Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-05-29
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 29, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER IN ATHENS TODAY
[02] SPAIN'S KING JUAN CARLOS AND QUEEN SOPHIA TO VISIT VERGINA
[03] INTERNATIONAL FUR CONGRESS TO BEGIN IN KASTORIA TODAY
[04] IONIAN BANK'S STRIKING STAFF INTENT ON DEFYING COURT ORDER
[05] ALPHA CREDIT BANK MAY OFFER TO BUY IONIAN
[06] CABINET MEETS TODAY TO DISCUSS TWO DRAFT BILLS
[07] SPAIN'S ROYAL COUPLE VISITED THE ANCIENT TOMBS OF VERGINA
[08] SIMITIS: THE IONIAN BANK WILL BE SOLD
[09] KARAMANLIS IS VISITING THE CITY OF LARISA
[10] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS WILL CUT ITS TICKET PRICES TO 20 EUROPEAN
CITIES
[11] THE FIRST STRIKE OF FOREIGN WORKERS IN GREECE HAS ENDED
[12] THE CARVED TOMBS IN PETRA, JORDAN ARE UNIQUE IN THE WORLD
[13] SPAIN'S ROYAL COUPLE DEPARTED FROM GREECE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] US SECRETARY OF STATE TO MEET SEPARATELY WITH PANGALOS, CEM
[15] PASCAL MILO WELCOMES NATO'S DECISION
[16] GREECE SUPPORTS NATO'S DECISION TO DEFUSE KOSSOVO CRISIS
[17] GERMAN FM: TURKEY SHOULD SEEK RECOURSE TO THE HAGUE
[18] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET IN LUXEMBOURG WITH THE US
SECRETARY OF STATE
[19] THE GREEK AIRPORTS ARE SAFE, STATED THE US ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
[20] THE GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIANS CREATES PROBLEMS TO THE FRENCH-
TURKISH RELATIONS
[21] NEW FORMS OF TOURISM IN GREECE ARE PROMOTED IN BELGRADE'S
INTERNATIONAL FAIR
[22] GREECE IS FIRST ON THE LIST OF FOREIGN INVESTORS IN FYROM
[23] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMS THE INSTALLATION OF THE S-
300 MISSILES
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER IN ATHENS TODAY
Cyprus' Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides is to
arrive in Athens today, where he will meet with government
officials.
Mr. Kasoulides is accompanied by the Attorney General of
Cyprus Alekos Markides and government spokesperson Christos
Stylianides.
Mr. Kasoulides has stated that his visit to Greece is within
the framework of the regularly -held overview of developments on
the Cyprus issue and the island's accession course to the European
Union.
[02] SPAIN'S KING JUAN CARLOS AND QUEEN SOPHIA TO VISIT VERGINA
Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia, the sister of
Greece's former king Konstantine, currently on a five-day,
official visit to Greece, are to visit the St. Sophia church in
Thessaloniki this morning and then the archeological sites of
Vergina.
The Spanish royals arrived in Thessaloniki yesterday
afternoon where they were received by the Minister of Macedonia-
Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos who hosted a formal dinner in their
honor.
In his address prior to the formal dinner, King Juan Carlos
stated that Thessaloniki is the everlasting capital of ancient and
modern Macedonia and stressed that his visit to Greece would have
been incomplete had it not included Thessaloniki. He also likened
Thessaloniki's trademark White Tower with Seville's tower.
Immediately after his arrival at Thessaloniki, Juan Carlos
laid a wreath at a memorial commemorating the thousands of Greek
Jews exterminated by the Nazis during World War II. These were
descendants of about 20,000 Jews who arrived in the city after
their eviction from Spain in 1492.
At the memorial, King Juan Carlos was greeted by the
president of Thessaloniki's Jewish community Andreas Sefihas.
The royal couple also visited the city's Byzantine museum and
the church of St. Dimitrius.
