Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-07-03
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 3, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HEAT WAVE THROUGHOUT GREECE, THREE DIE FROM SIZZLING
TEMPERATURES
[02] DIASPORA YOUTH TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
[03] DRAMA PREFECTURE TO BESTOW HONORS FOR CONTRIBUTION TO
DIASPORA
[04] PTOLEMAIDA MAYOR , ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS, KILLED IN TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT
[05] NATION-WIDE STRIKE ON JULY 23, IN PROTEST OF LABOR RELATIONS
[06] HELLENIC PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ON VISIT TO CHINA
[07] EXHIBITION OF ALEKOS PHASIANOS NEW ART COLLECTION IN SANI
FESTIVAL
[08] TSOCHATZOPOULOS LEFT FOR THE UNITED STATES
[09] CABINET MEETING IN ATHENS
[10] CABINET APPROVES BILL SUBMITTED BY THE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY
[11] FUNERAL OF PTOMELAIDA MAYOR TO BE HELD TOMORROW
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] RICHARD HOLBROOKE TO MEET IN BELGRADE WITH MILOSEVIC TODAY
[13] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER BEGINS US TOUR TODAY
[14] RUSSIA CONFIRMS: S-300 MISSILES WON'T ARRIVE IN CYPRUS UNTIL
AUTUMN
[15] STATE DEPARTMENT COMMENTS ON HOLBROOKE-MILOSEVIC MEETING
[16] CORDOVEZ IN CYPRUS, MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLERIDES
[17] TURKEY ARRESTS ONE OF ITS NAVY OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY SPYING FOR
GREECE
[18] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN CYPRUS
TODAY
[19] EU TO DECIDE IN SEPTEMBER ON THE FATE OF OLYMPIC AIRWAYS'
FINANCES
[20] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: TURKEY IS NOT IN DANGER
[21] NEW CLERIDES - CORDOVEZ MEETING
[22] ANKARA GAVE NO RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR THE REOPENING OF
THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL IN CHALKI
[23] SOLANA IS DISPLEASED WITH THE SITUATION IN KOSSOVO
[24] THE US STATE DEPARTMENT REACTS TO THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS
ON SWISS BANKS
[25] DEBADES IN NATO OVER CONTACTS WITH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HEAT WAVE THROUGHOUT GREECE, THREE DIE FROM SIZZLING
TEMPERATURES
Three persons have died from heat-related causes, unable to
bear the sizzling temperatures that yesterday soared to 106F
(41C), while hundreds of others are hospitalised with heat stroke
symptoms.
For the third consecutive day, temperatures are expected to
climb to scorching levels again today, reaching 108F (42C).
State authorities continue to be in a state of readiness,
while hospitals and ambulance services are working around the
clock.
Temperatures are forecast to fall on Sunday, with a cool
front moving in from the north, the weather service said in a news
release.
[02] DIASPORA YOUTH TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
The young members of the Council of Greeks Abroad, European
Region, (SAE) are to conduct a working session in Thessaloniki
tomorrow.
The nine-member youth committee of SAE is to hold contacts
with local authorities and youth leaders from throughout Greece in
order to draw an action plan whose emphasisi will be the use and
manipulation of cutting edge technology.
[03] DRAMA PREFECTURE TO BESTOW HONORS FOR CONTRIBUTION TO
DIASPORA
The Prefecture of Drama, in northern Greece, is to bestow
honors on two of its citizens who are distinguished members of the
Greek community living abroad, namely Swedish deputy Nikos
Papadopoulos and the Secretary-General of the World Council of
Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Christos Karypides.
The two men will be honored in a celebration to be held this
evening at 8:30 p.m. at the amphitheatre of the Prefecture of
Drama.
Along with Mgrs. Papadopoulos and Karypides, the general
director of the Macedonian Press Agency Spyros Kouzinopoulos will
also be honored for his valuable input and contribution to
informing Greeks throughout the world.
[04] PTOLEMAIDA MAYOR , ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS, KILLED IN TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT
The Mayor of the city of Ptolemaida, Petros Tottis, his
chauffeur and a motorcycle driver were killed in a traffic
collision that occurred late last night in the Athens-Thessaloniki
national highway.
According to the highway patrol, the accident took place when
a motorcycle driven by a 25-year-old woman collided with the
mayor's car. The vehicle, driven by the mayor's chauffeur,
Nestoras Alexakis, 30, went off course, tipped and exploded.
The three persons bodies were discovered near the site of the
collision after night-long searches.
Mr. Tottis was en route to Ptolemaida from Athens.
