Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-05-15

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, May 15, 1998

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] BANK EMPLOYEES PROTEST STATE’S PRIVATIZATION PLANS

The country’s bank employees are protesting the state’s plans to privatizing the Ionian Bank and the staff of the National Bank of Greece are holding a number of rolling strikes that will last until June 12. The employees of Ionian Bank are on strike indefinitely.

The President of the bank employees union has asked the staff to show understanding while, at the same time, he accused the government of taking decisions without first holding a dialogue. He reiterated his opposition to the sale of Ionian Bank.

[02] PASOK CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO CONVENE TODAY

The ruling party’s central committee is to embark on a two- day session today where it will review PASOK’s social policy and reforms.

Some PASOK deputies and other officials, who form the so- called internal opposition, are expected to express criticism on the party’s policy regarding state-owned enterprises.

[03] GREECE SALUTES MILOSEVIC-RUGOVA MEETING

The Greek government yesterday saluted the talks to take place today in Belgrade between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of Kossovo’s Albanians Ibrahim Rugova.

The Greek Foreign Ministry issued a statement that read “Greece expresses the hope that both sides will rise to the occasion and fully assume, in the difficult course now beginning, their political responsibility for finding a solution to the issue of Kossovo to the benefit, primarily, of all its inhabitants, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but also the broader region. "

Moreover, the statement further added that that respect for existing borders, as well as the political and human rights of all inhabitants of the area, in accordance to UN and OSCE principles, is an essential condition for the easing of the current crisis.

"Greece, as a neighboring country with special links with all other nations in the region, expresses its satisfaction with this development and reiterates its willingness to continue providing its assistance to all sides if needed," concluded the statement.

[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER REPLIES TO TURKISH VERBAL CHALLENGES

Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos has not left the recent provocative statements made by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel go unanswered.

Mr. Demirel stated yesterday that his country can impose its will on the Aegean, warning that "Turkey's patience is not a product of weakness" and adding that his country “ is strong and it will decide when to display its force, carefully choosing its enemy, and the time and place".

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said Demirel's comments moved in the direction of open threats of war.

“Whoever chooses to use threats of violence, he added, shows himself to be the major factor for destabilizing peace and security in the region. “Greece and the rest of the international community will not tolerate such talk. The Greek armed forces are ready to defend the nation and its sovereign rights,” the Greek Defense Minister stated, adding that Turkey must at last realize that there is nothing to negotiate over in the Aegean.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the Turkish leader's tough talk was for domestic consumption, arrogant and a sign of weakness, not strength.

[05] PALESTINIANS IN ATHENS COMMEMMORATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF “BLACK DAY”

As today marks the fiftieth anniversary since the establishment of the state of Israel, members of Athens’ Palestinian community demonstrated outside the city’s United Nations office, handing UYN officials a resolution calling May 15, 1948 a “black day”.

The resolution read that it was "a black day in the history of the Palestinian people, whose land was grabbed" to enable the foundation of the Israeli state "whose splendid celebrations are presently being followed by the international community".

[06] CULTURE MINISTER CANCELS STATE ORCHESTRA CONCERT IN ANKARA

In light of the recent provocative and threatening statements made by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel against Greece and the assassination attempt made against the president of the Turkish Human Rights Association, Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos has ordered the cancellation of a scheduled appearance of the Athens State Orchestra (KOA) at the Ankara International Music Festival.

The concert is held annually on May 17 and 18, dates which coincide with the dark anniversary of the genocide of Black Sea (Pontian) Greeks in the 1910s.

"I hope that certain Turkish circles will not argue that Greece refuses cultural exchanges between the two countries. The crucial issue in the last few days regarding Greek-Turkish relations is not the concert but a new set of provocative and threatening statements made by various Turkish officials, Mr. Venizelos said in a statement, adding that, at international level, public opinion is shocked by the assassination attempt against Akin Birdal.

[07] WORKERS UNIONS FEDERATION, EMPLOYERS SEE EYE-TO-EYE

The General Confederation of Workers Unions (GSEE) and the representatives of private sector employers (EGSSE) have agreed on a collective bargaining contract for the next two years.

The new agreement, which is to be signed on Monday, includes a 4.7 per cent increase for 1998, which will be allocated in two installments, while for 1999 the two-installment increase is set at 2.8 per cent.

[08] SIMITIS: THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT YIELD TO PRESSURES

Prime minister Kostas Simitis accused the opposition parties that they have abandoned the field of political opposition and engage in scandal talk. He also called on all those who have in their possession evidence on alleged scandals to submit it to the prosecutor’s office.

Mr. Simitis, speaking in Athens today in the joint meeting of PASOK’s Central Committee and Parliamentary Group, attributed the actions of the opposition to certain interests and said that the government will not back down and will continue to fight for the interests of the Greek people. The prime minister stated that Greece’s course toward the EMU is a one-way street, stressing at the same time that it is not a panacea and that there will be negative phenomena such as, unemployment. He said that for the government the social state is a means for economic and social development and mostly, social justice.