[03] INTERNATIONAL FUR CONGRESS TO BEGIN IN KASTORIA TODAY
An international fur congress is to begin at the city of
Kastoria, in northwestern Greece, today, featuring the
participation of furriers from 12 countries including Russia, the
US and China.
Specifically, delegations from Russia, Ukraine, China, the
Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Italy
and the US will be attending the launch of the three-day
international fur congress.
The prefecture of Kastoria has a long tradition in fur
production from breeding to the finished product and accounts for
approximately six percent of total foreign exchange inflows into
Greece annually.
Kastoria has 2,700 fur producing enterprises,1,700 of which
are exclusively export-oriented. Russia and the Far East are
evolving into the industry's major importers. According to
official data, the fur industry in the region employs 13,000
people.
Greek furriers treat 8.5 percent of world fur and leather
production, and produce 30 percent of fur products worldwide.
[04] IONIAN BANK'S STRIKING STAFF INTENT ON DEFYING COURT ORDER
Although a Greek court ruled yesterday that the strike
conducted by Ionian Bank's disgruntled staff is illegal and has
barred its resumption, the undaunted employees are determined to
press on with their protest to the privatization of the bank.
The Athens-based First Circuit Court ordered workers at
state-controlled Ionian Bank to end the strike they have held
since May 11.
In its ruling, the Court said union leaders would be fined
GRD400,000 (about $1,200) on a daily basis if the order was
ignored. As for the employees, under Greek law, staff members
failing to return to work after such a ruling also face the
possibility of dismissal.
The "defiance" strike is endorsed by the Federation of Bank
Employee Unions (OTOE) which demands that the government start
talks with the workers from a "zero basis".
Meanwhile, the Bank's administrative officers have called on
Ionian's staff to turn up for work and also called on labor unions
not to obstruct anyone from carrying out his duties.
In its reasoning, the Court held that the striking Ionian workers
have essentially barred thousands of customers from having access
to their savings accounts, since there isn't even a skeleton
staff on duty to serve them.
[05] ALPHA CREDIT BANK MAY OFFER TO BUY IONIAN
Alpha Credit Bank, the country's biggest private bank, is
said to be willing to buy embattled state Ionian Bank, according
to a "Financial
Times" newspaper report.
According to yesterday's article, Yiannis Kostopoulos, Alpha
Credit's chairman, said that the bank would seek shareholders'
approval
next month for an 80-90 billion drachma capital increase to bid
for a 51 percent stake in Ionian, which is to be offered for sale
on the Athens Stock Exchange.
"We intend to make a firm offer. We would pay quite a big
premium on the bank's book value in order to demonstrate our
confidence in the capabilities of Ionian's workforce,"
Mr. Kostopoulos was quoted as saying. He said Ionian would
not be merged with Alpha Credit "because of the problems that
would arise with trying to bring two separate pension funds in
line."
Most of Ionian's 160 branches would continue to operate to
strengthen the Alpha Credit network, Mr. Costopoulos said.
The FT quoted analysts as saying that Alpha Credit was likely
to offer about 150 billion drachmas for 51 percent of Ionian,
which has a book value of 90 billion drachmas.
Alpha Credit Bank said in a statement released to the media
later in the day that its offer would reflect Ionian Bank's real
value, and not its daily share price fluctuations.
Based on yesterday's closing price, Ionian Bank's market
capitalization for a 51 percent stake of its share capital would
total 185 billion drachmas, more than double its book value.
[06] CABINET MEETS TODAY TO DISCUSS TWO DRAFT BILLS
The Cabinet is to meet today in order to discuss two draft
bills, one concerning the protection of Greece's cultural
heritage and the other regarding vocational and professional
training.
According to the government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis is not scheduled to meet with his Turkish
counterpart Mesut Yilmaz on the sidelines of the forthcoming Black
Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) summit in Yalta on June 4-5.
Mr. Reppas said the Greek and Turkish premiers "may shake hands"
but this cannot be considered a meeting.
