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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-06-03

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 3, 1998

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK PREMIER: EMU IS THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR GREECE
  • [02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TRAVELS TO SLOVENIA ON OFFICIAL VISIT
  • [03] PREMIER TO MEET WITH DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTERS TODAY
  • [04] IONIAN BANK STRIKERS, STATE ARE MAKING HEADWAY IN ENDING DISPUTE
  • [05] COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S ENVIRONMENT COM/TEE TO MEET IN GREECE TOMORROW
  • [06] LONDON'S MAYOR IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
  • [07] THESSALONIKI TO HOST TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE
  • [08] UNDERSEA TUNNEL LINKING GREECE, ALBANIA TO BE READY BY 2000
  • [09] HELEXPO TO ORGANIZE THE FIRST ONLY-GREEK EXHIBIT IN BELGRADE
  • [10] TRANSFER FEVER HITS GREEK SOCCER TEAMS
  • [11] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING AT THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
  • [12] THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE IN YALTA TOMORROW
  • [13] CHALKIDIKI WAS ROCKED BY 4 STRONG EARTHQUAKES
  • [14] PROTOPAPAS IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE IONIAN BANK
  • [15] THE GREEK COASTS WERE AWARDED 326 "BLUE FLAGS" BY THE EU
  • [16] THE MAYOR OF ATHENS WILL BE IN SKOPJE TOMORROW
  • [17] GREECE IS A FACTOR OF STABILITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, SAID THE FORMER GERMAN PRESIDENT
  • [18] SKANDALIDIS: GREECE SHOULD RESIST THE "TITANIC SYNDROME"
  • [19] THESSALONIKI'S BAR TO PROCEED TO A JURIDICAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR THE HELLENES ABROAD
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [20] TENSION MOUNTS IN KOSSOVO
  • [21] BOEING TO OPEN BRANCH IN GREECE, WILL MANUFACTURE AIRCRAFT
  • [22] SWEDISH DEPUTIES RECEIVED BY CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES
  • [23] LETTER TO THE US PRESIDENT BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GREEK- AMERICAN COMMUNITY
  • [24] 38% OF THE BULGARIAN PEOPLE LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE
  • [25] THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FEARS AN ESCALATION OF THE TENSION IN KOSOVO
  • [26] MAJOR RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN GERMANY
  • [27] THE "MASTERMIND" OF THE ATTACK AGAINST BIRDAL ARRESTED

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK PREMIER: EMU IS THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR GREECE

    The Economic and Monetary Union is the difficult, yet necessary step that ensures the fortification of the European economic and social model before other social models that are now seen in the world's arena, stated the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in his address before Parliament last evening.

    Moreover, Mr. Simitis added that any other road taken will surely lead to instability, joblessness, weakening of the social state and a myriad of added woes.

    The leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis stated that the government's policy has jeopardized Greece's entry to the EMU's second group of countries to accede.

    [02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TRAVELS TO SLOVENIA ON OFFICIAL VISIT

    National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to depart for a two-day official visit to Slovenia today at the invitation of his Slovenian counterpart Alojz Krapez.

    Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is scheduled to meet with Mr. Krapez, Slovenian Foreign Minister Boris Frlec and President Milan Kucan. He will also visit several Slovenian military bases and the Hellenic Navy frigate "Macedonia" which is docked at the port of Koper.

    The Defense Minister's visit is taking place one week after Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos visited Slovenia where he signed a bilateral road transport agreement as well as a protocol of cooperation between the countries' foreign ministries.

    Athens supports Slovenia's bid for membership in Euro- Atlantic organizations, such as NATO and the European Union.

    [03] PREMIER TO MEET WITH DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTERS TODAY

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to receive today Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis in order to discuss the Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and the government's armaments program.

    The meeting is taking place in view of Mr. Simitis' imminent participation at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pact meeting in Yalta, Mr. Pangalos' participation at an inter-Balkan conference and Mr. Kranidiotis' meetings in Luxembourg before Cardiff.

    [04] IONIAN BANK STRIKERS, STATE ARE MAKING HEADWAY IN ENDING DISPUTE

    The government has made headway towards ending almost a month- long strike at Ionian Bank, by offering job security to employees who oppose plans to privatize the bank.

    "The (bank's) new owner will inherit the existing labor policy,'' National Economy and Finance minister Yiannos Papantoniou stated yesterday after meeting with union leaders.

    "It is a new proposal in so far as it offers higher job security relative to our earlier provisions," he added.

    The union leaders have agreed to study the proposal, which guarantees job security for two years after the privatization and imposes sizable compensation in case of lay-offs.

    [05] COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S ENVIRONMENT COM/TEE TO MEET IN GREECE TOMORROW

    The Committee of Environment, City Planning and Local Administration of the Council of Europe's parliamentary Assembly is to convene tomorrow at the island of Lesbos, in order to examine environmental issues concerning the Mediterranean region.

