Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-12-02
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, December 2, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CUSTOMS WORKERS WILL DECIDE TODAY ON THE COURSE OF THEIR
STRIKE
[02] GREEK PM TO RECEIVE AUSTRIA'S CHANCELLOR VICTOR KLIMA IN
ATHENS TODAY
[03] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD HOLDS BOARD MEETING IN THESSALONIKI
[04] ONLY ONE TRAIN PER ROUTE TO RUN TODAY AS STRIKE CONTINUES
[05] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS TRAVELS TO GERMANY THIS WEEK
[06] GREECE TO HAVE WORLD'S THIRD OLDEST POPULATION BY THE YEAR
2020
[07] BALKAN FRIENDSHIP COMMITTEE TO VIST ROMANIA THIS MONTH
[08] GREEK BANKS ASSOCIATION HOLDS MILLENIUM BUG CONFERENCE
[09] THE STRIKING CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES WILL REACH A DECISION ON THE
FATE OF THEIR MOBILIZATION TONIGHT
[10] THE MORNING MEETING OF SAE WAS COMPLETED
[11] ANDREW ATHENS: WE EXPECT A NEW US INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS
[12] TOMARAS: THE US STANCE TOWARD CYPRUS IS CHANGING
[13] VENIZELOS ISSUED AN INVITATION TO THE VATICAN TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
[14] THE ISSUE OF THE S-300 IS BEING HANDLED IN A RESPONSIBLE
MANNER BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE AND CYPRUS
[15] 17 ROMANIAN BUSINESSMEN ARE VISITING THESSALONIKI
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] BELGRADE WARNS OSCE IT MAY ACT AGAINST KLA, NO MATTER WHAT
THE PRICE
[17] GREECE OBJECTS TO PROPOSALS OF TRIMMING EU EXPENDITURES
[18] GREEK FM TO SPEAK AT OSLO SUMMIT ON OSCE'S ROLE
[19] GREECE, BULGARIA, ROMANIA TRIPARTITE FORUM WRAPS UP TODAY
[20] ALBANIA: TENSION MOUNTS AS DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNIVERSARY NEARS
[21] A 22.000 MEN POLICE FORCE WILL BE DEPLOYED DURING THE
GALATASARAY - JUVENTUS SOCCER GAME
[22] PANGALOS: THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE MISSILES BUT THE TURKISH
OCCUPATION OF N.CYPRUS
[23] STATEMENTS BY PANGALOS ON THE ROLE OF THE OSCE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CUSTOMS WORKERS WILL DECIDE TODAY ON THE COURSE OF THEIR
STRIKE
As fuel supply is getting scarce and mile-long lines of
stalled cars can be seen for miles on at the country's borders,
the federation of Greece's customs workers is to decide today on
whether or not it will press on with its strike.
The Athens First Circuit Court is to determine the strike's
legality, as the Ministry of Economy has sought legal recourse by
asking that the customs workers' action be declared illegal and
abusive.
[02] GREEK PM TO RECEIVE AUSTRIA'S CHANCELLOR VICTOR KLIMA IN
ATHENS TODAY
Austrian Chancellor and European Union President Viktor Klima
is to arrive in Athens today where he will be received by Greek
Prime Minster Kostas Simitis in order to discuss the forthcoming
Vienna European Council Summit Conference, to be held on December
11-12.
As Mr, Simitis stated yesterday, the Summit will tackle
issues such as developments regarding the EU funds, Agenda 2000,
international economic matters and employment.
[03] COUNCIL OF GREEKS ABROAD HOLDS BOARD MEETING IN THESSALONIKI
The nine-member board of the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE),
headed by SAE President Andrew Athens, has embarked on its
meeting today in Thessaloniki, in order to review the proceedings
of the organization's regular assembly.
The meeting, to be held until Saturday, will feature the
participation of the secretary-general of Greeks Abroad Stavros
Labrinides, the chairman of the permanent cross-party
parliamentary committee for Greek Abroad Grigoris Niotis and other
committee members. Among the issues to be discussed are the
"Helleniad" and the 21 medical centers to be founded by SAE in 21
republics of the former Soviet Union.
[04] ONLY ONE TRAIN PER ROUTE TO RUN TODAY AS STRIKE CONTINUES
Only one train per route will run today throughout the
country as the workers at the Greek Railways Organization, (OSE)
have upped the ante in their mobilizations by embarking on 24-hour
rotating strikes until Friday.
The rail workers are protesting a bill tabled in Parliament
which calls for reforms in their sector.
From the past Sunday until yesterday, they held three-hour
stoppages.