[07] SPAIN'S ROYAL COUPLE VISITED THE ANCIENT TOMBS OF VERGINA
Spain's royal couple visited the ancient tombs at the
archaeological site of Vergina. In spite of the tight security
measures by the police some of the pro-monarchists who gathered to
welcome the royal couple managed to approach Queen Sofia offered
her flowers and exchanged a few words with her.
After the visit, King Juan Carlos had a short talk with the
Spanish journalists and thanked them for the coverage of his visit
to Greece.
It should be reminded that King Juan Carlos stated last night
that Thessaloniki is the eternal capital of ancient Macedonia and
underlined that his visit to Greece would not have been complete
if it did not include Macedonia.
According to the Spanish foreign ministry spokesman,
everything went well in the visit of the royal couple to Greece
and that in the contacts with the Greek government the good
climate between the two countries was confirmed, while Greece and
Spain also confirmed the agreements they have signed within the
framework of the European Union.
The royal couple of Spain will depart for Madrid this
afternoon.
[08] SIMITIS: THE IONIAN BANK WILL BE SOLD
Prime minister Kostas Simitis reiterated at the cabinet
meeting today that the decision for the sale of the Ionian Bank is
final and according to statements made by Ionian Bank Employees'
Union president Yiannis Markakis their strike action will
continue.
Meanwhile, new violent incidents erupted between striking
Ionian Bank employees and police forces outside the bank's
computer terminal in Pireaus.
The presiding board of the Greek Bank Employees' Union meets
today to decide on 48hour continuous strikes in the Ionian Bank.
[09] KARAMANLIS IS VISITING THE CITY OF LARISA
Leader of right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy
Kostas Karamanlis is visiting the central Greek city of Larisa
within the framework of his tour to the region of Thessaly.
In his statements, Mr. Karamanlis called for the postponement
of the collection of the farmers' taxes and the immediate
assessment of the damages caused to crops by the recent hailstorm
in the region.
Tomorrow, he will visit the region of Karditsa and on Sunday
he will be in the town of Trikala.
[10] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS WILL CUT ITS TICKET PRICES TO 20 EUROPEAN
CITIES
The Greek state-owned airline Olympic Airways will reduce its
ticket prices in June within the framework of the campaign
launched to attract more customers. The company will adopt a
program of summer offers and those interested will have the
opportunity to make a round trip to 20 European capitals and large
cities at the price of 75.000 drachmas.
The destinations are Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Brussels,
Budapest, Geneva, Zurich, Copenhagen, Istanbul, London,
Marseilles, Milan, Munich, Moscow, Napoli, Dussendorf, Paris,
Rome, Stuttgart and Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, the European Commission calls for the exemption of
Olympic Airways from the state law on the way new employees will
be hired, threatening that otherwise it will not approve the
increase of the company's share capital which is necessary for the
renewal of its fleet.
In the letter the European Commission Transportation
Directorate is expected to send to the Greek government it will be
stressed that the involvement of a public agency in the way new
employees will be hired constitutes a direct intervention of the
state to the operation of Olympic Airways not allowing the company
to be flexible and have the personnel it needs.
[11] THE FIRST STRIKE OF FOREIGN WORKERS IN GREECE HAS ENDED
The first strike action by foreign workers in Greece has
ended after intense negotiations with their employers in the town
of Agios Georgios in the prefecture of Magnisia in central Greece.
About 200 Albanian and Romanian workers agreed with their
employers on their wages and working hours and returned to the
fields after a five-day strike. The dispute was settled with the
intervention of Agios Georgios community president and the
Workers' Union Center of the city of Volos.
[12] THE CARVED TOMBS IN PETRA, JORDAN ARE UNIQUE IN THE WORLD
Hundreds of tombs of Macedonian architecture in southern
Jordan, the only ones in the world which are hewed out of rocks,
make up the necropolis of Petra which flourished in the period
from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD.
