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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-07-09
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 9, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NORTHERN GREECE'S RAILWAY WORKERS TO STRIKE TODAY
[02] PASOK POLITICAL SECRETARIAT TO CONVENE TODAY
[03] STATE EXPECTS MORE TOURISTS TO VISIT GREECE THIS YEAR
[04] EU EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER FLYNN IN GREECE
TODAY
[05] THE INTRODUCTION OF A 15% SHARE OF THE STATE
TELECOMMUNICATION ORGANIZATION TO THE STOCK MARKET OF GREAT
IMPORTANCE
[06] REPPAS COMMENTS ON REPORT OF AN EC ENVOY TO TURKEY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[07] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH US COUNTERPART
[08] RUSSIAN S-300 MISSILES TO BE TEST FIRED IN MOSCOW TODAY
[09] GREEK TRANSPORTATION MINISTER EMBARKS ON VISIT TO BELGRADE
[10] US STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON COMMENTS ON NO-FLY ZONE IN
AEGEAN
[11] THERE IS NO IMMINENT CRISIS IN CYPRUS, BRITAIN SAYS NOW
[12] EU'S AUSTRIAN PRESIDENCY REAFFIRMS START OF CYPRUS ACCESSION
TALKS
[13] BRITISH MPs TABLE MOTION FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO CYPRUS
ISSUE
[14] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON VISIT TO ALBANIA, FYROM
[15] UN REPORT: AT LEAST 52,000 DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSSOVO
[16] ONE OUT OF THREE CHILDREN IN THE WORLD LACK BIRTH
CERTIFICATES
[17] KINKEL CALLS FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NORTHERN GREECE'S RAILWAY WORKERS TO STRIKE TODAY
Only three trains, serving social needs, are to run on the
railway tracks of Macedonia and Thrace today, after the 24-hour
strike declared by the sector's workers in the region.
In Athens and the Peloponnese the scheduled routes will
proceed as scheduled, expect from those whose destination is in
Macedonia and Thrace.
For more information on the schedule changes, travelers can
contact the local railway stations or their travel agencies.
[02] PASOK POLITICAL SECRETARIAT TO CONVENE TODAY
The government's planned structural changes are to be at the
center of a discussion held by the ruling PASOK party's Political
secretariat and headed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.
Deputy Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis has announced
a 0.1-point slip in consumer price inflation to 5.2 percent in
June from 5.3 percent in May. The official figure is due for
release today. However, the government does not expect the
inflation rate to edge below 5.0 percent before the end of the
summer.
A meeting at the finance ministry focused on progress in
meeting this year's central government budget and on setting
fiscal policy targets for 1999.
.
[03] STATE EXPECTS MORE TOURISTS TO VISIT GREECE THIS YEAR
The Greek Tourism Organization's Secretary-General Nikos
Skoulas stated today that the state expects an increase of10-12%
in the number of tourists who are to visit Greece this year.
Last year, the number of tourists who chose Greece to spend
their holidays amounted to 10.5 million, marking an 8.24% increase
in comparison to 1996.
[04] EU EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER FLYNN IN GREECE
TODAY
EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn, responsible for issues of
employment and social affairs, will visit Greece today. During his
two-day visit to Greece, the EU Commissioner will have contacts
with government officials.
Today, he will meet with prime minister Kostas Simitis and
with ministers of labor and health to discuss issues within their
authority and tomorrow he will visit hospitals and psychiatric
clinics in the region of Athens and in the island of Leros.
[05] THE INTRODUCTION OF A 15% SHARE OF THE STATE
TELECOMMUNICATION ORGANIZATION TO THE STOCK MARKET OF GREAT
IMPORTANCE
Greek minister of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou
expressed the conviction that the introduction of a package
containing 15% of the shares of the State Telecommunication
Organization (OTE) to the stock market will prove to be the most
important move within the history of the Greek economy.
The decision was taken during a meeting held today at the
National Economy ministry.
Mr Papantoniou pointed out that that this move reflects the
growing strength of OTE and added that the total amount of money,
which the introduction of the OTE 15% share to the stock market is
expected to yield, will exceed the 1 trillion drachmas.
[06] REPPAS COMMENTS ON REPORT OF AN EC ENVOY TO TURKEY
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas criticized today a
report issued by the European Commission envoy to Ankara, Mike
Lane, which contained tendentious views, in favour of Turkey.
Mr Reppas expressed his surprise over the European diplomat's
comments, according to which Greece's attitude against Turkey had
negative consequences within the framework of the European Union.