    The three-day conference is to feature the participation of deputies from 40 countries and a number of studies will be presented on the Mediterranean basin, the Aegean, waste management and sea pollution.

    Among those to salute the conference are the Minister of the Aegean Elisabeth Papazoi, the undersecretary of Environment, City Planning and Public Works Th. Koliopanos and the vice-president of the Hellenic Parliament P. Sgourides.

    [06] LONDON'S MAYOR IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

    London's preparation for the arrival of the European Union's common currency, the Euro, is to be the topic of a speech to be delivered by the British capital's mayor Alderman Richard Nickols, during his visit to Thessaloniki.

    The British mayor is to visit Thessaloniki on the invitation of the Hellenic-British Chamber of Commerce whose office in northern Greece will host a dinner on his honor.

    The event will be held tomorrow evening.

    [07] THESSALONIKI TO HOST TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE

    Thessaloniki is to host the Conference of Multimodal Transport and Transit Trade in Southeast Europe from June 4-6, an event organized by HELEXPO, the organizer of the Thessaloniki International Fair, in cooperation with the Department of Communications Technology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

    The event is to address legal and administrative issues pertaining to difficulties encountered in crossing borders, methods and practices associated with multimodal transport in light of new technology and the use of logistics, multimodal transport corridors and infrastructure (terminals and junctions), networks, services and international cooperation.

    Among those participating in the conference will be senior officials and representatives of European Union directorates, the ministries of transport and communications, of environment, town planning and public works, of finance, of merchant marine, universities, cultural foundations of Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and other countries and transport organizations.

    [08] UNDERSEA TUNNEL LINKING GREECE, ALBANIA TO BE READY BY 2000

    An undersea tunnel -currently under construction- in western Greece, which will facilitate transport to Albania and the Dalmatian coast, will be open to traffic in October 1999, according to Greece's Public Works Minister Kostas Laliotis.

    "This major project will help to promote both the region and the country,"Mr. Laliotis stated yesterday in a ceremony to launch the project's second phase, adding that it is part of a transport link in the west connecting Albania and the Dalmatian coast with the city of Kalamata in the Peloponnese.

    Around 75 percent of the Aktio-Preveza link has been built and the project is keeping within its timescale, Mr. Laliotis said.

    The project has a total length of 4,710 meters, comprising an undersea tunnel of 1,570 meters with an internal width of 10.6 meters and height of 6.40 meters. The tunnel will have two lanes for traffic with a total width of eight meters and walkways on both sides.

    [09] HELEXPO TO ORGANIZE THE FIRST ONLY-GREEK EXHIBIT IN BELGRADE

    Helexpo, the organizer of Thessaloniki's annual international trade fair, is to organize the first-ever exhibition of exclusively Greek enterprises in Belgrade, to be held between October 6-9.

    Belgrade was the first choice of Greek business people, following results of a relevant Helexpo questionnaire last year, while Skopje was the first runner-up.

    Cooperation between the two nations' exhibition organizations will be finalized with the signing of an agreement.

    [10] TRANSFER FEVER HITS GREEK SOCCER TEAMS

    In light of the new season cropping up, Greece's soccer teams have been struck by transfer fever, albeit with some unexpected turns taking place at the eleventh hour.

    มลส superstar Demis Nikolaidis, who was a hair's breadth away from joining Belgium's Anderlecht, is not going to leave afterall, since the Belgian team failed to cough up the money, or, enough money.

    Also, Aris has entered the transfer craze dynamically, in light of its return to the A national ranks, signing defender Kostas Vakirtzis. The former lead player of Kavala signed a three- year contract for the sum of 60 million drachmas.

    Vasilis Damianos from Australia, who played for Melbourne's Hellas, also signed with Xanthi for a five year term that will cost the northern Greek team a whooping 200 million drachmas.

    [11] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING AT THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

    The Cyprus issue, the relations of Greece with Turkey, the armaments program and the new structure of NATO were discussed in the meeting of prime minister Kostas Simitis with minister of foreign affairs Theodoros Pangalos and minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, said Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

    When asked to comment if among the issues discussed in the meeting was the issue of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, Mr. Reppas stated that it is an issue placed within the framework of the Greek-Cypriot cooperation and the Greek positions remain the same.

    [12] THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE IN YALTA TOMORROW

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis will attend the Summit meeting of the Black Sea economic cooperation pact heads of states and governments that will be open in Yalta tomorrow and on the sidelines of the summit he will meet with Turkish president Suleiman Demirel. Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis stated to the Greek state-run television channel NET that the Madrid declaration is still in effect and Turkey continues to violate it.

