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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-05-06

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, May 6, 1998


NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS


TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH COUNTRY’S POLITICAL LEADERS

  • [02] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS TO BE ENTHRONED ON SATURDAY

  • [03] GREECE,US COOPERATE ON COPYRIGHT ISSUES

  • [04] GREEK ADVERTISERS OPPOSE EU BAN ON TOBACCO ADS

  • [05] WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION TO CONFER IN RHODES THIS WEEKEND

  • [06] REPPAS: GREECE WANTS COOPERATION WITH ALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN CYPRUS

  • [07] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ABSENCE OF THE PRIME MINISTER FROM THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW ARCHBISHOP

  • [08] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS BRIEFED THE POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS

  • [09] DROP OF 2,46% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

  • [10] INTENSE AFTERSHOCK ACTIVITY IN EASTERN CRETE

  • [11] “KARELIA”: PROMOTION OF EXPORTS TO EASTERN ASIA

  • [12] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: IMPROVEMENT IN GREEK-FYROM RELATIONS

  • [13] FATOS NANO TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TOMORROW


  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] KOSSOVO CRISIS STILL FERMENTING

  • [15] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER ADDRESSES WEU MEETING

  • [16] GREECE’S DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH SPANISH COUNTERPART

  • [17] WHITE HOUSE AGREES IN PART WITH HOLBROOKE’S ASSESSMENTS

  • [18] ALBANIA WANTS INTERNAITONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSSOVO

  • [19] BELGRADE TO HOST “RIGAS FEREOS AND THE BALKAN PEOPLES”

  • [20] ALBANIA, GREECE SIGN AGREEMENT ON HEALTH

  • [21] GREECE A BRIDGE OF ENERGY FLOW BETWEEN MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE

  • [22] THE ARMED CLASHES IN KOSOVO CONTINUE

  • [23] GLIGOROV-FLORAKIS MEETING IN FYROM


  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH COUNTRY’S POLITICAL LEADERS

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to meet with the country’s political leaders whom he will brief on the recently-held Euro Summit, meeting first with the leader of the main opposition party New Democracy’s Kostas Karamanlis.

    Tomorrow, the Premier will give a press conference. Yesterday, he was received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos whom he briefed on the results of the Euro Summit held over the weekend in Brussels.

    [02] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS TO BE ENTHRONED ON SATURDAY

    The newly-elected Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece Crhistodoulos is to be enthroned this Saturday at the Athens Metropolis.

    The President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will not attend the ceremony, but representatives from the ecumenical patriarchate and the orthodox churches are to be present.

    [03] GREECE,US COOPERATE ON COPYRIGHT ISSUES

    Greece and the United States are cooperating on copyright issues and hope to reach a solution that will be mutually beneficial, according to the government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas.

    Mr. Reppas stated yesterday that US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns is to confer with the Greek government on this matter.

    The United States warned last week that it would embark on World Trade Organization dispute settlement procedures after the Greek government failed to curb high rates of piracy of U.S.-owned films and programs by -mostly local- television stations.

    [04] GREEK ADVERTISERS OPPOSE EU BAN ON TOBACCO ADS

    The European Union-proposed ban on tobacco advertisements has been met with the fierce opposition of the Union of Greek Advertising and the Union of Greek Daily Newspapers who argue that the ban infringes on the public’s right to information and choice.

    These two groups were linked with their European counterparts, who also voice concern over the ban during a tele- conference between Athens and Brussels yesterday. Stavros Leousis of the Union of Greek Advertisers said it is the right of the consumer to make an educated assessment of the pros and cons of a product.

    "If one cigarette is 'lighter' than another, or has a better filter, the proposed ban would deny consumers the right to know that, and the right to choose on the basis of adequate information", Mr. Leousis stated. "That is not fair".

    The chairman of the European Editors Council Frank Rogers agrees.

    "The freedom in which one communicates information pertaining to products is closely linked to the freedom of the press".

