Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-05-18
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 18, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT, PM TO OPEN GREEK INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION ASSEMBLY
[02] BANK EMPLOYEES TO EMBARK ON ROTATION STRIKES
[03] NEW TAX BRACKETS IN '99, MORE FAVORABLE TO TAXPAYERS
[04] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER ON TWO-DAY VISIT TO SWEDEN
[05] THESSALONIKI TO HOST FAYUM PORTRAITS EXHIBITION IN AUGUST
[06] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC POLICY
[07] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ALBRIGHT VISIT
[08] PROBLEMS IN THE BANK TRANSACTIONS
[09] CHANGES IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
[10] THE ELECTION OF INTERIM MAYOR WILL BE HELD POSSIBLY ON
WEDNESDAY
[11] PARLIAMENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM SE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MEET IN
ATHENS
[12] THE GREEK CANNED FRUITS PROMOTION PROGRAM IN RUSSIA WILL
MATERIALIZE IN 1998
[13] THE WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD (SAE) ORGANIZES A FUND
RAISER FOR THE GREEKS IN FORMER SOVIET UNION
[14] TSOHATZOPOULOS-SYDOW MEETING
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] WEU PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETS IN PARIS
[16] HOLBROOKE TO VISIT CYPRUS AFTER CARDIFF SUMMIT
[17] PASOK DELEGATES ATTEND SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
[18] EUROPEAN UNION GRANTS ECU3 MILLION TO SUPPORT MONTENEGRO
[19] ALBANIAN STUDENTS RETURN TO PRISHTINA'S UNIVERSITY TODAY
[20] PROTEST RALLY OUTSIDE THE TURKISH CONSULATE IN MELBOURNE ON
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE OF THE GREEKS IN PONTOS
[21] GREAT INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN TIRANA
[22] TURKISH CYPRIOT APPEAL AGAINST ANKARA IN THE EUROPEAN
COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
[23] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT VOTES AGAINST KONTIC GOVERNMENT
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT, PM TO OPEN GREEK INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION ASSEMBLY
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to salute the open session
of the annual assembly of the Greek Industries Association (SEV)
which will be held on Wednesday and will also be attended by the
President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
The Minister of Finance and National Economy Yiannos
Papantoniou will be among the speakers at the event, along with
SEV's Chairman Jason Stratos and the chairman of the German
Industries Association Hans-Olaf Henkel.
[02] BANK EMPLOYEES TO EMBARK ON ROTATION STRIKES
In protest to the state's privatization plans for the Ionian
Bank, employees at the Agricultural Bank of Greece are to strike
today, while their colleagues at Commercial and Attica banks will
strike tomorrow.
The employees at Ionian Bank have been on an indefinite
strike for a week, while rolling strikes by bank staff are
scheduled to continue until June 12 when the shareholders of
Commercial Bank vote on whether they will approve the sale of
subsidiary Ionian.
On Wednesday, employees at the state-owned enterprises
(DEKOS) and banks will hold a four-hour work stoppage, a decision
issued by the General Confederation of Greek Laborers (GSEE).
[03] NEW TAX BRACKETS IN '99, MORE FAVORABLE TO TAXPAYERS
The Ministry of Finance and National Economy is working on a
series of new tax brackets that will be more favorable to the
taxpayers as of 1999.
The draft plan is to be submitted in Parliament in the Fall
and will be part of the next year's budget.
[04] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER ON TWO-DAY VISIT TO SWEDEN
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos embarked on a
two-day official visit to Sweden yesterday evening.
During his stay, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will meet with his
Swedish counterpart Bjorn von Sydow and foreign minister Lena
Hjelm-Wallen. He will also take part in an open gathering
organized by the Federation of Hellenic Associations and
communities in Sweden.
[05] THESSALONIKI TO HOST FAYUM PORTRAITS EXHIBITION IN AUGUST
Thessaloniki is to host an exhibition of 46 ancient Fayum
portraits between August 1-31, a loan from the British Museum.
