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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-01-07

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 7, 1999

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS TODAY
  • [02] EDUCATION MINISTER TO MEET WITH TEACHERS' FEDERATION REPS
  • [03] GREECE ANSWERS TO TURKEY OVER AEGEAN FLIGHTS STATEMENTS
  • [04] GREEK TRAWLER OWNERS TO CONTINUE STRIKE
  • [05] CANADIAN MP DECLARED HONORARY PROFESSOR AT ARISTOTELIAN U.
  • [06] CANCELLED FLIGHTS, CLEAR SKIES AND IRATE PASSENGERS
  • [07] NEW RECORD HIGH IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [08] THE SIMITIS-CHRISTODOULOS MEETING HAS ENDED
  • [09] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS WILL BE IN SARANTE TOMORROW
  • [10] THE TWO NEW BORDER STATIONS IN THRACE, NORTH-EASTERN GREECE ARE READY
  • [11] THE EU WILL INTERVENE ON THE TARIFFS IMPOSED ON COTTON BY TURKEY
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [12] CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL BEGINS TODAY
  • [13] ARTHUR C. CLARKE: LABELING 2000 AS "MILLENNIUM YEAR" IS WRONG
  • [14] BULGARIA FREES TRADE WITH CEFTA, TURKEY
  • [15] OTE SHARE ON AN UPWARD COURSE AT WALL STREET
  • [16] SURMOUNTING EVIDENCE: CYPRUS' OCCUPIED REGION LOADED WITH US- MADE ARMS
  • [17] TWO GREEK EUROMPS WANT KOZLODUI'S 1- UNITS CLOSED FOR GOOD
  • [18] ALBANIA: MAJKO-BERISHA MEETING IS "EVENT OF THE YEAR"
  • [19] ECEVIT RECEIVED THE MANDATE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT
  • [20] THE JOINT BULGARIAN-GREEK COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN SOFIA ON MODAY
  • [21] VAN DEN BROEK ON THE RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS TODAY

    The relationship between church and state is to be discussed today between the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and the Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece Christodoulos.

    The meeting, the first between the two men, is taking place at Mr. Christodoulos's request. According to reports, the two sides might discuss issues such as the construction of a new metropolitan church and cremation of the deceased.

    [02] EDUCATION MINISTER TO MEET WITH TEACHERS' FEDERATION REPS

    For the first time after a twenty-month period, the Minster of National Education Gerasimos Arsenis is to meet today with representatives of the state's teachers' federation (OLME). The teachers have reportedly accepted the Minister's proposal to discuss institutional and economic matters, albeit they set as a precondition for the talks a discussion on the educational reforms.

    Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of Education Yiannis Anthopoulos stressed that the reforms are not to be amended and are presently in the application phase.

    While schools are set to re-open tomorrow, students throughout the country are to decide on the fate of their mobilizations.

    [03] GREECE ANSWERS TO TURKEY OVER AEGEAN FLIGHTS STATEMENTS

    The director of Greece's Civil Aviation Agency Dionysis Kalofonos has responded to the Turkish Foreign Ministry's announcement wherein it questions Greece's technical ability to provide flight accommodations over the Aegean Sea's air space.

    Mr. Kalofonos stated that Greece's updated and fully automatic flight information system is to be ready by February 15.

    Moreover, Greece's Undersecretary of Defense Dimitris Apostolakis stated that the Turkish Foreign Ministry's statement is another manifestation of Ankara's audacity and exaggeration in the region.

    Commenting on the Turkish allegations, he said "supposedly, it can provide information quicker at a time that it is well known that in every air or naval accident in this region, even a Turkish one, Greece has arrived first and has offered its help to save victims." "Ankara already knows that its demand shall not be fulfilled," Mr. Apostolakis stressed.

    [04] GREEK TRAWLER OWNERS TO CONTINUE STRIKE

    Greek owners of trawler boats have decided to continue their strike in protest to a European Union directive, following a meeting held near Thessaloniki on Tuesday.

    The fishermen are protesting EU Directive 1626 which reduces the distance from the coast in which fishing is permitted and increases the mesh size of nets.

    Members of the Panhellenic Union of Trawler Owners have decided to moor their boats in protest along the Thessaloniki seafront today, as they did on Monday.

    Also tomorrow, officials from the Agriculture Ministry are to meet with union representatives.