    The EU is to decide on whether or not it will go ahead with the tobacco ban later this month.

    [05] WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION TO CONFER IN RHODES THIS WEEKEND

    The Western European Union is to hold a conference at the island of Rhodes this weekend and, according to reports, NATO’s secretary-general Javier Solana is expected to refer to the subject of confidence-building -measures between Greece and Turkey.

    At a meeting of the WEU parliament in Spain, Mr. Solana met with Greek defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who invited the Alliance‘s chief to Greece this summer.

    The foreign and defense ministers of Greece and the other nine WEU members will be at the Rhodes conference, while Turkey’s defense minister will also attend, as Turkey has associate status in the WEU.

    [06] REPPAS: GREECE WANTS COOPERATION WITH ALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN CYPRUS

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commenting on the statements made by Cypriot Parliament president Spyros Kyprianou, who blames the Greek government for the present state of the Cyprus problem, said that Greece’s policy is known and effective and it moves on the same lines with the policy followed by the Cypriot government.

    Mr. Reppas stressed that the policy followed promotes the national interest and that Greece wants cooperation with all political parties in Cyprus.

    Regarding Mr. Kyprianou’s criticism on prime minister’s decision not to meet with him, Mr. Reppas stated that the government has avoided any involvement in the pre-election procedures in Cyprus and for this reason no contact was made. He also said that if Mr. Kyprianou wants to meet with the prime minister under his capacity as president of the Cypriot Parliament he is welcomed.

    [07] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ABSENCE OF THE PRIME MINISTER FROM THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW ARCHBISHOP

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, commenting on the row that was created when it was made known that prime minister Kostas Simitis will not attend the installation of Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece, said that the commotion was created without a reason.

    The prime minister’s presence was not scheduled, clarified Mr. Reppas and stressed that there is no problem in the relations between the Church and the state, pointing out that the government wants good cooperation with the new Archbishop.

    [08] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS BRIEFED THE POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis briefed the political party leaders on the outcome of the Brussels EU summit meeting.

    Opposition ND party leader Kostas Karamanlis characterized Greece’s exclusion from the first phase of the Economic and Monetary Union as a national downgrading. He also called for the adoption of a development policy that will include a wide privatization program and spending cuts in the public sector.

    Communist party secretary-general Aleka Papariga stressed that her party criteria are totally different from those of the government.

    Coalition of the Left party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos pointed out that Greece is at risk to be left outside Europe as a result of the policy that is being followed.

    [09] DROP OF 2,46% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    The general price index in the Athens Stock Exchange dropped by 2,46% at noon today. The exchange rate of the drachma toward the main foreign currencies has declined after the notable increase in the previous days.

    Meanwhile, the government has decided to cut the number of employees in the Greek Railway Organization by 2.500 people through early retirement.

    [10] INTENSE AFTERSHOCK ACTIVITY IN EASTERN CRETE

    Strong aftershock activity is being recorded in eastern Crete, south Aegean after the tremor that measured 5 on the Richter scale and shock the region of Agios Nikolaos Bay yesterday afternoon.

    Seismologists are still cautious and stress that they monitor the phenomenon closely, while local authorities are in a state of alert.

    [11] “KARELIA”: PROMOTION OF EXPORTS TO EASTERN ASIA

    The development of new international cooperation with the countries of the Far East is being promoted by the management of the “KARELIA” tobacco company, the second largest tobacco company in Greece. For this purpose, company executives will be in Hong- Kong in two weeks to head the presentation of the company’s products in an international exhibition.

    “KARELIA” tobacco company, which is based in southern Greece, aims at having contacts with trade representatives from the wider geographic area of eastern Asia and to increase its exports to those countries.

    It should be noted that in the past four years the company has introduced 10 new cigarette brands that won the wide acceptance of the consumers. The “KARELIA” tobacco company has already expanded to new markets in western and eastern Europe, north America, Far East, Middle East and in Africa.

