Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-08-31
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 31, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT FLORINA PREFECTURE
[02] FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
[03] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER COMMENTS ON STATE OF ECONOMY
[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TSOCHATZOPOULOS TO VISIT TUNISIA ON
TUESDAY
[05] DEPUTY F.M. KRANIDIOTIS ADDRESSES EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY
CONFERENCE
[06] RESULTS OF UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS ARE OUT, NAMES HAVE BEEN
POSTED
[07] WESTERN MACEDONIA CHAMBERS MEET TO DISCUSS PRESENCE ABROAD
[08] THE BIGGEST TRADE DEFICIT AMONG THE 15 EU MEMBER STATES
BELONGS TO GREECE
[09] THE FUTURE OF EUROPE WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE GREEK INSTITUTE
OF EUROPEAN AND FOREIGN POLICY SEMINAR IN HALKI
[10] AN APPEAL BY MR. PAPATHEMELIS FOR THE SUPPORT OF HELLENISM IN
TENEDOS
[11] THE SIMITIS - JOSPEN MEETING COVERED ALL CURRENT ISSUES
[12] CONFERENCE IN CHALKIDIKI ON THE HELLENISM OF ASIA MINOR,
PONTOS AND EASTERN THRACE
[13] A WINTER OF MOBILIZATIONS OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN EUROPE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] GREEK F.M. ANNOUNCES FREE MOVEMENT ZONE BETWEEN GREECE-
ALBANIA
[15] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS
TODAY
[16] NATO'S MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE EXPECTED TO BE ASSIGNED IN
KOSSOVO
[17] TURKISH-ISRAELI MILITARY EXERCISE TO TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 13-
18
[18] EU CONCERNED OVER BELGRADE'S BEHAVIOR TOWARDS FOREIGN
JOURNALISTS
[19] ALBANIA: MAIN OPPOSITION TO DEFY STATE'S ORDER NOT TO HOLD
RALLY
[20] BRITISH CRITICISM ON GREECE'S POLICY TOWARD WILD LIFE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT FLORINA PREFECTURE
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is to conduct a two-day visit to the prefecture of Florina on
September 5-6.
According to the announcement issued by the President's
office, Mr. Stephanopoulos will visit the cities of Amynteo,
Florina, the guardhouses of Niki, Koula and Agia Paraskevi, as
well as the Prespes lake.
[02] FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is to arrive in Athens
today where he will meet with his Greek counterpart Kostas Simitis
in order to discuss the recent financial crisis and ways the
European Union can deal with it.
The two leaders will also speak this evening on "Democratic
Socialism, prospects for the Left and the role of the 'society of
citizens' in the Europe of 2000" The discussion will be held at
the Grande Bretagne Hotel and begins at 7.30 p.m.
[03] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER COMMENTS ON STATE OF ECONOMY
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that
the developments in the Athens Stock Market constitute a sign of
the strength of the country's economy with the only thing left
being the proof, adding that "we will pay in order to learn, but
this is neither a catastrophe nor an end to an effort."
In an interview with the local daily "Thessaloniki", Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos criticized the government for its economic policy
and pointed out that "we spent valuable time during the past
twenty years in order to convince the Greeks that we need to
handle our economy prudently, that we need to reduce the deficit
and foreign debt and to lower inflation. But, we failed to
substantially talk about the manner in which we will strengthen
the economy."
Moreover, he said that the country needs an economic policy
that will be competitive, based on the expansion of the production
base, with improvement in the service sector and a modern approach
to expanding the market participation and its needs."
[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TSOCHATZOPOULOS TO VISIT TUNISIA ON
TUESDAY
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to depart
for an official visit to Tunisia on Tuesday, the first conducted
by a Greek defense Minister to that country.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is to meet with his Tunisian counterpart
Ben Yiahan, with who he will sign a defense agreement that
foresees not only joint military exercises by the co-production of
armaments, thus giving a boost to the Greek armament
manufacturers.
