Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-02-02
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 2, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] WEATHER SLIGHTLY IMPROVES BUT MANY VILLAGES REMAIN CUT OFF
[02] TEACHERS FEDERATION TO CONVENE TODAY, STUDENT PROTESTS ABATE
[03] DELEGATION OF ALBANIAN DEPUTIES VISITS HELLENIC PARLIAMENT
[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES SWEDISH COUNTERPART
[05] GREECE PROVIDES COLOMBIA WITH AID AND PRE-BUILT HOUSES
[06] PREMIER RECEIVES GREEK EU COMMISSIONER CHRISTOS PAPOUTSIS
[07] SPD DELEGATION IN ATHENS, MEETS WITH STATE OFFICIALS
[08] REPPAS: OCALAN DID NOT COME TO GREECE
[09] PANGALOS-BURNS MEETING ON OCALAN
[10] MEASURES TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST TEACHING HOURS WILL BE
ANNOUNCED BY ARSENIS
[11] 235 VILLAGES ARE CUT OFF BY SNOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY
[12] SIMITIS-SOLANA MEETING IN ATHENS ON THURSDAY
[13] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS WILL ATTEND THE EUROPEAN POPULAR PARTY
CONFERENCE
[14] TSOCHATZOPOULOS ON THE S-300 AND THE JOINT DEFENSE DOCTRINE
[15] PASOK-SPD DELEGATIONS' MEETING
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETS WITH ALBANIAN PREMIER
[17] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER IN BONN, MEETS WITH KOHL
[18] KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS HAVE DECIDED TO ATTEND TALKS ON FEBRUARY 6
[19] US CALLS FOR OCALAN TO TURN HIMSELF IN AND BE TRIED IN TURKEY
[20] PANAFON IS INTERESTED IN THE STATE-RUN ALBANIAN MOBILE PHONE
COMPANY
[21] CONTINUOUS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] WEATHER SLIGHTLY IMPROVES BUT MANY VILLAGES REMAIN CUT OFF
Following a 24-hour period of constant snowfall, the weather
in northern Greece has slightly improved with temperatures slowly
rising. Nevertheless, hundreds of villages throughout the region
remain inaccessible and isolated. The thawed snow has turned to
frost thus making driving hazardous. Transportation in most of the
provincial roads and the national highways can be conducted with
anti-skid chains.
Thessaloniki's "Macedonia" airport remained closed this
morning, since the layer of frost on the runways made aircraft
takeoffs dangerous. It re-opened later in the day.
[02] TEACHERS FEDERATION TO CONVENE TODAY, STUDENT PROTESTS ABATE
The administrative council of the Secondary Education
Teachers Federation (OLME) is to hold another round of talks today
in an attempt to forge an agreement on the 11th grade's
examination process.
At the same time, fewer and fewer schools remain under
occupation by students throughout the country, a shift welcomed by
the Education Ministry.
In spite of this apparent abatement, the students are
planning another round of rallies on Friday.
[03] DELEGATION OF ALBANIAN DEPUTIES VISITS HELLENIC PARLIAMENT
A delegation of the Albanian Parliament's foreign affairs
committee was received by the President of the Hellenic Parliament
Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday with whom they discussed matters of
mutual interest, particularly the Kosovo crisis, and prospects of
bilateral cooperation.
The Albanian delegation comprised the chairman of the
committee Sabri Godo, and parliamentarians Sevet Pellumbi and
Ligoreq Karamolo.
[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES SWEDISH COUNTERPART
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos received his
Swedish counterpart Bjorn von Sydow in Athens yesterday, where
they held talks spanning the present situation in Europe and the
Balkans.
The two officials discussed the Kosovo crisis and the Cyprus
issue, as well as a bilateral defense cooperation agreement.
Following the meeting, Mr. von Sydow stressed that the two
countries were cooperating closely on a series of European
issues, such as the common defense and security policy.
[05] GREECE PROVIDES COLOMBIA WITH AID AND PRE-BUILT HOUSES
The Greek government dispatched a shipment of humanitarian
aid to earthquake-stricken Colombia, where a 6.0 Richter
earthquake struck early last month killing more than 900 people
and causing widespread devastation.