[05] NATION-WIDE STRIKE ON JULY 23, IN PROTEST OF LABOR RELATIONS
The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) has called
a 24-hour nation-wide
strike for July 23, protesting the government's draft bill on
labor relations.
``GSEE aims to improve the content of the bill and have
several articles withdrawn,'' GSEE representatives said in a
statement.
The employees union of state-controlled Ionian Bank has also
called a 24-hour strike for today in protest against a court
decision which limited union participation representatives at the
bank's annual shareholders meeting which took place on June 30.
[06] HELLENIC PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT ON VISIT TO CHINA
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
is to depart tomorrow for a nine-day official visit to China,
following an invitation by his Chinese counterpart Li Peng.
During his stay in Beijing, Mr. Kaklamanis will hold talks
with the state and government leaders of China, on matters of
bilateral and mutual interest.
[07] EXHIBITION OF ALEKOS PHASIANOS NEW ART COLLECTION IN SANI
FESTIVAL
The new collection of paintings by famous Greek contemporary
artist Alekos Phasianos is to be unveiled tomorrow at the Sani Art
Gallery, an event that is part of the annual Sani Festival, in
Halkidiki.
Mr. Phasianos, whose masterful pieces depict simple-yet-
spontaneous excerpts of daily life through ethereal brushstrokes -
his distinguishable style, is to give a live presentation of his
method and technique during the exhibition.
[08] TSOCHATZOPOULOS LEFT FOR THE UNITED STATES
Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos left for the United
States today and stated that he believes that the talks he will
have will be held on a realistic basis in order for the two
countries to make better use of their long relations for the
promotion of peace and stability in the region of the Balkans.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that there are different views in
NATO concerning the meeting of US officials with representatives
of Kosovo's Liberation Army. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also said that by
mid 1999 a sub-regional NATO headquarters will be put in operation
in Tirnavos, central Greece.
[09] CABINET MEETING IN ATHENS
The ministry of development draft bill for the production and
distribution of energy was the topic of discussion in the cabinet
meeting that was held today.
Prime minister Simitis outlined the materialization course of
the governmental work and reiterated that the government will
materialize the policy of structural changes.
The presentation of the draft bill was made by minister of
development Vaso Papandreou, who referred to the energy planning
that covers the next decade and to the plans for the expansion of
the electricity and natural gas network.
[10] CABINET APPROVES BILL SUBMITTED BY THE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY
The cabinet approved, at a session held today, the draft bill
submitted by the ministry of Development concerning the production
and distribution of energy in Greece.
According to the Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas,
the country should abide by the EU instructions until February 19.
Mr Reppas stated that the regulation regarding a free energy
market takes into account the special conditions in Greece. Thus,
the State Electricity Company (DEI) will maintain its unified
character while Greece should create terms of healthy competition.
During the cabinet session, the issue of the insurance policy
for the DEI workers as well as the need for it to be settled
before the establishment of a free energy market were also raised.
[11] FUNERAL OF PTOMELAIDA MAYOR TO BE HELD TOMORROW
The funeral of the Mayor of the city of Ptolemaida, Petros
Tottis, who was killed in a traffic accident late last night in
Thessaloniki, is to be held tomorrow morning, at 11:00a.m.
The city council has declared a three-day period mourning
while the body of the deceased will be lied in state at the
Cathedral of Agia Triada in Ptolemaida, at 8:00am until the time
of the funeral. The city council, at an extraordinary session held
today, expressed its deep sorrow for the loss and its condolences
to the family and relatives of the deceased.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] RICHARD HOLBROOKE TO MEET IN BELGRADE WITH MILOSEVIC TODAY
The United States newly appointed ambassador to the UN
Richard Holbrooke is to travel to Belgrade this afternoon where he
will meet with the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Slobodan Milosevic.
Mr. Milosevic has publicly vowed that he will try to reach a
political solution to the fermenting crisis in Kossovo, which
will include autonomy for the region, albeit without compromising
Serbia's sovereign rights.
[13] GREECE'S DEFENSE MINISTER BEGINS US TOUR TODAY
National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos embarked on
an official tour to the United States today, where he will meet
with his US Defense Secretary William Cohen, who had visited
Athens last April.
According to reports, the two men will discuss the Cyprus
issue, Greece's purchase of US military equipment, the
continuation of efforts for a reduction of tension in the Aegean
and the creation of a Balkan multinational force.
On Wednesday, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will be received at the
Pentagon and will attend a reception in his honour at the US State
Department.
The defense minister will also meet with the chief of the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) and members of the Jewish community.