    A charter for the strengthening of cooperation among the 11 Black Sea countries will be signed in the Summit and Mr. Kranidiotis pointed out the significance of this cooperation, stressing that Greece has historical and traditional relations with the countries of the region, while it has also developed strong economic and trade relations with them. He added that the Greek presence is notable in the region and was always an important bridge linking Greece with the countries of the Black Sea.

    [13] CHALKIDIKI WAS ROCKED BY 4 STRONG EARTHQUAKES

    Local residents were alarmed by the four strong earthquakes that rocked Chalkidiki, northern Greece from 11:30am to 12:00 at noon today. The epicenter of the tremors was located at the sea region, south of the Sithonia Peninsula.

    The earthquakes measured 5.2, 4.8, 4.7 and 4.5 on the Richter scale and were felt in many regions of north-central Greece. Seismologists at Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki Geophysics Laboratory are cautious and do not rule out the likelihood of a stronger earthquake in the next 48 hours. No damages were reported by the Poligiros police department.

    [14] PROTOPAPAS IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE IONIAN BANK

    Greek undersecretary of labor Christos Protopapas characterized as very important the meeting with Bank Employees' Union (OTOE), General Confederation of Labor and Ionian Bank employees representatives.

    The undersecretary of labor stated that the government decision for the privatization of the bank is final and is already in progress, adding that based on the outcome of yesterday's meeting the job positions of the Ionian Bank employees will be safeguarded. The undersecretary added in his speech in Thessaloniki that nobody is at risk of losing their job.

    [15] THE GREEK COASTS WERE AWARDED 326 "BLUE FLAGS" BY THE EU

    Greece was awarded 326 "Blue Flags" by the European Union, 15 more than last year in recognition for its clean coasts and waters.

    The announcement was made by minister of environment, land planning and public works Kostas Laliotis, who stressed that a coastal line of 879 kilometers was cleaned last year and 17.000 tons of garbage were removed.

    [16] THE MAYOR OF ATHENS WILL BE IN SKOPJE TOMORROW

    Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos will be on a two-day visit to FYROM tomorrow at the invitation of mayor of Skopje Riso Penov.

    The two men will exchange views on the way the local administration operates and on certain programs concerning the two cities.

    According to the Skopje radio station, Mr. Avramopoulos is also scheduled to meet with FYROM president Kiro Gligorov.

    [17] GREECE IS A FACTOR OF STABILITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, SAID THE FORMER GERMAN PRESIDENT

    Greece is a factor of stability in the Mediterranean, underlined in his lecture in the Megaron Concert Hall of Athens, former president of the German Republic Richard von Weicheker, who is Athens at the invitation of the Lambrakis Studies Foundation.

    In his speech, the former German president stressed that the Greek demand for the solution of the Greek-Turkish disputes through the legal route is absolutely acceptable.

    He also praised Greece's contribution to the development of the European Union and stated that Greece plays a responsible role in forming the new European reality.

    Mr. Weicheker cited excerpts from Plato and Apostle Paul and stated that the free market system will be successful only if a civilized capitalism is implemented in the course to a united Europe.

    [18] SKANDALIDIS: GREECE SHOULD RESIST THE "TITANIC SYNDROME"

    The secretary of the Central Committee of the governing party of PASOK Kostas Skandalidis, in the speech he addressed during a conference titled "PASOK: New Era.

    New Path. Boundaries-Reversals-Perspectives", stressed that the country goes through a crucial period in its history fighting to recover and underlined that, with PASOK leading it, it has the chance to succeed.

    However, mr Skandalidis warned that Greece should resist the "Titanic syndrome". Referring to the alleged "inside-the-party opposition", mr Skandalidis, also, warned that if the party dissolved, there would be no survivors among its political tendencies.

    [19] THESSALONIKI'S BAR TO PROCEED TO A JURIDICAL SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR THE HELLENES ABROAD

    Thessaloniki's Bar Association decided to proceed to the establishment of a juridical support programme for the Hellenes in countries of the former Soviet Union, which will offer them more information concerning their rights as well as better defence in courts.

    The president of the Bar, mr Ignatiadis and the secretary general of the Youth State Secretariat, mr Sfinakis, will make the official announcement of the programme, the aim of which is to help the Hellenes abroad adjust to the Greek society and combat crime, which, due to lack of knowledge on Greek laws, is particularly increased within their communities. The programme will include new lawyers who will give legal advice and defend the Hellenes abroad over crimes related to their quality as citizens of the Greek society.

    The programme will be funded by the General Secretariat of the Youth Organization while the lawyers offering their services will be given the minimum salary provided by the juridical code.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [20] TENSION MOUNTS IN KOSSOVO

    Tensions have flared once again in Kossovo between ethnic- Albanians and the Serbian police, which have cracked down to crush militant separatist sentiment in recent months.

