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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-09-30
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 30, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] STATE TRIES TO REDUCE INFLATION, PRICES TO DROP ON 250
CONSUMER GOODS
[02] ALTERNATE FM: CYPRUS'S EU ACCESSION IS OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE
ISSUE
[03] PM TO OPEN CONFERENCE ON "THE EU AFTER THE AMSTERDAM TREATY"
[04] TANKER TRUCK DRIVERS CALL OFF STRIKE, CARS IN LINE TO FILL UP
WITH GAS
[05] GREEK GOVERNMENT ISSUES CONVERTIBLE BONDS AS OF TODAY
[06] CONFERENCE ON THE EURO BEGINS IN THRACE TOMORROW
[07] THE GAS STATIONS ARE BEING RE-SUPPLIED WITH LIQUID FUEL
[08] NEW AIR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY IS LAUNCHED IN GREECE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SATISFIED BY WORLD'S REACTION TO DENKTASH
PROPOSALS
[10] CENTRAL SERBIA ROCKED BY QUAKE MEASURING 5.7 RICHTER
[11] GREECE'S UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CONTINUES CONTACTS
IN N.Y.
[12] GREEK DEFENSE MINSTER IN CYPRUS TODAY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
[13] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SAYS "YES" TO PADELI MAJKO'S APPOINTMENT
AS PREMIER
[14] ONE DEAD, 17 INJURED IN EARTHQUAKE THAT ROCKED CENTRAL SERBIA
[15] EUROPEAN COMMISSION: GREEK ECONOMY IS ON A GOOD COURSE
[16] MAJKO BEGAN CONSULTATIONS TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT IN ALBANIA
[17] THE US PENTAGON ON THE JOINT EXERCISE OF THE US, TURKEY AND
ISRAEL
[18] SCHRODER HAD LIKENED CILLER TO HITLER
[19] THE GREEK ECONOMY IS ON THE RIGHT PATH, ACCORDING TO THE EU
COMMISSION
[20] GROSSMAN REJECTS THE DEMIREL STATEMENTS
[21] 29 GERMAN ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON THE US AND EUROPE TO ASSUME
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE KURDISH ISSUE
[22] THE EU MONETARY COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE GREEK ECONOMY'S NEW
CONVERGENCE PROGRAM
[23] THE REINFORCEMENT OF CYPRUS'S DEFENSE WILL CONTINUE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] STATE TRIES TO REDUCE INFLATION, PRICES TO DROP ON 250
CONSUMER GOODS
The prices of over 250 items of wide consumption are to be
reduced by 3-33%, part of the government's effort to reduce
inflation. The agreement was reached yesterday between the
Ministry of development and the country's industry sector.
The new prices are to be enforced as of October 15 and this
measure is to be applied for three to six months.
[02] ALTERNATE FM: CYPRUS'S EU ACCESSION IS OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE
ISSUE
Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated
that Cyprus's accession course to the European Union constitutes
an excellent opportunity to resolve the problem of the island's
Turkish occupation.
Mr. Papandreou also reiterated that the Turkish occupation
forces are still stationed in the island's northern part and he
blamed Ankara for setting obstacles to the island-republic's
accession to the EU.
[03] PM TO OPEN CONFERENCE ON "THE EU AFTER THE AMSTERDAM TREATY"
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to open the conference of
"The European Union after the Amsterdam Treaty", to be held in
Athens tomorrow.
The main topics to be discussed at the two-day conference
will be "Europe as a political vision" and necessary institutional
changes, as well as "EMU and employment after the Amsterdam
Treaty" and "joint European Union policy and the European
citizen."
The conference is organized by the Tsatsos Foundation in
collaboration with PASOK's Eurodeputies group.
[04] TANKER TRUCK DRIVERS CALL OFF STRIKE, CARS IN LINE TO FILL UP
WITH GAS
Drivers of fuel-carrying tanker trucks have called their
strike off until January 31, 1999, calling on the government to
meet their demands by then.
The decision to cancel the protest was taken after a meeting
held yesterday between the sector's representatives and officials
from the ministries of transportation and development.
The four-day strike had affected local drivers as more and
more gas stations in and around the city wee posting "empty" signs
[05] GREEK GOVERNMENT ISSUES CONVERTIBLE BONDS AS OF TODAY
The Greek government issued today its state convertible
bonds, to be available until Friday through the banks.
The bond's sale price has been set at GRD76,370 for a three-
year term and will have a return value of GRD,000 upon its
expiration. The annual return rate will be 9.4%.
[06] CONFERENCE ON THE EURO BEGINS IN THRACE TOMORROW
The Economists Association of Thessaloniki is organizing a
three-day event concerning the European Union common currency, the
Euro, to be held October 1-3 at the Democritus University of
Thrace, in the city of Komotene.
Taking part in the event will be the European Center of
Information - Rodopi, Evros. Among the issues to be discussed by
Greek and foreign speakers during the event will be :
Globalization and Development, the European Monetary Union,
Industrial and Trade Policy in the Countries of Central and
Eastern Europe, Deregulation and Globalization, Economic and
Financial Markets, Regional Economies and Economic Enlargement,
Job Markets and Global Economy, and others.