[14] RUSSIA CONFIRMS: S-300 MISSILES WON'T ARRIVE IN CYPRUS UNTIL
AUTUMN
The Russian government yesterday confirmed that its S-300
anti aircraft missiles will not arrive in Cyprus before Autumn.
The Russian ambassador in Ankara, Vadim Kuznetsov, told
Agence France Presse (AFP) yesterday that delivery had been
delayed at the request of the Cyprus House of Representatives.
"Delivery of the S-300 systems has been postponed until late
Autumn under a decision by the Cypriot parliament," Mr. Kuznetsov
stated.
Cypriot Defense Minister Yiannakis Omirou, responding to the
Russian official's statement, said he knew of no such request from
the House.
"I cannot comment on when the missiles will be delivered, but
I can say the House never made such a request," Mr. Omirou said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kuznetsov defended the planned missile sale.
"This is an entirely economic matter and has nothing to do
with politics. Had we not agreed to sell the missiles, Cyprus
would have bought them from another supplier," he said, adding "we
don't believe that those missiles will threaten Turkey's
security."
[15] STATE DEPARTMENT COMMENTS ON HOLBROOKE-MILOSEVIC MEETING
State Department spokesperson James Rubin stated that the
meeting to be held today between the US ambassador the UN Richard
Holbrooke and F.R.Y.'s Serb President Slobodan Milosevic is aimed
at getting "President Milosevic to realize that he's leading his
country down the path to ruin."
During yesterday's briefing, Mr. Rubin added that ``it's
time for him (Milosevic) to get it through his head that the only
course of wisdom is to pull back his forces, stop the crack down,
stop the use of heavy military equipment, and start the use of the
good sense of negotiations to resolve this problem.''
Moreover, Mr. Rubin defended the recently-held
meetings between Holbrooke and other U.S. officials with the
members of the Kossovo Liberation Army, by stating ``it would be
foolhardy for us not to realize that the necessities of a cease-
fire require discussions with those who are in ability, in a
position to enforce and implement such a cease-fire. And so we're
going to be quite realistic and try to make that happen. ''
[16] CORDOVEZ IN CYPRUS, MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLERIDES
The United Nations secretary-general's special adviser on
the Cyprus issue, Diego Cordovez, met with Cypriot President
Glafcos Clerides again today, after yesterday's first round of
talks, which also included a meeting between Mr. Cordovez and the
leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash.
Following the contacts, Mr. Cordovez deferred statements
until tomorrow's scheduled press conference.
According to sources, the talks focused on the Security
Council's recently-approved resolutions on Cyprus.
One of the resolutions, passed on Monday, stressed its full
support for long-running efforts exerted by the UN Secretary-
General to reunite the divided island as a federation through
negotiations between the leaders of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-
Cypriot communities.
The other resolution renewed the mandate of the UN
peacekeeping force in Cyprus for another six months through to the
end of the year.
[17] TURKEY ARRESTS ONE OF ITS NAVY OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY SPYING FOR
GREECE
The Turkish authorities have arrested a non-commissioned navy
officer for allegedly spying for Greece.
According to the Istanbul daily "Hurriyet", the officer,
whose name was not released, was working at a navy dockyard at
Golcuk, east of Istanbul and has been charged with transferring
classified military documents to Greece.
[18] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN CYPRUS
TODAY
The UN Secretary-General's newly-appointed special
representative in Cyprus Ann Herkus is to arrive in Cyprus today,
as she will officially take her post at the island on Monday.
Ms. Herkus, who is succeeding Gustav Feishel, is to meet with
the Secretary-General's special adviser on the Cyprus issue Diego
Cordovez tomorrow in Cyprus.
[19] EU TO DECIDE IN SEPTEMBER ON THE FATE OF OLYMPIC AIRWAYS'
FINANCES
A slighter-than-expected shares increase and the deferment of
an approval for the subsidisation of new capital until September,
as opposed to the end of July as the Greek government had hoped
for, are two of the not-so-pleasant developments after the recent
negotiations held between the administrators of the state-owned
Olympic Airways and the European Commission.
At the same time, a tough battle will have to be fought in
order to secure from the European Union even a verbal "OK" over
the Greek state's intention to vouch for the USD378 million to be
allocated for paying off the 12 aircraft ordered by OA.
Since the OA issue will not be listed on the agenda of the
EU's latest plenary session, which means that it will be shelved
until September, both the Greek government and the OA
administrators ask that the EU grant its approval "a.s.a.p." in
order to enable he state to guarantee the USD378 million. If the
said guarantee is not granted on time by the Greek state, the
already debt-ridden airline stands at losing the GRD 20 million
in down payments it already has submitted to Boeing and Airbus.
