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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-12-15
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, December 15, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE HALBROOKE VISIT
[02] THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND DEFENSE WAS COMPLETED
[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE MEETING OF
THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL
[04] THE COUNTRY WAS PARALYZED BY THE STRIKE OF THE WORKERS UNIONS
[05] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL OPEN BY NEXT JUNE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] HALBROOKE IS ON A VISIT TO PRISTINA
[07] COOPERATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GREEK CYPRIOT AND THE
TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE HALBROOKE VISIT
No new facts came up during the contacts US special envoy
Richard Halbrooke had with Greek government officials, stressed
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, adding that a useful
exchange of views took place and that communication will continue.
When asked to comment on the visit of Mr. Halbrooke to
Belgrade, Mr. Reppas stated that the visit shows that the United
States are interested in maintaining the calm in the region.
[02] THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND DEFENSE WAS COMPLETED
The meeting of the governmental council of foreign affairs
and defense, which was chaired by prime minister Kostas Simitis,
was completed today.
The purchase of airplanes and flying radar was the main
subject of today's meeting, while the course toward the
materialization of the armed forces armaments program was also
discussed. The issue of the armaments program was presented by
minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE MEETING OF
THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL
The governmental council of foreign affairs and defense
decided the purchase of 4 Swedish-made flying radar units.
According to Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, the
delivery will be made in 40 months and the cost of the purchase
will be 570 million US dollars, including the training of the
pilots, spare parts and other support material.
Responding to the question why the flying radar are being
purchased at this particular time, Mr. Reppas stated that the
decision on the armaments programme has been made a long time ago
and added that the budget will not be burdened as the payments
will be made in a long period of time. Mr. Reppas added that the
conditions created as a result of the policy followed by Turkey
make it imperative to secure the integrity of the country this
way.
In the governmental council meeting was also discussed the
issue of the replacement of the C-130 aircraft by others with
lower cost of operation.
[04] THE COUNTRY WAS PARALYZED BY THE STRIKE OF THE WORKERS UNIONS
Protest rallies and marches in all the big cities were held
today by the workers unions within the framework of the 24hour
strike that was organized by the public employees' unions and the
general confederation of labor.
Serious problems were created in the operation of the city
bus transportation, trains, the state airline Olympic Airways,
public agencies, hospitals and state banks. In Thessaloniki there
were two separate protest rallies.
The strikers demand measures to counter unemployment and the
adoption of the 35hour week without any cuts in their wages.
[05] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL OPEN BY NEXT JUNE
The Black Sea Bank, that was inaugurated in Thessaloniki in
early 1998, is expected to be in full operation by next June,
according to its Bulgarian vice-president Ms. Daniela Bobeva,
former minister of commerce.
In view of the bank's full operation significant steps have
been made aimed at appointing the right personnel. Already, the
executive positions have been covered, while at least 30 lower
ranking employees have also been selected and will assume their
duties in early 1999.
The bank's budget, which is expected to be 150 million
dollars in 1999, will finance projects and programs funded jointly
with other credit organizations such as, the European Bank of
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The shareholders of the Black Sea Bank are the 11 member-
states of the Black Sea Organization of Economic Cooperation
specifically, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria,
Azerbaidjan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia and Albania.
The idea for the creation of the Black Sea Bank was adopted
by the founding members of the Organization six years ago in the
Istanbul summit meeting and its purpose is to assist in the
transition of its member-states to the market economy.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] HALBROOKE IS ON A VISIT TO PRISTINA
US mediator Richard Halbrooke is in Pristina today and later
in the evening is scheduled to meet in Belgrade with Yugoslav
president Slobodan Milosevic.
The talks concern the lifting of the existing deadlock to
reach a political solution to the problem of Kosovo. In the
meeting will be present US ambassador Christopher Hill.
[07] COOPERATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GREEK CYPRIOT AND THE
TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE
Cooperation agreements in the areas of culture,
communications, trade and the environment management were reached
by Greeks, Cypriots and Turkish Cypriot businessmen in the meeting
they had in Istanbul that was held with the participation of US
mediator Richard Halbrooke and US State Department special
coordinator on Cyprus Thomas Miller.
According to US State Department spokesman Jim Foley, in the
meeting was discussed the problem of limited water reserves in
Cyprus which can be dealt with through the cooperation of the two
sides. Also, it was agreed that working groups should be
established that will examine certain plans before future
meetings. Another meeting of businessmen was agreed to be held in
1999 but no exact date was set.
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