Browse through our Interesting Nodes on Greek History & Hellenism Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Friday, 29 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-01-29

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 29, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] EDUCATION MINISTER MEETS WITH STUDENTS TODAY
  • [02] NEW WAVE OF ADVERSE WEATHER STRIKES NORTHERN GREECE
  • [03] SAE PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN GREECE TODAY, TO VISIT EGYPT AS WELL
  • [04] FOREIGN MINISTRY: NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR US PRESIDENT'S VISIT
  • [05] REPPAS: THE GOAL OF THE GOVERNMENT IS THE CREATION OF 110.000 NEW JOB POSITIONS
  • [06] THE GREEK FOOD EXPORTS TO THE BALKANS ARE ON THE INCREASE
  • [07] THE TEACHERS' UNION PRESIDING BOARD MEETS TODAY
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [08] CONTACT GROUP CONVENES TODAY OVER KOSOVO
  • [09] ALTERNATE FM GEORGE PAPANDREOU IN CYPRUS
  • [10] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS TO ATTEND ESP SUMMIT IN VIENNA TODAY
  • [11] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS CLERIDES RECEIVES GREEK ALTERNATE FM
  • [12] PANGALOS: GREECE IS OPPOSED TO THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN MILITARY FORCES IN KOSSOVO
  • [13] CLERIDES-PAPANDREOU MEETING
  • [14] NEW TENSION IN KOSOVO 15] THE ISRAELI SPY TRIAL IS UNDERWAY IN CYPRUS
  • [16] PRAISING ARTICLE ON MISTRA IN THE "IRISH TIMES"
  • [17] RECOMMENDATION BY THE UNESCO COMMITTEE FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES
  • [18] GREEK CAPTAIN & ENGINEER PLEAD INNOCENT, ARE FREED ON BAIL

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] EDUCATION MINISTER MEETS WITH STUDENTS TODAY

    The administrative council of the Secondary Education Teachers Federation (OLME) is to convene today in order to map out its next course of action, while it remains unknown when the teachers will meet anew with Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis.

    The Minister, who has reiterated that the invitations for talks with the teachers still stands, is expected to met today with students who are performing school sit-ins.

    [02] NEW WAVE OF ADVERSE WEATHER STRIKES NORTHERN GREECE

    A new wave of inclement weather has stricken northern Greece where strong winds have made sailing prohibitive.

    Low temperatures are marked throughout the region, falling below zero in many cities.

    Anti-skid chains are necessary for traveling by car in most of Macedonian and central Greece.

    [03] SAE PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN GREECE TODAY, TO VISIT EGYPT AS WELL

    The President of the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) is to embark on a series of contacts and meetings when he arrives in Greece today.

    Tomorrow, the University of Ioannina is to bestow an award upon Mr. Athens for his contribution to world Hellenism.

    On Monday Mr. Athens will meet with the country's political and state leaders while on February 3 he will depart for Alexandria, Egypt, where he will attend the three-day conference of the youth committee of the SAE Africa-Asia SAE chapter.

    Upon his return to Greece, Mr. Athens will join the delegation of the Archbishop of America Spyridon who is to conduct an official visit to Greece between February 9-14.

    [04] FOREIGN MINISTRY: NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR US PRESIDENT'S VISIT

    The exact date of United States President Bill Clinton's visit to Greece has not been set, according to an announcement issued by the Hellenic Foreign Ministry regarding relevant press reports.

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, the statement reads, issued a formal invitation to President Clinton during his official visit to the United States in April of 1996.

    The announcement stated that it is the desire of the Greek government that visits to Greece by the leaders of other countries should be "autonomous, just as our country is autonomous" and that they are made following consultations between the governments concerned.

    "Greece is happy to receive all leaders, but it would be preferable if their visits were not a supplement or sequel to some other visit," the statement read.

    [05] REPPAS: THE GOAL OF THE GOVERNMENT IS THE CREATION OF 110.000 NEW JOB POSITIONS

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the government programme on employment will soon be announced and that its goal will be the creation of 110.000 new job positions. He also stressed that starting on January 1 all the Greek citizens under the age of 29 will have medical and hospital insurance.

    Regarding the unemployment rate he observed that 3 out of 4 unemployed are registered now, while in the past the ratio was one in two.