The airborne sector is also taking part in the strike fever,
with staff at the Civil Aviation Department conducting two work
stoppages as of today. They are reacting to ordinances in the
insurance bill that call for their sector's merger with other
insurance funds.
[05] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS TRAVELS TO GERMANY THIS WEEK
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will be received by the new
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on December 7, during a visit
to Germany, according to government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Simitis will also meet with the German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer, on December 4.
The Greek Premier and the German officials are expected to
discuss issues concerning bilateral ties, Greece's course to the
Economic and Monetary Union, Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus
issue, international developments, and the Ocalan case.
On Monday evening, Mr. Simitis will attend a Bonn-held party
conference which will feature the participation of PASOK's four
prefectural committees in Germany.
[06] GREECE TO HAVE WORLD'S THIRD OLDEST POPULATION BY THE YEAR
2020
Greece will have the world's third oldest population by the
year 2020 due to its declining birth rate and increasing life
expectancy, according to the World Health Organization .
The organization has reported that 22 years from now there
will be over one billion people over the age of sixty in the
world, nearly double the current number.
The "oldest" countries that year will be Japan and Italy,
each with 31 percent of their populations being at least 60, it
said.
They will be followed by Greece, Switzerland and Finland,
each at 28 percent.
[07] BALKAN FRIENDSHIP COMMITTEE TO VIST ROMANIA THIS MONTH
The Balkan Friendship Committee is to conduct a visit to
Romania on December 13, where its members will meet with
government officials in order to develop multifaceted cooperation
opportunities between the countries.
Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, the Committee's
chairman N. Zabounides stated that the group aspires to assist the
state leaders in expounding cooperation opportunities between the
countries, as well as promoting business collaboration for joint
ventures.
[08] GREEK BANKS ASSOCIATION HOLDS MILLENIUM BUG CONFERENCE
The Association of Greek Banks is organizing a conference
concerning the various ways to address the computer millennium bug
in the year 2000.
The bug will cause many computers to fail by reading the date
2000 as 1900 because computer software programmers have
abbreviated each year to the two final digits in order to save
computer memory. Understandably, this is certain to wreck havoc on
financial institutions, as it will affect their transactions as
well as their archives.
A member of the general secretariat of the Global 2000's
coordinating group Matthew Fairless, will be the keynote speaker
at the event which is held today at the Grand Bretagne Hotel in
[09] THE STRIKING CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES WILL REACH A DECISION ON THE
FATE OF THEIR MOBILIZATION TONIGHT
The general council of the customs employees' federation will
decide this evening if it will continue or postpone the ongoing
strike action of the sector. There is fuel shortage as a result of
the strike, while many truck drivers remain stranded at the
borders.
An Athens court decision is expected to be issued today on
the appeal made by the ministry of finance calling for the customs
employees' strike to be declared illegal.
[10] THE MORNING MEETING OF SAE WAS COMPLETED
The morning session of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad
(SAE) that was held in Thessaloniki has been completed. The
proceedings of the regular meeting of the 9member SAE presiding
board opened with the welcome speeches of minister of Macedonia-
Thrace Yiannis Magriotis, the prefect and the mayor of the city.
In the meeting were approved the minutes taken in the July
meeting, while the deputy president of SAE and the regional
presidents presented their reports on their additional activities
and the programs for which they are responsible.
[11] ANDREW ATHENS: WE EXPECT A NEW US INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS
US president Bill Clinton spoke of a new initiative, a new
effort and new ideas for the solution of the Cyprus problem in his
recent meeting in Chicago with World Council of Hellenes Abroad
(SAE) president Mr. Andrew Athens. The above were stated to MPA by
Mr. Athens in response to a question on what it is expected to
come out of tomorrow's meeting of the Greek American leadership
with US president Security Adviser Mr. Berger in the White House.
Mr. Athens pointed out that he said to the US president that
the common belief among the Greek Americans and the Greeks is that
nothing is being done on behalf of the US government regarding
Cyprus and Mr. Clinton said to him that he has not forgotten
Cyprus and that a new effort will be made for the solution of the
problem.
Mr. Athens said that the Americans will present their new
initiative tomorrow and in case it is not aimed at the right
direction, the Greek American community will continue to exert
pressures toward a solution for Cyprus.
On the press publications regarding the name of FYROM and the
acceptance of the name "Republic of Macedonia-Skopje", Mr. Athens
stressed that the Greeks living abroad will continue the efforts
concerning the name of Macedonia, adding however, that based on
what he has read on the newspapers and watched on television he
thinks that the issue was not dealt with in time and that efforts
had to be made much earlier.