    Trawler owners claim the provision of the directive stipulating a larger mesh for nets will result in a 50 per cent reduction in catches, since smaller fish will slip through, while Turkish trawlers will continue to catch those fish and channel them to the Greek market.

    [05] CANADIAN MP DECLARED HONORARY PROFESSOR AT ARISTOTELIAN U.

    Canadian member of parliament Edward Mc Whinney is to be declared professor emeritus at Thessalonikis' Aristotleian University, School of Law, on January 18.

    The ceremony will begin with a salutation given by the dean of he university and the law school's rector and, in turn, law professor Ms. Kalliope Koufa will bestow upon Mr. Mc Whinney the honors.

    [06] CANCELLED FLIGHTS, CLEAR SKIES AND IRATE PASSENGERS

    Skies were clear this morning at the Athens airport, perhaps too clear, as three scheduled flights were canceled due to a shortage in Olympic Airways staff.

    As a result of the cancellations, which came after lengthy delays, passengers waiting to fly with the national air carrier became irate and, before too long, minor episodes erupted at the international airport. O.A. provided them with boarding at a nearby hotel until their flights, to Thessaloniki and the island of Kos, actually took place.

    The president of O.A. Theodoros Tsakirides stated that the air carrier can no longer meet the salary demands posed by the pilots since it is presently at a revitalization phase. He also blamed the delays in hiring 45 new pilots to state bureaucracy. He said that while there are trained pilots who can be hired, the air carrier's administration is obligated to uphold the ministerial order and declare new examinations.

    Furthermore, he stressed that from now on all flights will be conducted, they amount to 120 on a daily basis, with the exception of one or two.

    He also issued an appeal for cooperation to the pilots and the crews and warned that they otherwise risk losing their jobs.

    [07] NEW RECORD HIGH IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    The general price index in the Athens Stock Exchange broke every previous record and closed at 3.000,75 showing an increase of 3.22%, while the transactions held were over 104 billion drachmas. In Europe, the indexes in the main financial markets present a mixed picture.

    Meanwhile, the Japanese prime minister's tour of Europe aimed at promoting his country's currency appeared to be fruitful as the yen appears stronger today both compared to the US dollar and the EURO.

    [08] THE SIMITIS-CHRISTODOULOS MEETING HAS ENDED

    The undertaking of joint initiatives to deal with the social problems was decided by prime minister Kostas Simitis and Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece in the meeting they had in Athens at noon today.

    The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere and lasted about an hour during which were discussed issues concerning the Church, social issues such as crime, racism, xenophobia, the abuse of children as well as European issues.

    Archbishop Christodoulos has stated that the Church of Greece will undertake a nation-wide effort against the phenomena of racism and xenophobia and for the protection of the abused children.

    From his part, Mr. Simitis pointed out that it was also discussed the Church's presence in the Balkans, while he stressed that the connections the Greek Church has with other Churches in the region can be exploited in state issues. On the European issues, the prime minister said that there are risks that should be faced and opportunities that need to be exploited.

    [09] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS WILL BE IN SARANTE TOMORROW

    Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis will visit the region of Sarante in Albania tomorrow to lay the foundations of the water reservoir that will be built with the financial support of the young party members organization, while he will also meet with a representative of the Albanian government.

    Mr. Karamanlis, who will be accompanied by party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos and the leadership of the young party members organization, will visit the villages of Livadia, Aliko and Dermisi where he will lay the foundations for the water reservoir in a ceremony that will be held in the presence of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania.

    [10] THE TWO NEW BORDER STATIONS IN THRACE, NORTH-EASTERN GREECE ARE READY

    The opening of the two new customs offices at the borders of Thrace, north-eastern Greece with Bulgaria depends on whether the Bulgarian side is ready as on behalf of the Greek side everything is ready, according to general secretary of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region Stavros Kambelis.

    Mr. Kambelis, who visited the customs office of Kipi on the occasion of the Christmas holidays, stated that he and the Bulgarian consul general will soon visit the Kirtzali and Ehinos points where one of the new border crossings will be located.

    [11] THE EU WILL INTERVENE ON THE TARIFFS IMPOSED ON COTTON BY TURKEY

    The European Union will intervene to Turkey and will call for the abolition of the tariffs imposed by the neighboring country on the imports of cotton because this measure is contrary to Turkey's obligations that stem from the customs' association agreement reached between Turkey and the European Union.