[20] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: TURKEY IS NOT IN DANGER
Turkey with an armed force of 600.000 men and 400 war planes
can not possibly be in any danger by the 6-7.000 Cypriot soldiers
and a few anti-aircraft missiles, stressed Greek minister of
defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos in an interview with the Austrian
newspaper "Die Presse" responding to the question on whether the
installation of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles will
create the pre-conditions for an armed conflict in Cyprus.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed that the installation of the
missiles and the solution of the Cyprus problem are two separate
issues not linked with each other and added that the fact that the
Cyprus issue does not show any progress is the result of the
position adopted by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. He said
that the experienced American diplomat Richard Holbrooke tried for
months to lead the Cyprus issue to progress but his efforts were
in vain because the only answer coming from Denktash was an
intransigent "No" and this is the main reason why this problem can
not be resolved.
The Greek minister of defense also referred to the problem in
Kossovo. He said that he categorically rejects the use of military
force, maintaining that such a move would cause a chain reaction
that would have involved FYROM and Albania in the hostilities. Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos suggested the adoption of parallel initiatives by
the United Nations, the European Union and the OSCE with three
main objectives, namely, to isolate the illegal ethnic Albanian
army, because it is a very dangerous movement which does not want
a political solution but Kossovo's independence through war and
destruction, to strengthen ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova's
position and to make it clear to Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic that there is no other solution than the immediate
opening of negotiations aimed at Kosovo's autonomy.
[21] NEW CLERIDES - CORDOVEZ MEETING
UN secretary-general special adviser Diego Cordovez, who is
in Cyprus since yesterday morning, had a new meeting with Cypriot
president Glafkos Clerides in Nicosia.
The UN official will meet tomorrow with Ann Herkus, who will
replace Gustav Feisel to the position of UN secretary- general
special envoy to Cyprus. Ms Herkus will officially assume her
duties on Monday.
[22] ANKARA GAVE NO RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR THE REOPENING OF
THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL IN CHALKI
Ankara has given no response to the request of Ecumenical
Patriarch Vartholomeos for the reopening of the Theology School in
Chalki in spite of the fact that it has been a year since the
meeting of the head of the Christian Orthodox Church with Turkish
prime minister Mesut Yilmaz.
The request of the Ecumenical Patriarch for the reopening of
the Theology School in Chalki was brought again to publicity by
the Turkish newspaper "Yeni Yuzyil" which mentions that the
Turkish government has not given a response yet.
The newspaper also publishes an interview of Metropolite
Apostolos, the prior of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Chalki, who
stresses that it is sad that the Theology School remains closed
since 1971, adding that it was in an uninterrupted operation from
1844 to 1971. He said that its graduates are one thousand among
them the Archbishop of America, the Metropolites of France,
Austria and New Zealand.
[23] SOLANA IS DISPLEASED WITH THE SITUATION IN KOSSOVO
NATO secretary-general Javier Solana expressed his strong
discontent over the situation in Kossovo before leaving for Bonn.
Mr. Solana stated, after his talks yesterday with Albanian
president Redzep Meidani, prime minister Fatos Nano and foreign
minister Paskal Milo, that the cease fire must be implemented and
the negotiations should resume, while he stated that Ibrahim
Rugova still is the legitimate representative of the ethnic
Albanians in Kossovo.
[24] THE US STATE DEPARTMENT REACTS TO THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS
ON SWISS BANKS
The US State Department criticized the initiative announced
by a US committee made up of economic officials of state
governments concerning the imposition of sanctions on Swiss banks
because they have not paid yet the compensation they owe to the
families of the victims of the Holocaust in World War II.
The initiative was undertaken in an effort to force the Swiss
banks to pay the huge compensations of hundreds of millions of
dollars to the families of the victims of the Holocaust with
blocked bank accounts in Switzerland since Germany's defeat in
World War II.
In a US State Department statement it is mentioned that the
suggested measures are unjustified and counterproductive.
[25] DEBADES IN NATO OVER CONTACTS WITH THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY
Greek minister of National Defence Akis Tsohatzopoulos
stressed, today, that there is great divergence within NATO
regarding a meeting between US officials with members of the
Kosovo Liberation Army.
Expressing his personal view, mr Tsohatzopoulos underlined
that talks with people, who use force and terrorism in order to
promote human rights, could never be useful, adding that
participants in these talks cannot contribute to the achievement
of a peaceful settlement unless they had ensured a pledge
concerning the termination of violence and military activities.
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/
|