[09] THE MINISTER OF FINANCE DEFENDED THE GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC POLICY

Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou defended the government economic policy speaking in the joint meeting of the Central Committee and Parliamentary Group of the governing Socialist party of PASOK.

Mr. Papantoniou stated that the government program moves on three main axes namely, work relations, social security system and public sector reform. Referring specifically to the reform of the public sector, he said that it is an obligation of the government to the people to have public service companies that offer quality services and are competitive. This way, he said, the existing job positions are safeguarded, stressing that there can be no employment without economic development.

[10] PAPAGEORGOPOULOS ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDATURE FOR THE MAYOR’S OFFICE

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy Vasilis Papageorgopoulos announced his decision to run for the office of Thessaloniki’s mayor in the municipal elections in October.

Responding to the question on how he was led to that decision, while in the past he had stated that he would be a candidate only if the present mayor, Konstantinos Kosmopoulos, withdrew his own candidature, Mr. Papageorgopoulos said that given the fact that the party and the people want him as a candidate, he believes that in the end he will be the only candidate from the party of New Democracy.

[11] THERE CAN BE NO ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITHOUT A POLITICAL ONE

The economic cooperation among the south-eastern European countries and the wider European region in general can not be independent from political cooperation. This was stressed in the 1st conference of Parliamentarians from south-eastern European countries taking place in Thessaloniki.

The first meeting opened under the presidency of the Council of Europe International Institute for Democracy deputy chairwoman Maarcelle Lentz-Cornette and the participants exchanged views on issues of economic cooperation noting the difficulties found and looking for ways to overcome them. They also referred to issues concerning bilateral relations, stressing that their normalization is a basic pre-condition in order to meet the targets set.

[12] THE GREEKS ABROAD GENERAL-SECRETARY IS ON A VISIT TO CANADA

Greeks Abroad general secretary Stavros Lambrinidis is on a three-day visit to Canada until May 17 to attend the annual Conference of the Greek-Canadian Congress. Mr. Lambrinidis, with his speech under the title “The policy of Greece and the Youth of the Diaspora”, will be the main speaker in the formal dinner that will be given on May 16.

During his stay in Canada, Mr. Lambrinidis will have meetings with leading representatives of the Greek community in Toronto.

[13] CONSTANTINESCU-KARATZAS MEETING

The governor of the National Bank of Greece Theodoros Karatzas met today with the Romanian president Emil Constantinescu.

The talks, they had, focused on the national economy of Romania and the perspectives of its further development, especially in the field of banks which are an important pivot for the development of the economy.

Mr Constantinescu particularly emphasized the privatization programme which has already started in his country while mr Karatzas stressed that the presence of the National Bank in Bucharest aims at offering all the spectrum of bank services.

Mr Karatzas also met with the Romanian Patriarch Theoktistos.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[14] MILOSEVIC-RUGOVA MEET IN BELGRADE TODAY

The President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of the Albanian community of Kossovo Ibrahim Rugova are to meet in Belgrade today.

The international community is hoping that this meeting will pave the way for easing the crisis in Kossovo. The Rugova-Milosevic meeting has been saluted by the European Union, the United States and Russia.

[15] UNITED STATES APPLAUD START OF RUGOVA-MILOSEVIC TALKS

The United States have saluted the talks slated to begin in Belgrade today between Serb President Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of Kossovo’s Albanian community Ibrahim Rugova.

State Department spokesperson James Rubin stated that the meeting will be held without preconditions and it is viewed as a procedural breakthrough.

“It is only the first step toward a political solution of Kossovo, Mr. Rubin said.

“We commend President Milosevic's willingness to assume personal responsibility in the search for a resolution of this problem. Dr. Rugova has agreed to meet with Milosevic without international participation, but also now without any preconditions. We support Dr. Rugova's efforts to resolve the crisis in a peaceful manner. The United States and the international community will be watching the situation very closely over the coming days.”

The talks, orchestrated by the US presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke, will be followed within one week by a series of meetings to take place at least once a week between the delegations of both sides. These meetings will take place in Prishtina, and they will alternate between sites chosen by both sides.

[16] ROMANIAN NATIONAL DEFENSE STAFF CHIEF TO VISIT GREECE ON SUNDAY

Romanian National Defense Staff Chief Gen. Constantin Degeratu is to conduct an official visit to Greece on May 17 and 19 at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis.

Gen. Degeratu will also meet with Greece’s Defense Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis and will visit military units, as well as archaeological sites and the island of Santorini.

[17] FRANK SINATRA DIES OF HEART ATTACK AT AGE OF 82

The quintessential “swinger”, Old Blue Eyes”, has closed his eyes forever. Frank Sinatra died of a heart attack Thursday evening at the age of 82.

United Press International reported on Mr. Sinatra’s death with an eloquent obituary.

“Francis Albert Sinatra was born Dec. 12, 1915. He was a skinny, unattractive kid who excelled in sports and earned good marks in school. He became a copy boy and a sports reporter on the Hudson Observer. “Inspired by a 1936 Bing Crosby movie, Sinatra decided to become a singer, forming a group called the Hoboken Four. Later, he became a $15- a-week singing waiter at a New Jersey roadhouse. When his salary was raised to $25 weekly, he married Nancy, his longtime sweetheart. Sinatra moved from the roadhouse to sing with Harry James at the dawn of the big band era and became the brightest vocalist in the country, surpassing his idol, Crosby.