    The issue was raised in a question by Coalition of the Left Euro-deputy Alekos Alavanos who pointed out that the tariffs imposed hurt mainly the Greek exports of cotton to Turkey and in his response EU Commissioner Mr. Van Den Broek adopts the positions of Mr. Alavanos pointing out that the European Commission will raise the issue to the Turkish authorities through the appropriate channels.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [12] CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL BEGINS TODAY

    In an event unseen since 130 years ago, United States President Bill Clinton is to appear before the Senate today where his impeachment trial begins before a jury of 100 senators.

    President Clinton stands accused of two articles of impeachment alleging perjury and obstruction of justice. Both stem from his effort to conceal his relationship with a White House intern Monica Lewinsky in the sex-and-cover-up scandal that has transfixed the world for nearly a year.

    Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., expressed optimism that agreement was near on a procedure for a "full trial ... and votes on articles of impeachment at the end of the process." Votes are expected to be taken on the President's fate by February, at the earliest.

    [13] ARTHUR C. CLARKE: LABELING 2000 AS "MILLENNIUM YEAR" IS WRONG

    Arthur C. Clarke, author of "2001: A Space Odyssey," feels so strongly about people erroneously calling next year the start of a new millennium that he issued a public statement this week to correct them.

    "Because the Western calendar starts with Year 1, and not Year 0, the 21st Century and the Third Millennium do not begin until January 1, 2001," Mr. Clarke said in a statement received by Reuters today.

    "Though some people have great difficulty in grasping this, there's a very simple analogy which should appeal to everyone. If the scale on your grocer's weighing machine began at 1 instead of 0, would you be happy when he claimed he'd sold you 10 kg of tea?" Mr. Clarke questioned.

    "And it's exactly the same with time. We'll have had only 99 years of this century by January 1, 2000: we'll have to wait until December 31 for the full hundred."

    Mr. Clarke's view has long been held by people who doubt that anyone else can count.

    Australian Prime Minister John Howard, for example, made the same point in 1997 -- only to be called the "party pooper of the century" in newspapers.

    Clarke said the psychological effect of the three zeros and the Y2K bug that will affect computers was much too powerful to be ignored.

    "So everyone will start celebrating at midnight December 31, 1999," Mr. Clarke said, adding that 2000 should be called the Centennial Year and 2001 the Millennial Year.

    [14] BULGARIA FREES TRADE WITH CEFTA, TURKEY

    Bulgaria hopes to boost trade, facilitate investment, expedite economic reforms and also ease its entry to the European Union under two trade agreements that come into effect this month, according to the chairman of Bulgarian's Chamber of Commerce Bozidar Danev.

    Bulgaria lifted customs duties on 80 percent of its industrial goods on January 1 under its new membership of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which groups the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania.

    A free trade zone agreement with neighboring Turkey also comes into effect this month, which is expected to boost trade turnover between the two Balkan states that amounted to $350 million for January-October 1998.

    [15] OTE SHARE ON AN UPWARD COURSE AT WALL STREET

    The Hellenic Telecommunications Organization's share climbed nine points on the New York Stock Exchange, with 650,000 shares floating, thereby confirming investors' interest abroad.

    Thirty-four million shares OTE shares were sold during the initial offering at the NYSE on November 1, 1998. Before the end of the year, on December 31, 1998, they closed at $13.00.

    [16] SURMOUNTING EVIDENCE: CYPRUS' OCCUPIED REGION LOADED WITH US- MADE ARMS

    There is surmounting evidence that the Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus are equipped with US-made arms, in clear violation to US legislation, featuring four times more combat arms and five times more heavy artillery than the Cypriot Republic.

    The substantiating data is published in today's edition of the Athens daily "Ta Nea" which also notes that that weapons list has been forwarded to Washington from Nicosia and Athens so that it may proceed to the removal of the US-made arms.

    Specifically, the occupation forces on the island have 231 M48 tanks, whereas the Republic of Cyprus has 61. They also have 38 transportable heavy 115mm cannons, as opposed to the Greek- Cypriot side's 12, 62 mobile staff transport vehicles as opposed to the Republic's six, - which 62 are in addition to 255 armored vehicles, 208 armed staff transportation vehicles of US-Turkish construction, 36 TOW antitank missiles and four radar.

    The aforementioned list does not contain a number of US-made arms transported on the island's occupied region after 1980 and it is not known whether or not they fall under the congressional ban.

    [17] TWO GREEK EUROMPS WANT KOZLODUI'S 1- UNITS CLOSED FOR GOOD

    Two Greek eurodeputies have tabled a resolution to the European Parliament wherein they request the immediate and permanent closing of four units at the Bulgaria's nuclear plant, Kozlodui.