    [06] THE GREEK FOOD EXPORTS TO THE BALKANS ARE ON THE INCREASE

    The Greek food exports to the Balkans are on the increase. The food exports to the 8 states of the region were over 175.360 Mecu in 1997 and were increased by 9.8% compared to 1996.

    The main market is Albania which has absorbed Greek food exports with an estimated value of 56.110 Mecu followed by FYROM with 31.220 Mecu corresponding to an increase of 9.4%. Bulgaria remains at the third place even though the Greek food exports were decreased by 6.7% in 1997 compared to 1996.

    [07] THE TEACHERS' UNION PRESIDING BOARD MEETS TODAY

    A meeting of the teachers' union presiding board is underway to decide if it will accept the education minister Gerasimos Arsenis' proposal for dialogue. It should be reminded that two days ago teachers' union president Nikos Tsoulias had stated that he is willing to have a direct meeting with the education minister.

    Meanwhile, 600 schools are under occupation across the country while the students have scheduled new protest rallies to take place on February 5.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [08] CONTACT GROUP CONVENES TODAY OVER KOSOVO

    The Contact Group is to convene in London today in order to set the deadline for the start of negotiations between the two conflicting sides in Kosovo.

    According to British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, this will be a matter of days. Meanwhile, NATO has threatened to undertake military action if the two sides do not arrive at a political solution.

    [09] ALTERNATE FM GEORGE PAPANDREOU IN CYPRUS

    Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou is presently in Cyprus, where he will be received by the President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides, as well as with the Speaker of the House Spyros Kyprianou, Archbishop Chrisostomos, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and other political leaders.

    Tomorrow, Mr. Papandreou will speak at the opening ceremony of the Cypriot National Olympic Academy and meet with Nicosia Mayor Lelos Dimitriades.

    On Sunday, Papandreou will make a speech on "The role of Greece on the threshold of the 21st century: European Union and National Issues."

    [10] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS TO ATTEND ESP SUMMIT IN VIENNA TODAY

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to travel to Vienna today, accompanied by Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, in order to attend the European Socialist Party summit.

    The leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, is to travel to Brussels where he will take part in the European People's Party leaders' conference.

    [11] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS CLERIDES RECEIVES GREEK ALTERNATE FM

    Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou was received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides in Nicosia today.

    Mr. Papandreou stated that no force can stop Cyprus's accession course to the European Union.

    [12] PANGALOS: GREECE IS OPPOSED TO THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN MILITARY FORCES IN KOSSOVO

    Greece is opposed to any form of foreign military presence in Kossovo which will not have the approval of Yugoslavia, stated Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview to Belgrade's weekly political magazine "Nin".

    Mr. Pangalos stated that the United States are not willing to undertake land operations in Kossovo and reiterated that any secession in the region and change in the existing borders would lead to the destabilization of the Balkans and could cause a 30year war with unforeseen consequences.

    The foreign minister pointed out that the solution that will lead to the end of the crisis in Kossovo is the implementation of the Milosevic-Halbrooke agreement reached last October, the punishment of those who are responsible for the crimes in the region and the respect of human rights and the rights of the minorities.

    He criticized the US policy on the crisis in Kossovo and underlined that it is based on the threat for the use of force without including a proposal on what will happen after the materialization of this threat. Mr. Pangalos pointed out that Europe should be the main player in the region and not the United States which are not close geographically and have only secondary interests in the region.

    The Greek minister referring to his initiative last year for the solution of the differences between Belgrade and Tirana, he said that he completed his visit to the two capitals believing that he contributed in achieving international peace as both the then prime minister of Albania Fatos Nano and Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic had agreed with his views in how a solution could be reached in Kossovo.

    Unfortunately, said Mr. Pangalos, nothing was implemented adding that he could not believe that the Yugoslav leadership had missed once again the chance to act according to the interests of its people. Mr. Pangalos said that his proposals, which had the approval of Milosevic, were not implemented and the Yugoslav president went ahead with their materialization only after the mediation of Richard Halbrooke who resorted to the use of force argument.

    [13] CLERIDES-PAPANDREOU MEETING

    Deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou is in Cyprus. Mr. Papandreou met with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides and in statements he made the Greek deputy foreign minister stressed that no one can stop Cyprus' EU accession course.

