Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-09-27

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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

[C] EUROPE

[D] WORLD

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

[C] EUROPE

[D] WORLD

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] GREECE

[01] DEPUTY FM INAUGURATES BLACK SEA STUDIES CENTER TOMORROW

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

The center will prepare research and conduct studies concerning the achievement of its parent organization, the Black Sea Cooperation Pact, primarily in the economic, industrial and technology sectors.

[02] GREEK CULTURE MINISTER WELCOMES BRITISH POLL'S RESULTS ON MARBLES

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

"The results are impressive and vindicate to claim for the return formulated by Greece in the name of the world cultural heritage. I am certain that this clear message will be understood by the Blair government, since we are on the dawn of the 3rd millennium and we are approaching 2004.

"I also believe that the option is being vindicated of focusing our interest inside British public life, with the main lever being the British committee for the return of the Parthenon Marbles. British society appears to be understanding simple historic truths and basic cultural necessities," he said.

[03] FUEL TANKER TRUCK DRIVERS ON STRIKE IN NORTHERN GREECE

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

Oil companies have called on the northern capital's public prosecutor to intervene and allow the use of private trucks during the strike. The state fuel truck drivers are to meet with transport ministry officials on Tuesday.

[04] AUTOPSY TO BE PERFORMED TODAY ON SORIN MATEI'S BODY

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

Matei, who had suffered only minor injuries during the crisis, was due to give testimony from prison yesterday over the dramatic events.

The autopsy will be performed by three coroners appointed by the Minster of Justice, as well as fourth one, a Cypriot coroner who has been hired by Matei's mother.

Meanwhile, the Piraeus prosecutor has ordered an administrative investigation into the causes of Matei's death.

[05] PREMIER, MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER STRESS SECURITY OF CITIZENS

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

In turn, the leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, addressing an event organized by his party's eurodeputies in Thessaloniki, said that the fiasco was an "indescribable operation" and accused the government of incompetence.

[B] BALKANS

[06] GREECE IS NO LONGER AN OBSERVER, SAYS DEFENSE MINSTER

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

During their two-hour meeting, held on the sidelines of the S.E. European Defense Ministers Conference, the two officials did not discuss the "unilateral Turkish claims" according to Mr. Tsochatzopoulos. In turn, Mr. Sezgin stressed that the two countries should not be limited to the past and should escape the past's animosity and enter the future's alliances.

[C] EUROPE

[07] POLL: MAJORITY OF BRITONS FAVOR RETURN OF PARTHENON MARBLES

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

As the Athens News Agency reported, the poll is part of preliminary work being carried out by journalist William G. Stewart for yet another television program on

the return of the Parthenon Marbles, to be screened next year. Among Labor supporters, the margin was more than three to one and even among Tories, three to two.

Among members of Britain's Parliament interviewed in July by MORI, by nearly two to one Labor MPs said that in the event of a free vote in the House of Commons on whether or not the so-called Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece, they would vote to return them.

The detailed figures are as follows: Among the general public, when asked "If there was a referendum on whether or not the Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece, how would you vote?", 39 per cent said they would vote to return them to Greece, 15 per cent that they should remain in the British Museum and 18 per cent said they would not vote. More than one person in four (28 per cent) said they did now know what they would vote. Support for their return was strongest among women (40 per cent to 13 per cent), middle-aged people (44 per cent to 12 per cent) and among Labor Party supporters (42 per cent to 13 per cent).

A plurality of MPs polled favored their return to Greece by 47 per cent to 44 per cent. Among Labor members of Parliament, 57 per cent to 33 per cent, among Tories 9 per cent to 83 per cent.

Fifteen per cent of the British adult population recall having seen the marbles in the British Museum. Among adults with a degree or post-graduate qualification, a majority, 52 per cent, said they would vote to return them to Greece and only one in five (20 per cent) said they should remain in the British Museum.

The surveys were conducted exclusively for Regent Productions among the general public, 1,823 of adults aged over 15 were interviewed on the MORI Omnibus between Sept. 4-7, 1998 in 151 constituency sampling points nationwide. Interviews were carried out face-to-face. Among members of Parliament, 91 MPs were interviewed between June 1, 1998 and August 3, 1998, face-to-face in their offices.

[D] WORLD

[08] US SECRETARY OF STATE: YES TO BIZONAL, BICOMMUNAL FEDERATION IN CYPRUS

Web Posted: 19:57 GMT+2

Stressing that the US commitment for a settlement to the Cyprus problem remains firm, Ms. Albright described the division of Cyprus as an "anachronism", which "is unjust to the people of Cyprus.

"The continuing stalemate affects US security interests in the region and complicates relations between two important NATO allies", she said, adding that US President Bill Clinton has made the search for a solution a "high priority".

The Secretary of State assured Greek- Americans and the Cypriot political leadership who attended the gala, that "we have and will continue to have a good deal of influence for a solution in Cyprus".

In his address, Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides said he stood for re- election as he felt he could contribute towards reaching a bizonal, bicommunal federation and believed his relationship with Denktash would have been a helpful element.

"I'm sorry to say it has not," he added, stressing that "Denktash, with guidance from Ankara, has taken the road that leads to partition, to two protectorates", a reference to Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's recent proposal for a Cyprus confederation on the basis of two sovereign and separate states.

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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