    The resolution, to be discussed at the House's plenary session on January 14, has been tabled by parliamentarians Antonis Trakatellis and George Dimitrakopoulos, both members of Greece's main opposition party New Democracy.

    They call on the Bulgarian government to proceed to the immediate closing of the nuclear reactors 1-4 (which are of outdated technology and are deemed dangerous) and also ask the European Parliament to express its chagrin at Bulgaria's delay in applying the commitments it has undertaken internationally. Moreover, the eurodeputies urge the Parliament to ask the Commission not to fund the update of units 5-6 if the remaining units are not permanently dismantled.

    [18] ALBANIA: MAJKO-BERISHA MEETING IS "EVENT OF THE YEAR"

    The meeting held between Albania's opposition party leader and former president Sali Berisha with the Prime Minister Padeli Majko has raised everyone's hopes for a smoother course into 1999, while the country's political leaders are opposed to early elections and grant the newly-formed government the due time necessary for executing its undertaken tasks.

    Commenting on rumors of a reshuffle in the Majko-led government, Parliament President and leader of the Social- Democratic Party Skender Ginoushi told the Macedonian Press Agency that the "Time for change has not come. The government has (been) only three months (in office) and hasn't had the time to prove what it is capable of doing."

    Regarding a potential reinstatement of the Democratic Party to Parliament, Mr. Ginoushi stated "this does not mean that there need to be changes in the government.

    Also speaking to the MPA, the leader of the Human Rights Association Party Vasil Melo stated that "before we speak of changes and early elections, we need to talk about a series of serious problems faced by the country."

    Mr. Melo's priority is the dialogue between the Socialist and Democratic parties which was paved through the meeting between Mgrs. Majko and Berisha.

    On a somewhat different note, since he characterized the country's government as "failed", the leader of Albania's Republican Party Fatmir Mediu said that the holding of elections is impossible until order is restored.

    "The need to hold elections did not arise today but rather earlier, and this is because the government has failed in all sectors," Mr. Mediu told the MPA, albeit stressing that "what is urgent is to (discover) a new formula for governing the country."

    [19] ECEVIT RECEIVED THE MANDATE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT

    Turkish president Suleiman Demirel gave the mandate to Democratic Left party leader Bulent Ecevit to form a government in which the Islamists are not expected to be included.

    It should be reminded that Ecevit had received again the mandate to form a government on December 2 but he abandoned the efforts 19 days later when he failed to form a government.

    [20] THE JOINT BULGARIAN-GREEK COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN SOFIA ON MODAY

    The construction of the new border crossings at the Bulgarian- Greek borders as well as the building of purification stations at the Bulgarian cities of Stara Zagora and Haskovo will be discussed by the joint Bulgarian-Greek committee meeting that will be held in Sofia on January 11 and 12 within the framework of the European Union "PHARE" program on cross-border cooperation. The announcement on the meeting was made by the Bulgarian ministry of Regional Development.

    According to a report on the Sofia newspaper "Standart", it will also be discussed the modernization of border crossings at Koulata and Novo Selo as well as the restoration of the environment at the region of the Elesnica village.

    Based on a European Commission proposal, the cross-border cooperation program can continue for an additional 5 years and its goal will be to fund employment projects and the vocational training of the population living at border regions.

    [21] VAN DEN BROEK ON THE RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY

    The European Union in all the contacts it had with the Turkish authorities and in spite of Ankara's decision to cancel the political dialogue with the European Union has made clear its decision to continue to express its concern over human rights issues and the democratic freedoms in Turkey. This was the response of EU Commissioner responsible for EU foreign relations, Mr. Hans Van Den Broek to the question by Greek governing socialist party of PASOK Euro-deputy Anna Karamanou on the measures the European Commission intends to take to secure human rights in Turkey.

    In his response Mr. Van Den Broek also referred to the first regular report drawn up by the European Commission and approved on November 4, 1998 on the progress made by Turkey in order to become a candidate for EU accession where the relevant problems are being mentioned as well as the need for the improvement of the existing situation.

    The European Commission also mentions the conclusions reached by the European Council in Luxembourg according to which, the strengthening of relations between Turkey and the European Union also depends on whether the political and economic reforms will continue in Turkey including its harmonization in the sector of human rights with the practices followed by the European Union.


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