These unique portraits on coffins combine Hellenic and Egyptian
Styles and date from the 1st to 4th century AD, found in the Al
Fayum region of Egypt.
Prior to the exhibition's arrival in Thessaloniki, the
portraits will be on display on May 20 at the Agios Markos Church
in Irakleio, Crete, while from June 24 to July 26 they will be
hosted at the Benaki Museum in Athens.
[06] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC POLICY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated to
reporters that the government will continue to implement its
economic policy which is aimed at meeting the targets set for
Greece's participation in the European Economic and Monetary
Union. The policy followed, said Mr. Reppas, provides for deficit
cuts and a decrease in interest rates as well as, in all the
economic indexes that will safeguard the prosperity of the Greek
people.
Responding to a question on whether the European Union is
forcing the Greek government to follow the privatization policy,
he stated that, the government does not have an order to implement
specific political measures but there is a specific framework
which determines where the economic indexes should be.
Mr. Reppas stated that the government has chosen this policy
because it believes that it is the most effective not only in
improving the economic indexes but in order to become more
competitive as a country.
[07] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ALBRIGHT VISIT
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commented on the
likelihood for a postponement of the scheduled visit by US
Secretary of State Ms. Madeleine Albright.
Mr. Reppas stated that the Greek government has absolutely no
information concerning the cancellation of her trip to Athens.
[08] PROBLEMS IN THE BANK TRANSACTIONS
The problems continue in bank transactions due to the strike
action undertaken. Most Ionian Bank branches continue to be
closed, while also on strike are the employees of the Agricultural
Bank within the framework of the 24hour strikes in all state-owned
banks announced by the Bank Employees' Union (OTOE).
The Commercial Bank employees will strike tomorrow and the
day after, while a 4hour work stoppage will take place in all the
banks and the public service agencies on Wednesday.
[09] CHANGES IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
Minister of education Gerasimos Arsenis will announce changes
in the education system tomorrow.
According to information, in those changes are included the
adoption of a single form of secondary education, the abolition of
university admission exams by the year 2000, the admission to
higher education institutions of all the secondary education
graduates and the replacement of the existing three semesters by
two.
The teachers' union is considering the likelihood of strike
action.
[10] THE ELECTION OF INTERIM MAYOR WILL BE HELD POSSIBLY ON
WEDNESDAY
The City Council of the municipality of Thessaloniki will
meet possibly on Wednesday to elect the interim mayor, who will
hold the post until the municipal elections in October. According
to a decision already reached by the City Council members from the
party of New Democracy, who constitute the majority in the City
Council, the interim mayor will be city councilor Dimitris
Dimitriadis.
City Council chairman Sotiris Kapetanopoulos stated to MPA,
that Konstantinos Kosmopoulos should formally submit his
resignation in order to initiate the procedure for the election of
the interim mayor.
[11] PARLIAMENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM SE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MEET IN
ATHENS
The representatives of south-eastern European Parliaments
meet in Athens today and at the center of their discussions are
the developments in Kosovo, while they will also discuss ways to
deal with destabilization hot-points in the region as well as, the
means for the promotion of peace and security in the Balkans.
Speaking in the meeting, Greek Parliament president Apostolos
Kaklamanis pointed out that peace is threatened in Kosovo, while
the wounds of the civil war in Bosnia have not been healed yet.
The south-eastern European Parliaments are examining the
likelihood to create an advisory assembly of Parliaments aimed at
advancing cooperation for the solution of problems and promoting
the course of the Balkan states toward their full participation in
the united Europe.
[12] THE GREEK CANNED FRUITS PROMOTION PROGRAM IN RUSSIA WILL
MATERIALIZE IN 1998
The program for the promotion of the Greek canned fruits
exports to Russia will be implemented this year. The program is
the result of a cooperation between the "Helkof Ltd." group,
formed by most of the canned fruit sector companies in cooperation
with the Organization for the Promotion of Exports.