The humanitarian aid includes pre-built houses. The aid,
shipped in ten containers aboard the "Peggy Dawe", will take 12
days to arrive to its destination.
[06] PREMIER RECEIVES GREEK EU COMMISSIONER CHRISTOS PAPOUTSIS
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis received the Greek EU
Commissioner Christos Papoutsis in Athens yesterday, where they
held a discussion spanning all issues concerning Europe and
Greece's prospects during the European parliament elections in
June.
According to reports, agreement was achieved for a united
course towards
the PASOK party congress which would prove a determining factor
for the party's
victory in the Euro-elections.
[07] SPD DELEGATION IN ATHENS, MEETS WITH STATE OFFICIALS
A delegation of officials from the Social-democrats Party of
Germany (SPD) is presently on an official visit to Greece, where
they will be received by the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis today.
In turn, the delegates will visit the Foreign Ministry and
the ruling PASOK party's central offices.
The talks will focus on the latest developments in the Kosovo
crisis, the ties between Greece and Germany, June's Euro-elections
and the European Socialist Party's congress.
[08] REPPAS: OCALAN DID NOT COME TO GREECE
Abdullah Ocalan did not come to Greece stated categorically
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas. Responding to
questions made by reporters he stated that a lot has been said
which has nothing to do with the truth, stressing that this issue
has closed. He reiterated that the arrival of Ocalan to Greece has
been regarded as neither advisable nor useful and added that the
support to the struggle of the Kurdish people will continue but it
will not be turned into a Greek-Turkish issue.
Responding to a question concerning the statements of US
State Department spokesman Mr. Rubin according to which, Ocalan
possibly passed through Greece he said that if Mr. Rubin has proof
on this he should present the evidence at his disposal.
Mr. Reppas said that the Greek government does not know where
Ocalan is and stressed that it was informed on the whole issue by
the mass media.
[09] PANGALOS-BURNS MEETING ON OCALAN
The issue of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan was discussed
today by Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos and US
ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns during his visit to the
foreign ministry.
Officially, the visit by Mr. Burns is placed within the
framework of the regular contacts of the two men but according to
information, among the issues discussed was that of Ocalan.
[10] MEASURES TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST TEACHING HOURS WILL BE
ANNOUNCED BY ARSENIS
Measures aimed at covering the teaching hours lost due to the
school building occupations by students protesting against the
government proposed education reform are expected to be announced
by minister of education Gerasimos Arsenis within the day.
Specifically, classes will be held on Saturdays and holidays,
school trips will be cut and the teaching hours will be increased
from six to seven hours daily.
The ministry of education speaks of a decline in the number
of schools under occupation. Meanwhile, the teachers' union
presiding board will meet tomorrow and the day after to adopt a
common stance regarding the examinations issue.
[11] 235 VILLAGES ARE CUT OFF BY SNOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Over 235 villages remain cut off by the snow in northern and
central Greece. Cars using the provincial and national road
network in central and western northern Greece can move only with
non-skid chains, while for a second day schools are closed in the
prefectures of Thessaloniki, Xanthi, Kavala, Dramas, Komotini,
Alexandroupolis, Kastoria, Kilkis and Ioannina.
In many regions of northern Greece temperature has dropped
several degrees below zero.
[12] SIMITIS-SOLANA MEETING IN ATHENS ON THURSDAY
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in Athens on
Thursday with NATO secretary general Javier Solana.
The North-Atlantic alliance secretary general will have
contacts with foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos and minister of
defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos. Issues that are expected to be
discussed are the Greek-Turkish disputes and the latest
developments in Kosovo and the Balkans.
[13] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS WILL ATTEND THE EUROPEAN POPULAR PARTY
CONFERENCE
The 12th European Popular Party Conference under the title
"Toward the 21st century" will be held in Brussels on February 4-
6.
Right-wing opposition party leader of New Democracy Kostas
Karamanlis will attend the conference and will be one of its
speakers, while he will also attend the special meeting of the
European Popular Party council that will be held with the
participation of prime ministers and party leaders members of the
European Popular Party.
