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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-08-16Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 23:27 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] BALKAN WRITERS, TRANSLATORS TO MEET IN ALEXANDROUPOLISWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Alexandroupolis, 16/08/1998 (MPA) Several noted writers and translators from the Balkans are holding a first-ever meeting of its kind from August 29 through September 5 in Alexandroupolis.According to the Athens News Agency, the event is part of an effort to modernise libraries in the region of Evros, supported by the culture ministry, the Evros prefecture and the National Book and Translators' Centre. An important role in this latest effort for regional communication is played by translators, while special emphasis is placed in a common workshop for writers and translators. Among the personalities set to participate are Ismail Kadare, Kiki Demoula, Milomor Tzouganovic, Zyranna Zateli, Nedim Gursel, Vasilis Vasilikos, Blanca Dimitrova, Spyros Plaskovitis, Mlilisav Savic, Sotiris Demetriou, Mircea Kartaresku and Thanasis Valtinos, all of whom will meet in Alexandroupoli at the Workshop of Balkan Writers and Translators, organised by the National Book Center. [02] LESVOS TO BE REPRESENTED AT IZMIR TRADE EXHIBITIONWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Athens, 16/08/1998 (MPA) The Lesvos Chamber of Commerce and the Foreign Trade Organisation are cooperating to organise the island's presence at the Izmir international trade exhibition set for August 27 to 29.According to the Athens News Agency, the island will be represented by about 40 businessmen in an effort to promote trade between the Greek islands of the eastern Aegean and the Asia Minor coastal region. The chambers of Ismir and Lesvos are working toward this goal with the Young Turkish Businessmen's Union. [03] FOUR BRITONS JAILED IN GREECE FOR «MOONING» EACH OTHER AT KNOSSOSWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Athens, 16/08/1998 (MPA) Four young English tourists have been sentenced to jail in Greece for showingdisrespect to a Greek national monument when they were photographed "mooning" each other at the ruins of the Knossos ancient palace. The buttocks display was reported to the police by a museum worker who became disturbed by the prank. They were arrested on Thursday on charges of "causing a scandal by engaging in obscene acts". They apologised to the court by saying it was just a stupid prank on the spur of the moment. The four young men will appeal against their sentences on Monday and are expected to be released after paying bail of about £400. [04] HOUSE PRESIDENT: THRACE IS STARTING POINT FOR HELLENISM'S PROMOTIONWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 16/08/1998 (MPA) The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis stated that the region of Thrace can be a place representing the starting point for the promotion of Hellenism, both in a cultural and economic point of view.Addressing the 4th World Congress of Thracians, currently being held in Orestiada, Mr. Kaklamanis expressed the certainty that the event will be beneficial and constructive not only for Thrace but for Greece throughout. [05] PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS ON ARMED FORCES DAYWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Athens, 16/08/1998 (MPA) In a message on the August 15 religious holiday of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, which is also the Armed Forces Day, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis said yesterday the Hellenic Armed Forces were the "cornerstone of a strong Greece" and "a true bridge of understanding between East and West".Mr. Simitis added that the entire Greek people supported and had confidence in the Armed Forces. He further stated that Greece's "sensitive geographical position" dictated a defence policy "founded exclusively on the right of self-defence, as foreseen in the UN Charter". [06] GREECE CELEBRATES ASSUMPTION OF VIRGIN MARY, ARMED FORCES DAYWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 16/08/1998 (MPA) Greece's political leadership headed by President Kostis Stephanopoulos attended on Saturday the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Armed Forces' Day celebrations at the monastery of Panagia Soumela, in northern Greece.The Armed Forces' Day was also celebrated on Tinos, the site of a 1940 unprovoked attack on the Greek naval vessel "Elli" by Italian fascist forces. A special ceremony was held in memory of the eight sailors killed in the attack. [B] BALKANS[07] ARMED CONFLICT IN KOSSOVO MOUNTSWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Prishtina, 16/08/1998 (MPA) Serb forces continue with their offensive against the Albanian speaking majority of Kosovo, where 30 villages have been literally abandoned since their inhabitants have sought refuge to Albania.According to Albania's Ministry of the Interior, 600 Albanians crossed the border during the course