The duration of the program has been set to two years and is
likely to expand if it is proven that it helps both in the
increase of Greek exports and in winning a large part of the local
market.
[13] THE WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD (SAE) ORGANIZES A FUND
RAISER FOR THE GREEKS IN FORMER SOVIET UNION
It is the first time that the Greek communities around the
world unite their efforts with the common goal to offer help to
the suffering Greeks in former Soviet Union, stated World Council
of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) president Andrew Athens referring to the
World Fund Raiser for the Greeks in the former Soviet Union that
will be held on the Greek state radio and television on May 23 and
24 under the auspices of Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos.
The SAE has already launched a gigantic effort to assist the
Greeks in former Soviet Union by inaugurating medical centers in
regions with a strong Greek presence. Those centers offer medical
care to all local residents regardless of their origin.
[14] TSOHATZOPOULOS-SYDOW MEETING
Greek Defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who is on a two-
day official visit to Sweden, met today with his Swedish
counterpart Bjorn von Sydow.
The main issue of the talks, the two officials had, concerned
the eventuality to strengthen the defence cooperation between
Greece and Sweden.
Mr Tsohatzopoulos, in statements he made, noted that the
meeting was a chance to realize the common points in the two
countries' strategies for peace and stability within the areas
they belong to.
The Greek defence minister stressed that the eventuality of
signing a defence cooperation agreement as well as issues of
bilateral interest, such as the exploitation of armaments and
infrastructures in order to cover the needs of each country, were
also discussed.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] WEU PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETS IN PARIS
The 44th conference of the Western European Union's
parliamentary group began this morning in Paris. Greece, which
held the WEU's presidency in past six months, is to be represented
by Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, alternate Foreign
Minister George Papandreou and an 11-member parliamentary
delegation headed by Konstantinos Vretos.
The three-day conference features the participation of the
WEU's 11 member-countries, the three associate members (among them
Turkey), the five countries that have observer status and the 11
allies. They will discuss issues related to security and the
WEU's police force.
WEU officials stated that the outcomes of the Greece-held
presidency of the WEU can be characterized as positive.
"A small country like Greece can develop more flexibly than a
large country," the same officials said, who also noted that
progress was made on issues concurring defense and foreign policy.
[16] HOLBROOKE TO VISIT CYPRUS AFTER CARDIFF SUMMIT
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides has said that US
Presidential Envoy for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, will return to
the island in June in order to discuss procedural issues relating
to the resumption of peace talks to settle the Cyprus problem.
President Clerides stated that Mr. Holbrooke is expected to
visit Cyprus after the European Union summit to be held in
Cardiff, Wales, in June.
"His visit will focus on procedural issues and not the
essence of the Cyprus problem," he said.
Mr. Holbrooke, who was appointed last year, was in Cyprus at
the beginning of this month in a bid to resume negotiations
between the island's two communities.
His efforts stumbled on preconditions set by Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash, for the recognition of his illegal entity in
the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus and the withdrawal of Cyprus'
application to join the European Union.
The Cardiff summit is expected to tackle EU relations with
Turkey, after strong reaction by Ankara following December's
Luxembourg summit which set preconditions for the improvement of
relations with Turkey.
The EU had said Turkey should improve relations with Greece,
back efforts to settle the Cyprus problem, solve the Kurdish
question and improve its human rights record and its economy.
[17] PASOK DELEGATES ATTEND SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
A delegation of PASOK eurodeputies is currently in Norway in
order to attend the two-day Socialist International Council,
hosted by the Norwegian Labor Party (DNA), which starts today.
The council is to address the issue of "World Solidarity",
examining ways to strengthen democracy, protect human rights,
extend humanitarian action, promote initiatives on peace, combat
poverty and invest in human potential.
PASOK is being represented by Eurodeputy Paraskevas
Avgerinos, Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis and
Eurodeputy Anna Karamanou, among others.