“Sinatra abandoned James in a contractual battle to join Tommy Dorsey's band and to score his first gigantic hit, ``I'll Never Smile Again.'' The recording propelled Sinatra to national recognition and acclaim. Thereafter, Sinatra burst with the brilliance of a supernova as a soloist at New York's famed Paramount Theater. Every performance was packed by screaming, swooning, bobby-soxed teenagers.

Slick press-agentry and Sinatra's own charismatic personality created a legend which surrounded him the rest of his life.Whether it was ``Frankie,'' ``The Thin Singer'' or ``Old Blue Eyes,'' a unique aura clung to Sinatra.

“He made news and fans and enemies at every turn in his life. He drank, he smoked, he chased beautiful women. He brawled and repented and invented the word ``swinger.'' But most of all he sang..”

[18] NIKOS PAPANDREOU ACCOUNTS HIS LIFE IN “A CROWDED HEART”

Nikos Papandreou, the son of Greece’s former prime minister and PASOK party founder and president Andreas Papandreou presented his new book in Washington yesterday, titled “A Crowded Heart”.

The book is an account of how he sought to balance his father's public life and his needs as a growing son.

The novel - which is slightly fictionalized but is based on a wealth of real events - brings alive a struggle for freedom in the 1960s and '70 through the eyes of the family of a politician who changed the course of Greece’s pubic life.

"I wrote this book to make a new path for myself. The statement was that I was not going into politics in Greece. Greece gives people passion and life. But the United States gives me a lot of creative energy. That is the part of life in America I want to belong to," he said.

But when he is in one country, he misses the other. He wrote his book, a bestseller in Greece under the title “Ten Myths and one History”, in English.

[19] EC REJECTS TURKEY’S PROTEST OVER ECOLOGICAL FUNDS TO GREECE

The European Commission has rejected Turkey’s demarche over the Community finds granted to Greece for ecological reconstruction of inhabited islands andf islets in the Aegean.

In its reasoning, the Commission stressed that whoever is in disagreement with the granting of these funds to Greece can seek recourse with the European Court, while, it also stated, any country that sets forth an issue of sovereignty can seek recourse with the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

[20] THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT EXPRESSED SATISFACTION FOR THE STATEMENTS OF US OFFICIALS

Cypriot government spokesman Christos Stilianides expressed the Cypriot government’s satisfaction for the statements made by US officials, who blamed exclusively the Turkish side for the failure of the efforts for the resumption of the inter-communal dialogue in Cyprus.

Mr. Stilianides stressed that in order for the Cyprus problem to be led to a comprehensive settlement, based on UN resolutions, the international community should exert the necessary pressure on Turkey to change its intransigent and out-of-date position.

He also expressed the hope that the mobilization observed in the Cyprus issue will lead to the resumption of the inter-communal dialogue.

[21] THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT DISCUSSED THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The House of Lords discussed the Cyprus problem and the upcoming installation of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on the island.

Representing the Blair government, Lord Whitty stressed that the prospect of the Russian missiles’ installation is likely to raise the tensions in the region but the Cypriot government has the right to take action in order to protect the country.

Lord Whitty stressed the fact that there was a Turkish invasion of Cyprus and that the Turkish forces continue to be there, while he pointed out that Britain recognizes the Cypriot government.

In another discussion held in the House of Commons on the same subject, the British foreign undersecretary underlined that the British government continues to support the UN efforts for the resumption of talks in Cyprus and that the diplomatic route is the only way to reach a fair and viable solution.

[22] THE GREEK POSITIONS WERE PRESENTED IN THE EU PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES COUNCIL

The firm and known Greek positions on the improvement of the relations between Turkey and the European Union were reiterated in the EU permanent diplomatic representatives meeting in Brussels by Greek ambassador Pavlos Apostolides.

Mr. Apostolides rejected once again the proposal for Greece to lift its veto that blocks Turkey’s EU funding with 375 million ECU. He stated that the veto will remain in force for as long as, Ankara refuses to recognize the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding the settlement of Turkey’s dispute with Greece over Imia.

[23] MILOSEVIC AND RUGOVA DECIDED TO HOLD TALKS ON A WEEKLY BASIS

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia president Slobodan Milosevic and leader of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo Ibrahim Rugova decided, in their first meeting in Belgrade’s presidential building that lasted over an hour, to hold talks on a weekly basis to defuse the crisis in the province.

In a statement that was issued by the Serb leadership and was reported by the news agency Tanjug, president Milosevic characterized today’s meeting as the first step to a peaceful solution of the Kosovo issue and underlined that only direct dialogue will bring a peaceful, fair and long-term settlement to the problem.

Mr. Milosevic also stated that any decision reached will have to be based on the equal treatment of all citizens in Kosovo regardless of the ethnic minority they belong to.

In the statement it is also stressed that the meeting was held with “open mind” and each side presented its own views and key-positions for the handling of the issue.

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