Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-08-30

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

Last Update: 23:27 GMT+2

SECTIONS

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] GREECE

[01] KAVALA MOUNTAIN-CLIMBERS CONQUER EUROPE'S HIGHEST PEAK, MONT BLANC

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

AXOK president Ploumis Karakousis and his wife Efthalia Karamanli set foot on the peak, which stands at an altitude of 4,807 metres.

[02] BALKAN WRITERS, TRANSLATORS MEET IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

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 participating 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.

The Director of the National Book Center Ms. Zorba stressed the need for systematic and continuous dialogue at a trans-Balkan level on issues of literature.

[03] SWEDISH DEPUTY FM DISMISSES TALK OF GREEK-TURKISH CONFLICT

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

Speaking at a press conference in Thessaloniki yesterday, Mr. Schori was asked also to comment on developments in the crisis in the strife-torn Yugoslav province of Kosovo, in view of Sweden's assumption next month of the presidency of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Schori called on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic "to put an end to the terrorism" and on Kosovo separatist guerrillas "to stop believing that they can win the armed struggle".

He reiterated Sweden's position that Kosovo should be granted broader autonomy but within the framework of Federal Yugoslavia. Mr. Schori noted also that 10 percent of the troubled province's population were now refugees.

[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH BULGARIAN SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERS

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

The two-hour talks were held behind closed doors and no statements were made afterwards.

Meanwhile, the president of the Europarliament's socialist group, British Euro-MP Pauline Green, expressed a belief that the socialist parties of Europe will win next year's Europarliament elections.

Representatives of 60 socialist parties from 24 countries are attending the Halkidiki-held conference which ends tomorrow.

[05] NEXT FEW DAYS ARE CRITICAL FOR INTERNATIONAL MONEY MARKETS

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

Mr. Papantoniou said that external pressure on the domestic economy, and in particular on the drachma and Greece's stock market, were in line with what was being felt in other European

economies.

The Minister stressed that the drachma's entry into the European Union's Exchange Rate Mechanism in March had strengthened the economy's credibility abroad, so far acting as a shield in the crisis.

Mr. Papantoniou underlined that share prices had recouped part of sharp losses during trade yesterday in a sign of improvement, while the general index had fallen less than in the previous session. He reminded investors that the Greek market had shown the highest returns among all of Europe and other emerging world markets.

In Russia meanwhile, United States President Bill Clinton is to visit Moscow next week where he will meet with his Russian counterpart.

[B] BALKANS

[06] BELGRADE ACCUSES KOSOVO ALBANIANS OF BURNING SERBS IN CREMATORY

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

The police statement said the furnace, allegedly used to destroy the bodies of civilians killed by the rebels, was found in the village of Klecka, recently retaken by government forces.

According to the report, on Friday, Serb forensic workers retrieved from the crematory the bones of 10 Serb civilians, two of them children, who officials said were executed by the KLA.

The alleged crematory was found based on testimony from two captured rebel fighters, Ljup and Bekim Mazreku, who told police that in July alone, 22 Serbs as well as some Albanians loyal to Serbian authorities were killed. It was not clear if the Albanians also were cremated.

A statement issued swiftly Saturday by the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry urged foreign countries ``to cut all sources of financing, recruitment, training, arming'' to the rebels in light of the allegations.

[07] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS TOMORROW

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

A Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement in Ankara yesterday said that during his one-day visit to the north, Cem will hold talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and other 'officials'.

Cem's unscheduled visit will follow the talks this week in Athens between President Glafkos Clerides and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, which focused primarily on the question of deployment of the controversial S-300 missile system on the island.

[08] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER IN KORITSA TO INAUGURATE GREECE'S CONSULATE

Web Posted: 17:27 GMT+2

Within the framework of his visit, Mr. Pangalos will also inaugurate the Greek library of the city's university and he will also meet with local authorities and leaders of the Greek minority, as well as with Greek businessmen active 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/

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