Mr Reppas, also, underlined that it is inadmissible of EU
diplomats, who are supposed to promote the Union's interests, to
support a non-member and added that Athens has called on the head
of the European Commission Jacques Santer to investigate the case.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[07] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH US COUNTERPART
Greece's National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is
continuing his ten-day official visit to the United States and
met with his US counterpart William Cohen in Washington yesterday.
Referring to the Kossovo issue, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated the
only solution that could bear permanent results and stability in
the region can be arrived at through diplomatic efforts. In turn,
Mr. Cohen agreed, adding that the use of military force should
only be used as a last resort.
[08] RUSSIAN S-300 MISSILES TO BE TEST FIRED IN MOSCOW TODAY
The S-300 anti-aircraft missiles purchased by Cyprus from
Moscow are to be test-fired today in Russia.
Cypriot Defense Minister Yiannakis Omirou is currently in Moscow
on a four-day visit and will attend the test-firing of the ground-
to- air missiles which will take place at a firing range 1,200 km
south of Moscow.
The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides is
also due to visit Moscow from July 11-14.
[09] GREEK TRANSPORTATION MINISTER EMBARKS ON VISIT TO BELGRADE
Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis is to
embark today on a three-day visit to Belgrade in order to promote
cooperation between Greece and Yugoslavia in the sectors of
transport and communication.
Mr. Mantelis is heading a delegation of public utilities and
organizations executives. He is scheduled to hold talks with Serb
President Milan Milutinovic and Yugoslav federal Prime Minister
Momir Bulatovic, as well as the Yugoslav ministers of transport
and communications.
[10] US STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON COMMENTS ON NO-FLY ZONE IN
AEGEAN
US State Department spokesperson James Rubin stated that
proposals to create a no-fly zone over h the Aegean Sea and
Cyprus, where foreign aircraft violating the zone would be downed,
is simply "not realistic"
Mr. Rubin also stated that the Clinton Administration would
like the deal of the deployment of the S-300 anti-aircraft
missiles at the island to be canceled, while he also stressed that
Turkish threats for military action, in case the missiles are
deployed, are denounced by the US government.
[11] THERE IS NO IMMINENT CRISIS IN CYPRUS, BRITAIN SAYS NOW
Britain does not think there is an imminent crisis in Cyprus
and is not calling for caution regarding visits to the island, the
Cypriot News Agency reports.
Commenting on a "Sky News" report, which more or less repeats
the scenario that appeared recently in the "Sunday Times", about
Ministry of Defense contingency plans to evacuate the island, a
Foreign Office spokesman said: "I do not think Sky News know of
something in Cyprus that we do not know".
Asked what advice the Foreign Office gives to prospective
travelers to Cyprus, the spokesman said that "we made it quite
clear, that it is not our assessment that there is any crisis in
Cyprus, making necessary a change in our stand regarding visits
there".
He added that "our policy remains the same" and that "we do
not see any reason for British citizens planning to visit Cyprus
to change their plans".
[12] EU'S AUSTRIAN PRESIDENCY REAFFIRMS START OF CYPRUS ACCESSION
TALKS
The Austrian-held presidency of the European Union has
reaffirmed that the start of Cyprus' accession talks with the EU
is based on the decision of the Luxembourg European Council.
Austrian Chancellor, Viktor Klima, whose country currently
holds the rotating six- month EU presidency, has also called on
the British Representative for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, to
continue offering his services during the Austrian presidency.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels yesterday, Mr.
Klima said the EU began accession negotiations with Cyprus, based
on the conclusions of the December 1997 European Council, but the
Turkish-Cypriots, who were invited to participate, have so far
refused to participate in the talks.
He said Austrian Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, will
make every effort to solve the problem and expressed the hope that
during the Austrian presidency, there will be an overall
agreement.
Mr. Klima said Sir David Hannay, Britain's Cyprus envoy, had
worked hard on the Cyprus problem and for this reason, he was
asked to continue his services during the Austrian presidency.
[13] BRITISH MPs TABLE MOTION FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO CYPRUS
ISSUE
British parliamentarians have tabled a motion to the House of
Commons recognizing the right of the Republic of Cyprus to defend
itself.
The motion, titled "Cyprus: Efforts to secure peace", also
calls on Turkey to accept the demilitarization of Cyprus.