Moreover, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will be received by the
President of Tunisia Ben Ali, the President of the Tunisian
parliament and the Tunisian Foreign Minister.
During his talks, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is expected to develop
the Greek positions regarding the Cyprus issue, the Greek-Turkish
relations, as well as Greece's positions on regional security
issues in the Mediterranean.
[05] DEPUTY F.M. KRANIDIOTIS ADDRESSES EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY
CONFERENCE
Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis stressed
the need of an international initiative to defuse tension, restart
intercommunal dialogue and reduce armaments on the island of
Cyprus, addressing the European Socialist Party (ESP) ''Summer
University'' held in Halkidiki.
Mr. Kranidiotis stated that the European Union and the United
Nations must work toward a solution of this international problem,
which stems from the continued occupation of one third of the
island republic.
[06] RESULTS OF UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS ARE OUT, NAMES HAVE BEEN
POSTED
The results of the university entrance exams were released
this morning by the Education Ministry, thus putting an end to the
agony of thousands of high-school graduates vying for a chance at
higher education.
Approximately 60,000 students will enter the country's
universities and colleges, while this year's averages have been
lowered significantly when compared to previous years.
[07] WESTERN MACEDONIA CHAMBERS MEET TO DISCUSS PRESENCE ABROAD
The various chambers of western Macedonia are to meet on
Wednesday at the city of Kozani in order to discuss the
opportunities for a combined penetration in the Balkan market.
The western Macedonia chambers' representatives are to meet
with the general director of the Inter-Balkan and Black Sea
Business Center Charalambos Tsarouhas, as well as with the
chairman of the Inter-Balkan cooperation center Kostas Delides.
The participants will discuss the various ways of
coordinating their efforts which would render their presence in
the Balkan countries more productive.
[08] THE BIGGEST TRADE DEFICIT AMONG THE 15 EU MEMBER STATES
BELONGS TO GREECE
The worst appearance in the international and EU trade was
made last year by Greece compared to its 14 partners in the
European Union. This negative picture is expected to be improved
this year as a result of the drachma devaluation which is the
advantage of the Greek trade in relation to 1997.
Comparing the appearance of the 15 EU members, the OECD
concluded that Greece and Austria showed the biggest trade
deficits in the EU trade (transactions among member-states) last
year.
The biggest deficit of 9941 million ECU belongs to Greece,
followed by Austria with 9360 million ECU. Britain is not in a
better position as it comes third on the "black list" with a
deficit of 8874 million.
[09] THE FUTURE OF EUROPE WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE GREEK INSTITUTE
OF EUROPEAN AND FOREIGN POLICY SEMINAR IN HALKI
The international seminar of the Greek Institute of European
and Foreign Policy under the title "Forming the future of Europe"
will open on September 3 in Halki with the participation of
distinguished international personalities.
It is the third annual seminar organized by the Institute in
Halki where a small conference center is in operation since 1985
after the island was declared by UNESCO to be an island of Peace
and Friendship for the young people of the world. The seminar will
be completed on September 9.
The seminars of the Institute aim at uniting young
scientists, research politicians, diplomats and journalists from
Europe, the Mediterranean, the former Soviet Union, the Middle
East and north America to promote mutual cooperation on security
issues, armaments control, the international economy and human
rights in Europe, the Balkans, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
region.
[10] AN APPEAL BY MR. PAPATHEMELIS FOR THE SUPPORT OF HELLENISM IN
TENEDOS
Greek governing Socialist party of PASOK Parliament deputy
Mr. Stelios Papathemelis issued an appeal to the Greek government
to activate the Treaty of Lauzanne for the support of the Greek
population in the northern Aegean islands of Imvros and Tenedos,
while he accuses the Greek state for incompetence on this issue.