    [12] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: IMPROVEMENT IN GREEK-FYROM RELATIONS

    Greek alternate Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, in a press conference he gave today, in Strasbourg, expressed his conviction that the relations between Greece and FYROM presented a substantial progress and improvement.

    Mr Papandreou underlined that the Interim Agreement between the two countries led to the settlement of several problems concerning bilateral relations.

    Regarding the issue of the official name of FYROM, mr Papandreou expressed his hopes that following the talks in New York, a solution would be soon found and stressed the need for the consultations to be continued so as to reach a positive outcome.

    [13] FATOS NANO TO VISIT THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

    Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano, accompanied by the minister of National Economy and Privatization Ily Bufi and a six- member delegation, will be in Thessaloniki tomorrow, within the framework of a 4-day visit, after an invitation by the Northern Greek Industries Federation.

    Mr Nano, who is due to arrive in Thessaloniki at 19:00pm, will hold talks with representatives of the industrial world of Macedonia and Thrace and is expected to visit education institutes in order to investigate the eventuality of a bilateral cooperation in the field of technology.

    The Albanian prime minister will also meet with Macedonia - Thrace minister Philippos Petsalnikos.


    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [14] KOSSOVO CRISIS STILL FERMENTING

    The situation in Kossovo remains tense as armed conflict continues for the fourth successive day between Serb armed forces and Albanian guerrillas.

    Yesterday, Russia’s alternate Foreign Minister Ivanov met with the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic with whom he reviewed the Kossovo situation.

    [15] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER ADDRESSES WEU MEETING

    Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated yesterday that the Western European Union (WEU) must develop in tandem with NATO and not in opposition to the Alliance.

    Addressing the WEU parliamentary assembly meeting held in Madrid , Mr. Tsochatzopoulos added that "the principle of compatibility and joint - and not separate - use of available means and facilities must be maintained. "

    The WEU and NATO plan their first-ever joint exercise for the year 2000. Greece will be hosting a two-day WEU defense and foreign ministers' meeting on Rhodes which begins next Monday.

    [16] GREECE’S DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH SPANISH COUNTERPART

    Greece’s Defense minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos met with his Spanish counterpart Eduardo Serra in Madrid yesterday, where he briefed him on the Cyprus issue, specifically the recent developments concerning the US presidential envoy’s failed attempts to re-start talks between the island’s two communities.

    "We regret the intransigence of the Turkish Cypriot side, in the same way as we regret Turkey's refusal to accept the promotion of a solution to the Cyprus issue based on international rules and the UN's resolutions," Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated.

    "My country does not refuse dialogue, but certain preconditions must exist such as respect for international treaties and international law, as well as abstention from provocative attitudes," Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said.

    Mr. Serra stated that his country follows the principle of resolving problems with peaceful means so as to decrease tensions.

    They discussed a variety of issues, ranging from security to the establishment of a unified currency throughout the European Union. They also discussed the upcoming visit to Athens of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia.

    [17] WHITE HOUSE AGREES IN PART WITH HOLBROOKE’S ASSESSMENTS

    The White House spokesperson Mike McCurry stated yesterday, during the daily briefing, that the Clinton Administration “concurs with some of the assessments provided by Ambassador (Richard) Holbrooke”, referring to the latter’s failed attempts to re-start talks between Cyprus’s Greek-Cypriots and Turkish- Cypriots.

    According to Mr. McCurry, the US Presidential envoy has indicated the United States has continued to -- will be prepared to continue the US’s effort to facilitate a search “for a settlement on Cyprus, an ongoing conflict between two of our close allies and, in turn, their allies and their associated populations on the island of Cyprus.

    “It's high time to end that conflict and try to bring about a settlement which we believe you can see your way to if the parties set aside some of their differences and move forward and negotiate seriously. We would certainly hope that both the Turkish Cypriots and the government on Cyprus would make that effort,” Mr. McCurry said.