"This House recognizes the right of the Republic of Cyprus to
defend itself but welcomes President Clerides' readiness to
suspend the importation and deployment of S-300 Russian ground-to-
air missiles...on the condition that progress is forthcoming on an
agreed schedule of action which includes measures leading towards
the goal of demilitarization," the motion said.
It "calls upon the Turkish government to accept as a matter
of principle, the demilitarization of Cyprus as a matter of
urgency".
The motion, supported by 122 deputies so far, also calls upon
"all sides in negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem to
settle their differences by peaceful means".
Furthermore, it "urges the UN Secretary General to undertake
intensive efforts to secure an agreement between the parties on
all security matters".
[14] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON VISIT TO ALBANIA, FYROM
German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel arrived in Tirana
yesterday evening, embarking on an official visit to Albania and
FYROM.
Mr. Kinkel stated that NATO will not hesitate to resort to arms if
negotiations concerning the Kossovo crisis fail.
The German FM was received by Albania's President and
Premier.
[15] UN REPORT: AT LEAST 52,000 DISPLACED PERSONS FROM KOSSOVO
There are at least 52,000 displaced people throughout
Kossovo, according to a new United Nations update on the situation
there.
The update, issued by the Belgrade Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), states that the
agency does not know the whereabouts of former residents of whole
towns and villages on the Albanian border area which have been
deserted.
Refugees interviewed by UNHCR after crossing the border into
northern Albania over the past week reported that the journey was
more dangerous than ever before due to shelling. Despite the
dangers, 83 people crossed this week, including several who were
elderly, sick or accompanying young children.
According to reports from the new arrivals, there are still
many civilians seeking to cross the border into Albania, the
update states. There have been a number of reports of security
incidents, which UNHCR says may explain the lack of refugee
movements into Albania during four of the past seven days.
Relations between refugees and the local population in
Albania are good, according to UNHCR. However, both fear that the
conflict may spread to northern Albania. In the country's Tropoje
district, the local population is armed, and even young boys are
seen carrying Kalishnikovs. "There are many shooting incidents all
the time," the update states.
[16] ONE OUT OF THREE CHILDREN IN THE WORLD LACK BIRTH
CERTIFICATES
One out of three children born each year are at risk because
they are not registered at birth, according to a new report by the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The Progress of Nations, an annual report on how effectively
countries are improving the status of children, says that the 40
million children who are unregistered each year are deprived of
key citizenship rights. Twenty-two nations have no data on birth
registration.
"This is one of the major unreported stories of our time,"
UNICEF's Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, said at the launching
of the report in London on Wednesday. She pointed out that lack of
a birth certificate threatened children. "Whether seeking
immunization, entering school or proving one is too young for
military service or to work in hazardous industries, a birth
certificate is a necessity.
Without proof of birth, a child cannot be legally vaccinated
in at least 20 countries, according to the report. More than 30
States require birth registration before a child can be treated in
a health center. Most countries demand to see a birth certificate
before enrolling a child in school. Many require one for
supplemental feeding programs.
The author of the lead article in The Progress of Nations,
Unity Dow, brought her personal experience as the first female
High Court Judge in Botswana to the task of reporting on birth
registration.
Noting the usefulness of a birth certificate in the hands of
a teenager accused of a crime, she writes, "I am presiding over a
murder trial of a young man who does not have a birth certificate.
If convicted, he could face the hangman's noose because he cannot
prove that he was under 18 at the time the crime was committed."
Her article provides details about the countries where birth
certification is made difficult by cumbersome procedures or costs.
In addition, she devotes attention to the problems faced by
refugees and others born away from home. "Threatening as it is to
be without a birth certificate in a settled community, to be
denied proof of identity outside the borders of one's home country
is to be consigned to the no- man's land of statelessness," she
observes.
Some countries have been taking steps to improve their
certification process, according to the report. Under the auspices
of the United Nations Statistical Division and a consortium of UN
agencies, training workshops have been held for registrars
throughout the world to improve civil registration systems.
[17] KINKEL CALLS FOR PEACE IN KOSOVO
German Foreign minister Klaus Kinkel, in statements he made
before departing for FYROM, today, underlined that the
international community is in favour of partial autonomy for
Kosovo, within the borders of Serbia, but against its
independence.
Mr Kinkel stressed that, although the international community
acknowledges that the Kosovo Albanians would prefer a different
settlement of the issue, it can not allow it.
Mr Kinkel, also, called on all sides, involved within the
Kosovo issue, to end the violence and resume negotiations. In
Albania, mr Kinkel met with two close allies of the Kosovo
Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova.
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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