The Greek Parliament deputy, who made a three-day visit of
pilgrimage to Tenedos spoke with the 30 Greeks who are still
living on the island and speaking to MPA after his return stated
that the Turkish regime has implemented ethnic cleansing
procedures in Imvros and Tenedos but he stressed that that there
is still room for the Greek population to be revived again if the
Greek state displays the necessary willingness. Mr. Papathemelis
stated that most of the settlers on the island are subsidized
jobless, who are paid by the Turkish state just to stay there and
wondered why the Greek state can not do the same.
Mr. Papathemelis said that the priest, who officiates in
Tenedos, lives most of the time with his children in the Greek
island of Limnos, adding that in Imvros there are 6 children and
in Tenedos there is only one baby which in a few years will have
to go to school. The Parliament deputy of PASOK called on the
government to demand from Ankara to allow the operation of a Greek
school on the island in accordance with the Treaty of Lauzanne.
Mr. Papathemelis is expected to brief foreign minister
Theodoros Pangalos on the situation in Tenedos.
[11] THE SIMITIS - JOSPEN MEETING COVERED ALL CURRENT ISSUES
The Greek-French relations and the developments in the
international money markets after the crisis in Russia were at the
center of the talks in the meeting of the prime ministers of the
two countries that was held in Athens today.
On the crisis in the stock market, Greek prime minister
Kostas Simitis stated that the necessary facts are not available
in order to give a response on whether the crisis will spread or
be put under control. However, he stated that caution is needed
and added that the causes which led to this development are not
simply coincidental but structural as well. As it was mentioned,
the European Union will deal effectively with the issue in the
following days.
The Greek prime minister also pointed out that he discussed
with his French counterpart Lionel Jospen issues concerning the
future of Europe that will be examined in the October EU Summit
meeting and stressed that there should be a framework of
discussion as well as an agreement on the general directions of
the dialogue.
The two prime ministers also discussed issues concerning the
EU accession negotiations with a number of countries, Cyprus, the
EU relations with third countries and Turkey, while they
reconfirmed the very good relations between Greece and France.
Earlier, Mr. Jospen had a meeting with Greek president Kostis
Stephanopoulos.
[12] CONFERENCE IN CHALKIDIKI ON THE HELLENISM OF ASIA MINOR,
PONTOS AND EASTERN THRACE
"The Hellenism of Asia Minor, Pontos and Eastern Thrace and
Chalkidiki 1912-1940" is the title of a conference organized by
Chalkidiki's History and Folklore Society to take place on
September 6-13.
The goal of the conference is to provoke and complete the
research and study of refugee settlements in the prefecture of
Chalkidiki in northern Greece, stated the conference's organizing
committee chairman and Parliament deputy Vasilis Pappas, pointing
out that after 1922 thousands of Greeks from the unforgettable
homelands of Hellenism in the East settled in Chalkidiki and
became one with the local population exchanging experiences and
distinct cultural elements.
[13] A WINTER OF MOBILIZATIONS OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN EUROPE
A "hot winter" with joint mobilizations of the jobless and
the employed was promised by the Network of Euro-Marches European
Secretariat representative Frenchman Patrice Spandoni in a press
conference in Thessaloniki's Workers' Center on the occasion of
the first meeting of Euro-Marches which opened in Thessaloniki
today and will continue tomorrow until September 6 in Chalkidiki.
Mr. Spandoni expressed disagreement regarding the policy
followed by French prime minister Lionel Jospen toward the
unemployed and presented the movement's proposals for a Europe of
the people and the workers as opposed to a two-speed Europe
divided into rich and poor.
He said that there are 20.000.000 jobless in Europe and
60.000.000 people live below the poverty line. The institution of
Euro-Marches, namely the joint marches of the jobless and the
workers, was established in 1997 and in July of that year
thousands of people gathered in Amsterdam outside the building
where the EU Summit meeting was being held. The institution
continues to exist and has the support of workers' unions and
political parties. Protests of jobless will be held in Brussels
and in Germany next month and later the mobilizations will spread
to other European countries.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] GREEK F.M. ANNOUNCES FREE MOVEMENT ZONE BETWEEN GREECE-
ALBANIA
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos inaugurated the
new general consulate at the Albanian city of Korce yesterday
where, within the framework of his visit, he also announced that a
free movement border zone on the Greek-Albanian frontier will be
introduced next year.