[07] THE GAS STATIONS ARE BEING RE-SUPPLIED WITH LIQUID FUEL
The refueling of the gas stations has started gradually in
northern Greece after the decision by the owners of public use
liquid fuel tank-trucks to end their strike.
According to the chairman of their union Mr. Giavridis,
initially will be mobilized 25 liquid fuel tank-trucks to cover
the immediate needs in the region, while by tomorrow all liquid
fuel stations will have their tanks filled.
[08] NEW AIR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY IS LAUNCHED IN GREECE
"Hellas Wings Ltd", a new public air transportation company,
is being launched in Greece. It is a private air company of Greek
interests and its operation will be formally inaugurated at the
Athens Airport today.
The airline will count on the experience and support of its
parent company "Athens Aviation Services Ltd" that is being active
in the sector of air transportation services since 1974.
"Hellas Wings" has a modern fleet for air-taxi flights or ad
hoc charter flights and can carry patients and small packages. In
the immediate plans of the company is the expansion of its fleet
with the acquisition of two newly built "Raytheon 1900C" aircraft
that can carry up to 19 passengers serving many local
destinations.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SATISFIED BY WORLD'S REACTION TO DENKTASH
PROPOSALS
Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides has expressed his
satisfaction over the stance adopted by the international
community on the confederation proposal submitted by Turkish-
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
Nevertheless, President Clerides did add that he is not
satisfied with the issue concerning the enforcement of the United
Nations resolution for the island-republic.
[10] CENTRAL SERBIA ROCKED BY QUAKE MEASURING 5.7 RICHTER
An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rocked
central Serbia early this morning, shortly after midnight.
The quake's epicenter is located 100 kilometers southwest of
Belgrade in Valjevo.
Electrical power was cut off in the region, while a number of
buildings underwent damages even in Belgrade.
According to reports so far, there have been injuries.
[11] GREECE'S UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CONTINUES CONTACTS
IN N.Y.
Greece's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos
Kranidiotis has embarked on a series of contacts in New York, in
light of Greece's candidacy as a non-permanent Security council
member for 1999-2000.
Mr. Kranidiotis has met with his counterparts and higher-
ranking officials of United Nations member-states who are
presently in New York for the 53rd General Assembly.
[12] GREEK DEFENSE MINSTER IN CYPRUS TODAY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will depart
for Cyprus today for talks with Cypriot President Glafkos
Clerides, the speaker of the Cypriot Parliament Spyros Kyprianou,
Archbishop Chrysostomos and other political and military
officials.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is also expected to attend a military
parade tomorrow, celebrating the Cyprus Republic's independence
day.
[13] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SAYS "YES" TO PADELI MAJKO'S APPOINTMENT
AS PREMIER
Albanian president Rejhep Meidani ratified late last night
the Socialist Party's election of Padeli Majko as the country's
new premier, replacing Fatos Nano who resigned on Monday evening.
Mr. Majko, who had served as the ruling party's secretary-
general, is expected to form the new cabinet in the next few days,
in what is deemed to be a highly critical period for the country.
The recent crisis led to Mr. Nano's resignation, although he
remains at the party's leadership.
[14] ONE DEAD, 17 INJURED IN EARTHQUAKE THAT ROCKED CENTRAL SERBIA
One person died after suffering a heart attack and seventeen
others were injured during the earthquake that rocked central and
northern Serbia early this morning, shortly after midnight.
The quake measured 5.7 on the Richter scale and its epicenter
is located 100 kilometers southwest of Belgrade in Valjevo.
Electrical power was cut off in the region, while a number of
buildings underwent damages even in Belgrade.
According to reports so far, there have been no injuries in
Belgrade.
[15] EUROPEAN COMMISSION: GREEK ECONOMY IS ON A GOOD COURSE
The substantial progress noted in the Greek economy, aiming
at the convergence program, along with the proposals to the Greek
government, that it should press on with its effort in order to
improve the state's basic macro-economic sizes in light of
Greece's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union, are some of
the issues to be discussed in Brussels today at the European
Commission's weekly session.
In its report concerning the Greek economy's convergence, the
EC refers to the latest development of the main economic sizes,
granting particular attention to the need to curb inflation,
public deficit and debt, while stressing that the basic
prerequisite is a future discussion of investments in the private
sector, but mainly the public one, and to go through the
programmed privatizations.
The EC's report is to be discussed at the following ECOFIN
meeting of October 12.
[16] MAJKO BEGAN CONSULTATIONS TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT IN ALBANIA
Albanian prime minister designate Pandeli Majko starts
consultations to form a new government after his appointment
yesterday to the post by the governing Socialist Party.
Mr. Majko, who is 30 years old and the youngest leader ever
in Albania, has underlined that his two priorities are to start
dialogue with the opposition and find a solution to the crisis in
Kosovo.
[17] THE US PENTAGON ON THE JOINT EXERCISE OF THE US, TURKEY AND
ISRAEL
The US Pentagon assistant spokesman assured that the joint
naval exercise held about 8 months ago by Turkey, the United
States and Israel in eastern Mediterranean had nothing to do with
the anti-aircraft S-300 missiles Cyprus is planning to install in
its territory.