[12] TOMARAS: THE US STANCE TOWARD CYPRUS IS CHANGING
The Greek American leadership expects assurances that
specific actions will be undertaken on issues that have to do with
the Greek-Turkish relations, especially with the Aegean and
Cyprus, stressed US World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE)
president Christos Tomaras, responding to a question on tomorrow's
contacts of the Greek American leadership at the White House.
Regarding the expected US initiative on Cyprus, Mr. Tomaras
pointed out that based on the latest letter by US president
Clinton, his thought and stance has changed in a way concerning
the issues mentioned before and mainly, the Cyprus issue.
[13] VENIZELOS ISSUED AN INVITATION TO THE VATICAN TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
Greek minister of culture Evangelos Venizelos issued an
invitation to the Vatican to participate in the Cultural Olympiad.
The invitation was issued during the meeting of the Greek minister
of culture with his visiting Vatican counterpart..
The Greek ministry of culture seeks to organize a large
Byzantine exhibition in Rome within the framework of the
celebrations for the year 2000, while a triple exhibition on the
famous painter El Greco will be held in Rome with the cooperation
of the responsible ministries of Greece, Italy and Spain.
[14] THE ISSUE OF THE S-300 IS BEING HANDLED IN A RESPONSIBLE
MANNER BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF GREECE AND CYPRUS
The issue of the Russian anti-aircraft S-300 missiles is
being handled by the governments of Greece and Cyprus in a
responsible manner, while they do not accept interventions by
others in their decisions, stated Greek government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Reppas stated that Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem
must get used to the idea that Turkey borders with a country that
is an EU member and a member of NATO, respects human rights and
its democratic institutions function flawlessly, adding that
Turkey should try to look like Greece instead of criticizing it.
[15] 17 ROMANIAN BUSINESSMEN ARE VISITING THESSALONIKI
Seventeen Romanian businessmen are in Thessaloniki today to
attend the second part of a training seminar organized by the
Greek Foreign Trade Organization. The first part of the seminar
was held in Bucharest a week ago.
The training programme of the Greek Foreign Trade
Organization aims at informing the Romanian businessmen on issues
concerning the export companies' management and the promotion and
distribution of their products to the foreign markets.
The Greek Organization of Foreign Trade has already organized
similar seminars for Hungarian, Czech, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and
Albanian businessmen.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] BELGRADE WARNS OSCE IT MAY ACT AGAINST KLA, NO MATTER WHAT
THE PRICE
The government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has
forwarded a strongly-worded letter to the Organization of Security
and Cooperation in Europe, wherein it charges that
Kossovo rebels endanger the area's fragile peace and warns that it
won't tolerate continued attacks "no matter what the price."
According to the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug, the statement
blasted international efforts to include the rebels in the peace
process as effectively "legalizing the terrorists."
"Insolent, criminal activity and provocative actions by
Albanian terrorists present an obstacle to the peace process ...
in defiance of state bodies and international appeals," said the
statement, which was issued yesterday, on the eve of an OSCE
meeting on Kossovo in Oslo, Norway.
United States envoy Christopher Hill is to arrive in Belgrade
today where he is expected to present a revised version of his
draft plan for Kossovo.
[17] GREECE OBJECTS TO PROPOSALS OF TRIMMING EU EXPENDITURES
Greece's Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos
Papantoniou strongly objected to various proposals to contain EU
expenditures for the period between 2000-20006, tabled at the
European Union's Council of Finance and Monetary Affairs Ministers
(ECOFIN) conference, held in Brussels yesterday.
It is the view of the majority of the EU member-states, led
by Germany, that EU expenditures be trimmed, a view characterized
by Mr. Papantoniou, as "a map exercise lacking any
documentation and without taking into consideration the
consequences which a decrease in the EU's expenditures would
bear." He stressed that, given that EU decisions are adopted on a
consensus basis, the Greek government rejects the said proposals.
According to the BBC, the discussion was marked by raised
tones and ended in deadlock.
[18] GREEK FM TO SPEAK AT OSLO SUMMIT ON OSCE'S ROLE
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is to attend
today's Foreign Ministers Summit of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe, held in Oslo, Norway, where the
participants will tackle issues such as Kossovo, the fragile
system of balances in the Balkan region, as well as the OSCE's
future course.
The foreign ministers will be called on to decide on the
formulation of the OSCE's principles, in other word a "Security
Chart" which will strengthen the Organization and will delineate
its ties with NATO and the United Nations in terms of undertaking
initiatives for the prevention and direct address of regional
conflict.
Mr. Pangalos told the BBC that the Summit will feature a
"lengthy and difficult discussion on Kossovo."
He added that OSCE is a useful organization for solving
problems and creating a peaceful atmosphere at a pan-European
level.