Greeks and Albanians living within the zone will be allowed
free movement on either side of the border inside the zone, and
will have a special, common identification card, Mr. Pangalos
explained.
This would enable residents inside the zone to live in one
country and work across the border in the other country within the
designated zone.
Mr. Pangalos, who met with his Albanian counterpart Paskal
Milo, also inaugurated the Greek library of the city's university
and met with local authorities and leaders of the Greek minority.
[15] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS
TODAY
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is to pay a visit to the
occupied north part of Cyprus today.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement in Ankara 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 last 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.
[16] NATO'S MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE EXPECTED TO BE ASSIGNED IN
KOSSOVO
A State Department official has stated that the United States
will participate in the organization and assignment of a
peacekeeping force in Kossovo, while the commander of NATO forces
in Europe Wesley Clark has already requested the participation of
the allied nations in sending troops.
While NATO officials have not revealed in numbers the size of
the American participation, they did stress that the exercises to
be conducted in FYROM during September are to feature the
participation of 11 NATO members.
Moreover, they added that no decision has been made for the
use of a multinational force in Kossovo.
[17] TURKISH-ISRAELI MILITARY EXERCISE TO TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 13-
18
Turkey and Israel are preparing a new military exercise to
take place between September 13-18.
This will be the second joint military exercise to take place
after the signing of a military accord between the two countries
in 1996.
Six Turkish air force F-16 jets will fly towards Israel on
September 12 in order to join the Israeli F-16s in maneuvers.
This exercise will be different from the tri-partite US-
Israel-Turkey exercise "Reliant Mermaid" held last
January since it will feature the air forces of both countries,.
A second "Reliant Mermaid" is planned for November, featuring
the participation of Jordan.
[18] EU CONCERNED OVER BELGRADE'S BEHAVIOR TOWARDS FOREIGN
JOURNALISTS
Austria, presently holding the European Union's rotating
presidency, has criticized Belgrade for forbidding entrance to
journalists at Kossovo, while it also has expressed the concern
over the expulsion of German journalists from Belgrade.
In its statement, the Austrian government reminded Serb
President Slobodan Milosevic that the freedom of expression
constitutes a fundamental human right and called on the Yugoslav
government to contribute to the improvement of the foreign
correspondents' working conditions.
[19] ALBANIA: MAIN OPPOSITION TO DEFY STATE'S ORDER NOT TO HOLD
RALLY
The Albanian Ministry of Public Order is in a state of
readiness after the decision drawn by the main opposition
Democratic Party to defy the ministry's relevant order and hold a
protest rally in the capital city's central square.
Public Order Minster Perikli Teta, speaking to the state-
owned television station, issued an appeal to all of Tirana's
residents to refrain from taking part in the rally.
"We have reports that there will be armed individuals in the
rally who might create episodes," Mr. Teta said, revealing that
two days ago a group of terrorists entered a military camp and
removed large quantities of ammunition.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party deputy Azem Haidari reiterated
his party's determination to proceed with protest rallies that aim
at overthrowing, even with violent means, the Nano-led government.
[20] BRITISH CRITICISM ON GREECE'S POLICY TOWARD WILD LIFE
Britain and other EU states consider the implementation of a
ban on the trade transactions with Greece regarding the
exploitation of products coming from wild animals and plants.
According to the British newspaper "Daily Telegraph", in the
European officials meeting that will be held in Brussels on
September 11 several organizations for the protection of the
environment will make an appeal for the implementation of a ban on
trade transactions maintaining that Athens consistently violates
the European legislation on the protection of animals and plants
that are in danger of extinction.
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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