of one day seeking asylum. [08] UN REPORTS: REFUGEES FROM KOSSOVO FLEE INTO ALBANIAWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Tirana, 16/08/1998 (MPA) The United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that it was continuing to identify refugees fleeing the fighting in the province of Kosovo in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that all the new arrivals came from the town of Junik where most of the intense fighting has been going on during the past couple of weeks. The refugees fled the town on Wednesday as the fighting intensified between the Serb security forces and the rebels of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). According to UNHCR up to 500 people managed to cross from Kosovo to Albania on Thursday. They had fled the town on Wednesday and stayed overnight in the mountains, UNHCR said. The refugees said that Junik was empty and that thousands of people were still hiding in the mountains above Junik and Djakovica. The United Nations refugee agency said that the situation at the border was very tense with skirmishes between the Serbs and the retreating combatants of the KLA. [09] FRENCH MUSICIAN CONDUCTS ONE-MAN ANTI-OCCUPATION PROTEST IN CYPRUSWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Nicosia, 16/08/1998 (MPA) A French musician and avid friend of Cyprus conducted a 24 hour one-man anti-occupation protest at the Dherynia checkpoint on Thursday to demonstrate against the continued occupation of the island's northern third.According to the Cyprus News Agency, Michel Maillard, who is married to a Greek Cypriot from the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, said he will remain under a tent at the Dherynia checkpoint, in the eastern coast, just like refugees did back in 1974. His 24-hour vigil coincides with Thursday's 24th anniversary of the second phase of the Turkish invasion, and the second anniversary since the murder of Greek Cypriots, Tasos Isaak and Solomos Solomou, brutally killed by Turkish extremists during demonstrations in the Dherynia buffer zone in 1996. Maillard said that "the world rushed to save Kuwait, the world is crying for Kosovo, but the world forgets the drama of Cyprus". With his symbolic protest, Maillard said he wants to "say no to the fait accompli which the Turkish invasion has imposed to secure the division of Cyprus". He said it is a shame that European countries, and especially France which is a human rights advocate, continue to support Turkey, a country where human rights are violated every day. Maillard said the people of Cyprus should have the freedom of movement in their own country and refugees should be able to return to their homes. [10] CYPRIOT DEFENSE MINSTER SENDS MESSAGE TO GREEK COUNTERPARTWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Nicosia, 16/08/1998 (MPA) Cypriot Defense Minister Yiannakis Omirou thanked his Greek counterpart for Greece's support to Cyprus' struggle to end the Turkish occupation of part of the island.In a message to Akis Tsohatzopoulos on the occasion of yesterday's Greek Armed Forces day, Mr. Omirou underlined the security the people of Cyprus feel since 1993 when the two countries decided on a joint defence pact. "I would like to express my sincere thanks for the (Greek) nation's firm solidarity, lead by the Armed Forces, to the struggle of the people of Cyprus to end the Turkish occupation and restore the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic," Mr. Omirou said in his message. According to the Cyprus News Agency, Mr. Omirou described the defence pact as "a practical expression of Hellenism's solidarity towards Cyprus at these crucial hours" and adds that "it has strengthened the feeling of security among our people". The Defence Minister stressed that the pact, along with Cyprus' bid to join the European Union, are the two main pillars of the policy followed by the two countries, aiming at a peaceful and honourable solution to the Cyprus problem. The defence pact provides that Greece will offer Cyprus air, land and sea support in case of a new Turkish offensive against the island. [C] WORLD[11] US ENVOY TO CYPRUS THOMAS MILLER TO VISIT TURKEY TOMORROWWeb Posted: 19:27 GMT+2Washington, 16/08/1998 (MPA) The United States envoy for the Cyprus issue Thomas Miller is to visit Ankara tomorrow, with the S-300 missiles and proposals for a no-fly zone that might prevent their deployment expected to be high on the agenda.Mr. Miller is exploring ways of postponing and eventually cancelling the arrival of the Russian-made missiles to Cyprus. Turkey has threatened a military strike on the missiles if they are deployed. Meanwhile, according to a study conducted by the United States Institute of International Studies, the Turkish claims concerning the missiles do not stand since it supports that their deployment at the island will not subvert the strategic balance in the region. 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/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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