The impressive tombs that were discovered in 1870, most of
them pillaged, are made based on the Macedonian architecture. They
are 45 meters high and 43 meters wide and according to University
of Amman professor Naif Haddad, they are the only carved tombs of
Macedonian architecture in the world. According to the Jordanian
university professor, the Macedonian tombs became the model for
the early Hellenistic architecture.
The above were included in a presentation that was made by
professor Haddad in the international conference held in the
northern Greek city of Veria under the title "Alexander the Great:
From Macedonia to the World".
[13] SPAIN'S ROYAL COUPLE DEPARTED FROM GREECE
The King of Spain Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia, who
departed from Thessaloniki, today, were very pleased by their
visit to Greece.
According to the Spanish Foreign ministry spokesman Hoakin
Peres Viyanueva, in the contacts the royal couple had with the
Greek government, the good climate between the two countries was
confirmed, while Greece and Spain, also, confirmed the agreements
they have signed within the framework of the European Union.
Earlier today, the royal couple visited the ancient tombs of
the archaeological site of Vergina. After the visit, King Juan
Carlos thanked the journalists for the coverage of his visit to
Greece.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] US SECRETARY OF STATE TO MEET SEPARATELY WITH PANGALOS, CEM
The United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is
expected to hold separate meetings with the Foreign Ministers of
Greece and Turkey, Theodoros Pangalos and Ismael Cem,
respectively, during today's NATO summit in Luxembourg.
State department spokesperson James Rubin, stated that both
Turkey and Greece are members of the North Atlantic Council and
are close allies of the United States.
"My experience has been when Secretary Albright is at one of
those meetings, she, in one way or another, meets with all the
members of the North Atlantic Council. It is also my understanding
that there's a strong possibility of some separate bilateral
meetings outside of the actual NAC session."
[15] PASCAL MILO WELCOMES NATO'S DECISION
The Albanian government expressed its satisfaction
over the decision reached by NATO to deploy military forces along
the borders of Albania and FYROM with Serbia.
The Albanian Foreign Minister Pascal Milo stressed
that this decision is a proof that the Alliance is determined to
avert a deterioration of the situation in the area.
Mr. Milo underlined that NATO's plans are a
satisfactory response to Tirana's concern over an eventual spill
over of the crisis to the Balkan area.
[16] GREECE SUPPORTS NATO'S DECISION TO DEFUSE KOSSOVO CRISIS
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated that
NATO's decision to review ways to stop the Kossovo conflict from
spilling over its borders is a positive one, as well as military
measures to supplement diplomatic moves for a settlement.
During a press conference following the end of the NATO
foreign ministers' session yesterday, Mr. Pangalos clarified that
the decision did not imply an intervention in the internal affairs
of the sovereign Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and that NATO
clearly condemned the use of violence and terrorism in the region,
calling on both sides to work for a peaceful resolution of the
crisis.
Moreover, Mr. Pangalos added that Greece is willing to
contribute to the strengthening of forces that would be deployed
in both neighboring countries, in response to their urgent
requests.
Mr. Pangalos revealed, however, that Athens had disagreed
with all other Alliance members on a clause in the draft
communique, providing for the possibility of NATO air exercises
over Kossovo.
The objection, in combination with Russia's clear
disagreement, led to the removal of the clause, Mr. Pangalos
added.
"With our stand, we helped NATO. Sometimes it is better to
become isolated, particularly when this leads to a clarification
of positions," he added.
[17] GERMAN FM: TURKEY SHOULD SEEK RECOURSE TO THE HAGUE
If Turkey wants to improve relations with the EU, German
Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel stated yesterday, then it has to
contribute to the resolution of its differences with Greece by
referring them to the International Court at The Hague.
Speaking at a press conference following the end of
yesterday's NATO summit in Luxembourg, Mr. Kinkel added that he
completely disagreed with Athens' stand regarding provision of the
EU's financial protocol to Turkey, which he said should be
revised.
Moreover, he declined comment on Bonn's position regarding
the conditions imposed on Turkey for the endorsement of its
candidacy for EU membership.