    Mr. Papandreou stated after the meeting he had with president Clerides that Cyprus' European course creates all the necessary pre-conditions for a solution in the Cyprus problem, while he underlined that a political solution of the problem can not be a pre-condition for Cyprus' EU accession course. He said that this is a message for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots as they too have the opportunity to participate in the accession procedures, adding that nothing can stop Cyprus' EU accession course.

    Mr. Papandreou will have meetings during the day with parliament president Spiros Kiprianou, Archbishop Chrisostomos, foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Democratic Alarm president Nikos Anastasiadis and AKEL president Andreas Christou.

    [14] NEW TENSION IN KOSOVO

    New tension in Kosovo, where the Serb authorities have announced that a Serb police officer and 20 Kosovo Liberation Army rebels were killed in an armed clash that took place at the western part of the Serb province.

    According to the Serbs, one of their patrols was attacked and returned fire. Meanwhile, the Contact Group meets in London in an effort to achieve a peaceful solution in Kosovo.

    [15] THE ISRAELI SPY TRIAL IS UNDERWAY IN CYPRUS

    The two Israeli secret agents, who are on trial in Cyprus admitted their guilt today for the charges of illegal possession of high-tech surveillance equipment, according to the French news agency AFP.

    The two Israelis, who were arrested in early November accused of spying admitted their guilt and in return the prosecutor's office dropped the charges for spying and conspiracy for which they could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

    According to the Cypriot penal code, if someone is accused of illegal possession of equipment that can be used for spying he can be sentenced to 12 months in prison. The sentencing decision in the trial of the two Israelis will be announced on Monday.

    [16] PRAISING ARTICLE ON MISTRA IN THE "IRISH TIMES"

    A praising article on the byzantine city of Mistra in southern Greece was published by the Dublin newspaper "Irish Times".

    The article refers to the history of the region starting from ancient Sparta, the invasions of the Peloponesse by the Franks and the founding of Mistra by the last dynasty of Byzantium.

    The article writer mentions that the Byzantine glory and culture was revived again in Mistras which after the looting of Constantinople by the crusaders was for two centuries the cultural and spiritual center of Byzantium.

    The article also refers to the architectural characteristics of the buildings and the wealth of the churches with their exceptional mosaics, stressing that the visitor can walk freely on the streets of this well-preserved Byzantine jewel.

    [17] RECOMMENDATION BY THE UNESCO COMMITTEE FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

    The inter-governmental committee of UNESCO, responsible for the promotion of the return of cultural goods to the countries of their origin, expressed concern over the Parthenon Marbles issue.

    The committee that met recently at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris adopted a recommendation which was submitted by Holland and Italy and backed by Canada expressing concern over the issue of the Parthenon Marbles. The text of the recommendation points out the efforts that should be made by UNESCO's general director for the undertaking of future initiatives aimed at promoting bilateral negotiations between Britain and Greece.

    Based on the recommendation, the UNESCO general director is called to undertake future initiatives for the promotion of bilateral negotiations between the two countries and to participate through UNESCO's special advisory bodies in international scientific discussion for the preservation of the Parthenon Marbles.

    At the same time, it underlines that international conferences and seminars on the Parthenon Marbles and their preservation will be held in Washington in February, in London in November and in Athens in December 1999. The UNESCO general director will have to present to the committee the outcome of those discussions.

    [18] GREEK CAPTAIN & ENGINEER PLEAD INNOCENT, ARE FREED ON BAIL

    A tanker captain and his chief engineer have been freed on bail after pleading innocent to charges that they deliberately dumped oil off the San Mateo County coast in the Pacific Ocean last September.

    Greek Captain Dimitris Georgantas and engineer Labros Karaganis, who flew from Greece to San Francisco to face the charges on Wednesday, were allowed to return home after a shipping company signed guarantees for their $500,000 bonds.

    Their lawyers deny the oil came from the tanker and say they had no reason to deliberately dump expensive fuel.

    The charges include knowingly discharging a harmful quantity of oil, failing to report the discharge, and conspiracy. This is the first environmental prosecution in years for the U.S. attorney's office in San Francisco.


    Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpegr2html v1.01a run on Friday, 29 January 1999 - 19:11:52 UTC