The spokesman, when called to comment on a letter the Greek
minister of defense allegedly has sent to the US Pentagon on the
possible purchase by Greece of F-15 fighter jets, said that he
does not comment on communication between allies and characterized
the US fighter jets as the best taking part in the bid, adding
that the US hope that Greece will finally choose to purchase US
aircraft.
The US Pentagon spokesman added that Washington strongly
supports Greece's decision to modernize its armed forces in order
to be able to meet NATO's demands.
[18] SCHRODER HAD LIKENED CILLER TO HITLER
The new German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder had likened Tansu
Ciller to Hitler in comments he had made a few years ago, while at
the same time he had accused Turkey of genocide targeting the
Kurds.
According to the Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet", a strong
dispute had erupted in 1994 between the then prime minister of
Lower Saxony Gerhard Schroder and Turkish prime minister Tansu
Ciller because of the military operations the Turkish armed forces
had launched in Sirnak targeting the Kurdish PKK organization.
Mr. Schroder had likened Ciller to Hitler and Turkey's policy
to that which was adopted by the Nazis targeting the Jews,
creating a crisis in the Turkish-German relations.
[19] THE GREEK ECONOMY IS ON THE RIGHT PATH, ACCORDING TO THE EU
COMMISSION
The progress made by the Greek economy within the framework
of the convergence plan, together with the recommendations made to
the Greek government to continue its efforts for the improvement
of the macro-economic figures in view of Greece's participation in
the EMU, will be discussed in Brussels today in the weekly meeting
of the European Commission.
The text of the European Commission report to the EU
ministers of national economy and finance will be discussed and
approved in the next ECOFIN meeting that will be held in October
12.
According to the European Commission report, part of which
was broadcast on the BBC radio, a number of suggestions are being
made for the improvement of the secondary figures of the Greek
economy, starting with the basic pre-condition that investments in
the private and mainly the public sector should increase, while
the scheduled privatizations must be completed.
Also, the report mentions that the government must be very
firm in its efforts which are aimed at cutting deficits and
especially, interest rates.
It is also stressed that there is a need for deep structural
changes in order to meet the targets of the convergence plan
especially in the job market, the taxation system and the
stabilization of wages.
[20] GROSSMAN REJECTS THE DEMIREL STATEMENTS
Assistant US Secretary of State, responsible for European
affairs, Mr. Mark Grossman responded to the president of the Greek
National Coordinating Effort, Mr. Manatos, who had called on the
US State Department since September 8 to react to the public
statements made by Turkish president Suleiman Demirel according to
which, many islets in the Aegean are Turkish territory.
The US official in his response pointed out that such public
statements do not help and that the unilateral allegations of
sovereignty do not promote the likelihood for a peaceful solution
to the existing differences. He also underlined that the United
States continue to stress both to Turkey and to Greece that a
procedure should start for the peaceful solution of disputes
through mechanisms such as, the International Court of Justice in
The Hague or other international fora.
[21] 29 GERMAN ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON THE US AND EUROPE TO ASSUME
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE KURDISH ISSUE
Fifty thousand dead, about 3.000 destroyed villages and 3
million refugees is the toll of the war launched by Turkey against
the Kurds of the PKK in the past 15 years. The above are being
stressed in a recent statement issued by 29 German humanitarian
organizations.
According to the statement, this is a destabilizing war not
only for the region where it takes place but for Turkey's economic
and social web as well, stressing that it blocks the country's
democratization and is opposed to the economic and political
interests of Europe and the United States.
In the statement it is stressed that Ankara has rejected the
recent peace proposal by the Kurdish rebels, while it is also
mentioned that the opportunity presented by the PKK leader
proposal, Abdulah Otsalan, for a truce and an end to self-rule
intentions should not be missed.
The joint statement underlines that the friendly governments
toward Turkey should rise to the occasion and stop the sale of
arms to Ankara.
[22] THE EU MONETARY COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE GREEK ECONOMY'S NEW
CONVERGENCE PROGRAM
The European Union Monetary Committee discussed the new
convergence program for Greece's participation in the EMU in the
year 2001. According to the EU Commission, the program mirrors the
Greek government's will to achieve the figures necessary for the
economic and monetary unification.
The economic growth plan set to meet the necessary criteria
is characterized as ambitious and feasible, while it is pointed
out that the Greek government has met its goals for 1998. The
European Commission predicts that if Greece remains firm in its
convergence program and economic growth goals, it will be part of
the EURO zone in the year 2001.
[23] THE REINFORCEMENT OF CYPRUS'S DEFENSE WILL CONTINUE
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who is on a
visit to Cyprus on the occasion of the anniversary of the Cypriot
independence, stated that the reinforcement of Cyprus's defense
will continue.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos was received at the Larnaca Airport by
his Cypriot counterpart Yiannakis Omirou and later the two had
talks in the ministry of defense.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed that the expansionist policy and
the threats coming from Turkey are being faced through the firm
policy and the determined stance adopted on issues concerning the
protection of the national sovereignty as well as, through the
defense adequacy of Cyprus and Greece.
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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