[18] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET IN LUXEMBOURG WITH THE US
SECRETARY OF STATE
Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos met in Luxembourg
this afternoon with his US counterpart Ms. Madeleine Albright at
the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
Their talks focused on the Greek-US relations, the Greek-
Turkish issues and the Cyprus problem. Ms. Albright pointed out
that unnecessary statements that heighten the tension in the Greek-
Turkish relations should be avoided.
Ms. Albright also stated that the US State Department
examines the proposal of Mr. Pangalos for the creation of a non-
flight zone over Cyprus.
Mr. Pangalos had met earlier this morning with his Russian
counterpart Gevgeni Primakov, who reiterated the commitment
undertaken by his country to supply the Cypriot Republic with the
S-300 missile system.
[19] THE GREEK AIRPORTS ARE SAFE, STATED THE US ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
The Greek airports are safe, stressed US assistant Secretary
of Commerce Mr. Aaron.
The statement was made during his meeting with Greek ministry
of national economy and finance international economic relations
general secretary Mr. Avgustea. The US official underlined that
his country's authorities urge the American citizens to visit
Greece without fear.
[20] THE GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIANS CREATES PROBLEMS TO THE FRENCH-
TURKISH RELATIONS
The draft law for the recognition of the massacre of hundreds
of thousands of Armenians by the Turks as "the 1915 Armenian
genocide" that will be discussed in the French Parliament today
has caused the strong reaction of Ankara which threatened that in
case the draft law is passed Turkey's relations with France will
be affected negatively.
The draft law is promoted by members of the governing
Socialist Party in France and has secured the backing of all sides
in the French National Assembly.
[21] NEW FORMS OF TOURISM IN GREECE ARE PROMOTED IN BELGRADE'S
INTERNATIONAL FAIR
The new policy of the Greek government in the sector of
tourism was outlined in a press conference in Belgrade by the
representatives of the Greek Tourist Organization (EOT) within the
framework of the international tourist exhibition held in the
Yugoslav capital.
EOT representative Mr. Thomas Goutantzis stated that the sun,
the sea and the natural beauties are not enough to attract today's
tourists and for this reason Greece has developed new forms of
tourism such as the religious, winter, ecological, conference etc.
According to the Yugoslav newspaper "Demokratsia", he also
commented on the new regulations adopted to make it easier for the
Yugoslav tourists to get a visa for Greece, while the newspaper
also mentioned the statements made by the head of the Greek Press
Office in Belgrade that the Greek consulate in the city of Nis
will open this summer.
[22] GREECE IS FIRST ON THE LIST OF FOREIGN INVESTORS IN FYROM
Greece occupied the first place among foreign investors in
FYROM last year, according to data provided by the Statistics
Agency.
The total of foreign investments in FYROM for 1997 was 6.2
million dollars, of which 5.4 million came from EU countries.
Greece participated with 19 investment projects worth 2.4 million
dollars.
The second place is occupied by Germany, which even though
has participated in 25 investment projects their total value is
less that 1 million dollars.
The sectors of industry and metallurgy attract the greatest
investment interest with 76%, according to the Statistics Agency,
while the rest trade and business activities correspond to 14%.
[23] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER CONFIRMS THE INSTALLATION OF THE S-
300 MISSILES
Cypriot Foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulidis, in his interview
with the Greek Radio Station of London, LGR, stressed that if
there is no solution reached, the Cypriot government will proceed
to the installation of the S-300 missiles. Regarding the
statements made by the US special coordinator for the Cyprus
problem, Thomas Miller, who said that the situation in Cyprus
could deteriorate before improving, mr Kasoulidis reiterated that
the policy of the Cypriot government concerning the S-300 missiles
remains invariable.
Mr Kasoulidis, also, referred to Turkey's stance, noting that
"Ankara will not be satisfied no matter what it gets".
The Cypriot Foreign minister expressed his conviction that
Turkey benefits by that policy because it makes Europe feel
guilty, so that the latter feels the need to satisfy Turkey's
demands.
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