    According to press reports, 45 ethnic Albanians and two Serb policemen were killed as the Serbs bombed ethnic-Albanian villages near the Albanian border.

    Hundreds of Albanians have reportedly fled their homes as a result of the attacks. The latest fighting is the most serious since some 80 ethnic Albanians were killed in Serbian assaults on their villages in Drenica in late February and early March.

    [21] BOEING TO OPEN BRANCH IN GREECE, WILL MANUFACTURE AIRCRAFT

    The Seattle-based aircraft maker Boeing is to expand its branches to Greece in the near future, as the American conglomerate wants to promote its passenger andf military aircraft, as well as -in the long term- to facilitate the exchange of technical information through satellites.

    Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Boeing General Manager and PR chief Clark Little said that the US aircraft maker is interested in developing long-term ties with Greek businessmen, which is why it participated -for the first time this year- at h the Greek trade show "Hermes Expo'98", held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

    The activity of Boeing in Athens will expand on a variety of sectors which will concern all the types of aircraft (military among them) and the branch's establishment it is only a matter of time.

    [22] SWEDISH DEPUTIES RECEIVED BY CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES

    A two-member parliamentary delegation from Sweden was received by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides in Nicosia today, who briefed them on current developments and the island's course for accession to the European Union.

    The visiting MPs are the president of the parliamentary consultative committee on European Union matters, Berit Loefstedt and committee vice president Lars Tobisson. The Swedish officials also met with the President of the Parliament of Cyprus Spyros Kyprianou.

    [23] LETTER TO THE US PRESIDENT BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GREEK- AMERICAN COMMUNITY

    The leadership of the Greek-American community in a letter to US president Bill Clinton, stresses that the statements made by certain US officials silently encourage the Turkish aggressiveness and calls for Mr. Clinton's intervention.

    In the letter it is stressed that the stance of US officials, who criticize Cyprus for its wish to defend itself instead of condemning Turkey for its threatening military flights, its illegal occupation of the northern part of the island and its threats for an attack, vindicates Turkey's aggressive policy.

    The Greek-American leadership calls on president Clinton to intervene in order to put an end to this policy and not wait for another expression of the Turkish aggressiveness, like in the case of Imia.

    The letter is signed by the presidents of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens, the Cypriot Struggle World Coordinating Committee Philip Christopher and the National Coordinating Effort Andrew Manatos.

    [24] 38% OF THE BULGARIAN PEOPLE LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE

    According to the Sofia newspaper "Pari", 38% of the Bulgarian people live below the poverty line, as the average and lowest wage in the country is 94 and 27 US dollars respectively, when a person must receive a monthly wage of at least 122 dollars in order to survive. The data published by the newspaper were included in statements made by Confederation of Independent Unions president Zeliazko Christov.

    Based on a research conducted last summer by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Sociology Institute, 22-25% of the Bulgarian people belong to the middle class. According to the sociologists, the largest percentage of those, who make up the Bulgarian middle class, managed to make a fortune through illegal economic activities.

    [25] THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FEARS AN ESCALATION OF THE TENSION IN KOSOVO

    The international community expressed fears that the clashes in Kosovo will escalate. A German delegation is expected to arrive in Pristina at any moment. Washington is concerned over ethnic cleansing and warned Belgrade of a resumption of economic sanctions.

    Meanwhile, a large protest rally will be held in Pristina tomorrow organized by the political parties of the ethnic Albanians.

    [26] MAJOR RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN GERMANY

    The major railway accident, maybe the worst that ever happened in Germany, which took place close to the city of Hannover, has claimed the lives of about 80 people while 200 passengers were injured.

    However, the exact number of victims could not be verified, since many of the injured passengers, who were taken to the hospitals of the area, have succumbed to their wounds.

    Moreover, the exact cause of the accident was not verified, either, and German authorities investigate several scenarios.

    Most of the victims were not recognized while it is not known yet if among them, there are Greek emigrants.

    According to one of the scenarios, which appears to be the prevalent one, the train's derailment was caused by a car that suddenly stopped on the rails after a car accident on the bridge the train was crossing.

    [27] THE "MASTERMIND" OF THE ATTACK AGAINST BIRDAL ARRESTED

    According to reports published by the turkish newspapers "Hurriyet" and "Zaman", Semih Tufan Gulaltay, who was wanted as the organizer of the assassination attempt against the president of the Human Rights Association in Turkey, Akim Birdal, was arrested yesterday.

    Mr Birdal was hospitalized in a critical condition after being shot by two gunmen, who opened fire at him while he was at his office on May, 12.

    The attack aroused international repel and was attributed to ultra-nationalist groups. So far, five people, alleged to be involved in the case, were arrested while mr Birdal recognized the two gunmen who shot him.


    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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