"It has carried out a role in Albania, (and) it now carries
one in Kossovo. I think we need to continue with this role and
fortify it," the Greek FM stated.
[19] GREECE, BULGARIA, ROMANIA TRIPARTITE FORUM WRAPS UP TODAY
A tri-partite forum held between officials from the
Ministries of City Planning, transportation and Environment of
Greece, Bulgaria and Romania is to be wrapped up today in Sofia,
where it was held under the initiative of Bulgaria's vice
president Evgeni Bakargiev.
The participants discussed infrastructure works that concern
the three countries' interests and priorities and examined ways to
promote their collaboration in creating the draft plans of motor
routes in the region and the trans-European halls 4 and 9 which
have proven to be the link between the three countries.
The Greek delegation conveyed the Greek government unabridged
support to Bulgaria's and Romania's aims for accession to the
European Union. Moreover, it was stressed that the forum aimed at
mapping out a common position for upgrading the Balkan
transportation system, as well as its inclusion to the European
routes.
Bulgaria's Transportation Minister Wilhelm Kraus, told the
Macedonian Press Agency that the construction of a second bridge
over the Danube River is a matter that has already been dealt with
and added that it will be built near the city Vidin, in
northwestern Bulgaria. He did add that the actual construction of
the project will depend on its financing.
Greece and Bulgaria also stressed the need to construct a new
Thessaloniki-Sofia motor route linking the two countries, and
agreed that, with Greece being an EU member-state, the European
Union will contribute to the funding of this project.
[20] ALBANIA: TENSION MOUNTS AS DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNIVERSARY NEARS
Successive terrorist acts in Albania, a mere days following
the referendum for the constitution, have further burdened the
already tense political climate in the country, augmenting the
international community's fears for a repeat occurrence of last
year's unrest.
There was an electrical power failure late last night in
southern Albania when a gateway was blown up near the city of
Fieri.
Other acts took place on Monday when unknown culprits threw a
rocket at an imports pant in northern Albania, killing one person
who was a member of the Democratic Party.
Political analysts attribute the latest wave of violence to
the fanaticism promoted by Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha
and expect a resurgence of similar acts to take place in the
following weeks as the eighth anniversary since the founding of
the Democratic Party nears.
[21] A 22.000 MEN POLICE FORCE WILL BE DEPLOYED DURING THE
GALATASARAY - JUVENTUS SOCCER GAME
The "Ali Sami Yen" football stadium in Istanbul, where the
crucial football match will take place between Galatasaray and
Juventus for the Champions League, reminds of a castle today.
After a Turkish government decision, over 22.000 police
officers will be inside and outside the stadium in order to
protect the supporters of the Italian team as tensions are high as
a result of the Ocalan affair.
[22] PANGALOS: THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE MISSILES BUT THE TURKISH
OCCUPATION OF N.CYPRUS
Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview
with the BBC stated that the international community ignores for
25 years the military occupation of the northern part Cyprus and
now tries to present the installation of the Russian anti-aircraft
S-300 missiles as a major political and military issue.
Mr. Pangalos referring to the United States spoke of a
peculiar monopoly of power as Washington has managed to persuade a
large part of the international community that the problem in
Cyprus is the S-300 missiles. He said that the real problem is
that the international community, the United States, Britain, NATO
and the EU tolerate a brutal occupation for 25 years.
The Greek foreign minister denied publications and rumors
according to which, there is a difference of views between Athens
and Nicosia regarding the issue of the installation of the Russian
missiles and characterized them as "stupid".
In conclusion Mr. Pangalos reiterated that the real problem
is the Turkish occupation of Cyprus and the terrible escalation of
Turkey's armaments in the occupied part of the island.
[23] STATEMENTS BY PANGALOS ON THE ROLE OF THE OSCE
The 7th meeting of the OSCE foreign ministers opens in Oslo,
Norway today and Greece is represented by foreign minister
Theodoros Pangalos.
The basic issues that will be discussed in the meeting are
Kossovo, the fragile balance in the Balkans and the future of the
OSCE.
The ministers will be called to decide on the expression of
the principles of the OSCE that will be included in a "Security
Charter" that will set its relations with NATO and the UN, while
it will determine the initiatives that will be undertaken aimed at
preventing the regional conflicts in the European continent.
In statements he made to the BBC, Mr. Pangalos stressed that
there will be an extensive and difficult discussion on Kossovo but
there will also be a discussion on the future of the OSCE as well.
Mr. Pangalos said that the OSCE is a useful organization for the
solution of problems and the creation of a peaceful atmosphere at
a European level, adding that it has played a significant role in
Albania and now it plays an important role in the case of Kossovo.
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