[18] EUROPEAN UNION GRANTS ECU3 MILLION TO SUPPORT MONTENEGRO
A financing agreement will be signed today in Brussels,
between the European Commission and Dr. Miomir Mugosa, Minister
for Labor and Social Welfare of the Government of Montenegro.
The Agreement, which consists of a contribution of ECU 3
million from the European Union (EU) towards outstanding social
welfare costs, is the implementation of the political decision of
EU Foreign Ministers, which was adopted on 30 April 1998, in the
framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The
contribution underpins EU support for the political and economic
reforms presently being undertaken by the Government of
Montenegro.
The EU's ECU 3 million contribution will be used to pay
outstanding social welfare benefits, such as child support and
family benefit, maternity leave and allowances, benefits for
veterans and disabled persons, health insurance contributions and
other such benefits.
[19] ALBANIAN STUDENTS RETURN TO PRISHTINA'S UNIVERSITY TODAY
For the first time in seven years, the Albanian- speaking
college students of Kossovo are to freely enter the premises of
three departments at the Polytechnic University of Prishtina.
The students' return, part of an education-related agreement
signed between Prishtina and Belgrade, was allowed after the group
of protesting Serb students withdrew yesterday from the school's
premises where they had camped for the past nine days, asking the
authorities not to allow the entrance of the Albanian students.
[20] PROTEST RALLY OUTSIDE THE TURKISH CONSULATE IN MELBOURNE ON
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE OF THE GREEKS IN PONTOS
A large crowd of members of the Greek community in Melbourne
gathered outside the Turkish Consulate building within the
framework of the events organized by the Coordinating Committee of
Pontos Associations on the occasion of the black anniversary of
the Genocide of the Greeks in Pontos by Kemal Ataturk's Young
Turks.
The protesters condemned the Turkish barbarity and adopted a
resolution demanding from Ankara to recognize the genocide of the
Greeks in Pontos and apologize to the international community for
the crimes it has committed.
The protesters also demanded from the international
community, the government and the political parties in Australia
to exert pressures on Turkey to recognize the Genocide of the
Greeks in Pontos that was committed in the period of 1915-1923.
[21] GREAT INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN TIRANA
Over 90 Balkan businesses participate in the international
exhibition "Eurobalkan ‘98" that opened its gates in Tirana two
days ago.
In the exhibition participate companies from Greece, Albania,
FYROM, Bulgaria and Turkey, while there is also notable western
European presence from Italy and Spain.
The exhibition is organized by the Greek company for the
promotion of national and European products in the Balkans and the
Albanian "Elinta and Company" that was founded in 1994.
[22] TURKISH CYPRIOT APPEAL AGAINST ANKARA IN THE EUROPEAN
COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
The European Committee on Human Rights found admissible in
terms of procedures the appeal made by a Turkish Cypriot, who
protested against the violation of his right to communicate freely
with the people living across the "green line" in Cyprus.
As especially positive is regarded the fact that the
Committee rejected any recognition of the occupation regime of
Rauf Denktash in northern Cyprus, even an indirect one, pointing
out that Ankara is responsible for the violations of human rights
in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.
The appeal was made by Ahmet Djavit An, the Turkish Cypriot
coordinator of the Movement for an Independent and Federal Cyprus
that was founded in 1989. The movement, in cooperation with Greek
Cypriots, promotes the development of harmonious inter-communal
relations between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots by
organizing joint events of political, cultural and social nature.
[23] YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT VOTES AGAINST KONTIC GOVERNMENT
The Federal Parliament of Yugoslavia passed today a vote of
censure on the government headed by prime minister Radoje Kontic.
The no-confidence motion was approved with a vast majority by
the two Councils of the Federal Parliament, the Council of
Citizens and the Council of the Republics.
Mr Kontic, addressing the parliamentary session, supported
his government work and expressed his surprise for the fact that
even parties which belong to the federal government voted in
favour of the no-confidence motion.
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