yesterday, with the signing of a joint communique, at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart Ahmad al Ammawi's invitation.

Mr. Papaioannou met with Mr. Ammawi and discussed bilateral labor issues, while he was also received by the Egyptian Premier Dr. Kamal Ganzouri

The Greek Labor Minister also visited the Monastery of Agios Georgios where the Patriarch of Alexandria Petros VII officiated the vespers service.

[21] US TO PROPOSE PACKAGE OF MEASURES OVER KOSSOVO CRISIS

The United States are reportedly planning to propose a package of measures at the imminent “Contact Group” meeting in their effort to put an end to the fermenting crisis in Kossovo, according to Washington officials.

Specifically, the State Department is expected to adopt unilateral measures if it cannot persuade all members of the “Contact Group” to accept the package deal against the violence in Kosovo. It will recommend that the measures include a freeze on Yugoslav assets held overseas and a ban on international trade with Belgrade.

"The United States reiterates the UN and the Contact Group's call for the immediate withdrawal of special police units from the Kosovo region. Belgrade authorities and the Kosovo-Albanians to engage in an unconditional dialogue," State Department spokesman James Foley said. Meanwhile, the European Union has imposed an embargo on Yugoslavia, as of yesterday, on the supply of arms and equipment Sintended for internal repression or terrorism. "

The EU ministers said Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had not done enough to seek a peaceful settlement in Kossovo and threatened more sanctions unless he complied.

"Belgrade had better take note -- the outside world is not going to let this one go," said British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

"The EU is going to make sure ethnic confrontation is not going to be allowed to continue in any part of Europe."

[22] SPORTS MINISTERS FROM 47 COUNTRIES MEET AT CYPRUS IN MAY

Sports ministers from 47 European countries are to discuss athletics-related matters, with the possibility of applying the outcomes at this summer’s World Cup and at the Olympic Games of 2004, when they meet next month in Cyprus.

The ministers are to review matters that will not only concern the athletes, but will actually look into the audience and the ways to involve people in sports throughout their lives.

Specifically, while the Olympic Games International Committee is currently preparing a “medical code”, the ministers are to tackle issues such as to what degree the athletic organizations should prohibit the use of “performance enhancing” drugs, as well as the so-called “social drugs” such as hashish.

The Council of Europe has decided to embark on the control of performance-enhancing drugs beyond the sports arena.

[23] RAUF DENKTASH TO MEET WITH RICHARD HOLBROOKE ON MAY 2

The leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash has stated that he is ready to attend a conference concerning the Cyprus issue, that will feature the participation of Greece, the Greek- Cypriots, Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriots.

Regarding the visit of the United States presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke to the island, Mr. Denktash stated that he will meet with him on May 2.

[24] NATO MIGHT INTERVENE IN KOSSOVO

NATO Secretary-General’s assistant on political matters Klaus- Peter Kliber characterized the situation in Kossovo as extremely dangerous and explosive, during his address before the assembly of the Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Council, which is wrapping up in Helsinki today.

According to the Serb news Agency BETA, the NATO official stated that the fragility of the current situation in Kossovo might force NATO to intervene in order to avert the spilling over of the collision into neighboring states.

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