    When asked to comment on reports that Mr. Holbrooke is planning now to use NATO forces to prevent a conflict over Cyprus stemming from the Turkish side’s displeasure of Cyprus’s purchase of S-300 Russian missiles, Mr. McCurry stated that “this would be something that we would have to take up and deliberate within the confines of the North Atlantic Council.”

    However, he added, “I'm not aware that there is a pending issue with respect to the S-300s that arises in NATO, although they clearly are concerned about that because they -- within NATO, our allies share the concerns that we've expressed about the potentially destabilizing aspects of the introduction of that missile technology into the reason.”

    [18] ALBANIA WANTS INTERNAITONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN KOSSOVO

    Albania’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs is to hold successive meetings with foreign diplomats in order to decide on the assignment of an international peacekeeping force in Kossovo.

    The parliamentary committee is to meet today with the ambassadors of the United states, France and Germany, while tomorrow they will receive the ambassadors of Italy, Greece , Russia and Spain.

    [19] BELGRADE TO HOST “RIGAS FEREOS AND THE BALKAN PEOPLES”

    The international conference titled “Rigas Fereos and the Balkan peoples 1798-1998” is to be held in Belgrade tomorrow, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary since the death of the Greek revolutionary.

    The event is jointly organized by the School of literature of Belgrade’s University, Greece’s Democritus University, the Balkanological Institute of the Serb Academy of sciences and Arts and the Athens-based association “Rigas Fereos Velestinlis”.

    [20] ALBANIA, GREECE SIGN AGREEMENT ON HEALTH

    Albania and Greece have proceeded to the signing of a two- year, health issues related agreement which provides for the development of joint research programs between the two countries, and cooperation between research centers on issues of mutual interest.

    The agreement took place within the framework of the three- day visit to Tirana conducted by Greece’s Health Minister Kostas Geitonas.

    As part of the agreement, Greece will also provide free hospital care for up to 300 Albanian citizens per year, at the discretion of the health minister. Greece is also preparing a program of internships at Greek hospitals for young Albanian physicians.

    [21] GREECE A BRIDGE OF ENERGY FLOW BETWEEN MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE

    The creation of a network of continues flow of energy among the countries of North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Mediterranean is part of a plan, which includes Greece, that has been signed in Cairo between the Greek Minister of Development Vaso Papandreou and her Egyptian counterpart.

    Through this energy plan, Greece is rendered as the “gate” for the expansion of this energy network throughout Europe.

    The first part of this plan foresees a continuous flow of energy between Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The countries of northern Africa will try to get linked with the system through Egypt, while the European countries will be linked through Greece and Turkey.

    Ms. Papandreou stated that the political differences between Greece and Turkey will not hamper the materialization of this plan.

    In the future, the European countries will have the option of gaining access tot he network through Spain-Morocco and Italy- Tunisia.

    The first phase of the plan, which is expected to be activated within the year, is to cost USD500 million and will result in the conservation of energy in the aforementioned countries, valued at two-to-three billion dollars.

    [22] THE ARMED CLASHES IN KOSOVO CONTINUE

    A police officer was killed and two others were injured in the town of Mitrovica in Kosovo, when armed Albanians opened fire on a Serb patrol.

    Meanwhile, Belgrade considers for the first time the likelihood of international mediation and Tirana tries to persuade the Western governments to send an international peace-keeping force to Kosovo.

    [23] GLIGOROV-FLORAKIS MEETING IN FYROM

    The honorary president of the Greek Communist Party Harilaos Florakis, who was on a one-day visit to FYROM, yesterday, heading a party delegation, met with the country’s president Kiro Gligorov.

    During their meeting, the two officials discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations as well as the impact of the situation in Kosovo on the stability of the Balkans.

    Mr Florakis expressed his satisfaction over the meeting and stressed that mr Gligorov assured him that FYROM had no territorial or other aspirations on Greece.


    Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

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