During the conference will be approved the action program for
the next term of the European Parliament (1999-2004), while the
new presiding board of the European Popular Party will be elected.
[14] TSOCHATZOPOULOS ON THE S-300 AND THE JOINT DEFENSE DOCTRINE
Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos speaking in the
foreign affairs and defense parliamentary committee meeting stated
that the decision to purchase the S-300 Russian-made anti-aircraft
missile system was right, disagreeing with the view expressed by
foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos who had characterized it as a
mistake.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos criticized the way the decision to
purchase the Rusian missiles was materialized and in statements he
made afterwards he underlined that the joint defense space of
Greece and Cyprus is a common strategy the two countries have the
obligation to back.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos responding to a question raised by right-
wing main opposition party of New Democracy honorary president
Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated that no limit can be set in the
armed forces spending as it is determined based on the existing
conditions, the dangers and the threats, while he observed that
Greece unfortunately is the only EU country that suffers a
specific and unprovoked threat by Turkey.
[15] PASOK-SPD DELEGATIONS' MEETING
Bilateral relations between the Greek governing socialist
party of PASOK and the German Social-democratic Party, SPD, the
Greek-German relations and the cooperation of the two political
parties in view of the Euro-parliament elections were the subjects
of today's meeting of the SPD delegation, headed by German deputy
foreign minister Cunther Verheugen, with a PASOK delegation that
was held in Athens.
In statements he made after the meeting, the head of the
German delegation recognized the achievements of the Greek economy
aimed at Greece's participation in the EMU and added that Greece
is capable of joining the single currency. He also said that the
two sides discussed issues concerning security, social policy,
social justice and unemployment.
PASOK central committee secretary Kostas Skandalidis stressed
the need to form an alternative proposal for Europe and reaffirmed
the decision for a stable cooperation between the two parties in
view of the Euro-parliament elections.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETS WITH ALBANIAN PREMIER
The international community continues its mediation efforts
in finding a peaceful solution to the fermenting Kosovo crisis.
There are hopes that the two conflicting sides will make some
progress during their negotiations set to start on February 6 in
France.
The talks will be mediated by France's and Great Britain's
Foreign Ministers and will also have the direct involvement of the
Contact Group. The Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) is to announce
tomorrow whether or not its representatives will attend the
talks.
United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with
Albania's Prime Mister Panteli Majko and requested his assistance
in securing the presence of UCK representatives at the talks.
[17] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER IN BONN, MEETS WITH KOHL
The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's
Kostas Karamanlis completed his three-day visit to Germany
yesterday, where he met with the former chancellor Helmut Kohl.
The two men discussed Greek-Turkish relations, Cyprus'
accession process to the European Union, Europe's political
integration and the problems currently facing the EU's common
foreign policy.
Mr. Karamanlis said that his talks with Mr. Kohl (whom he
called "the architect of the new Europe") were very interesting.
Mr. Kohl stated that he is in favor of Cyprus' accession to
the European Union without any added conditions, while adding
that any progress in the Cyprus division issue would be helpful.
Moreover, the two discussed present foreign policy issues,
particularly the Kosovo crisis.
Mr. Karamanlis said that Europe should become more involved
in the matter and help towards finding a peaceful solution. He
noted that there should be no change in existing borders, a
development which could cause long-term instability and conflict.
[18] KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS HAVE DECIDED TO ATTEND TALKS ON FEBRUARY 6
Political leaders of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians have decided
to attend the negotiations of February 6, to be held in France,
while a representative from the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) is
expected to announce whether or not UCK members will attend the
talks with Belgrade.
The European Union's special envoy Wolfgang Petric made the
said announcement during an interview with Belgrade's radio
station "B-92", after meeting with the US mediator Christopher
Hill and Kosovo's Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova.
[19] US CALLS FOR OCALAN TO TURN HIMSELF IN AND BE TRIED IN TURKEY
The United States has called on all countries to deny entry
to the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan and take steps to return
him to Turkey for trial, according to the French news agency AFP.
Mr. Ocalan's whereabouts remain unknown since yesterday, when
Greece refused his entry in the country after his plane had tried
unsuccessfully to enter the Netherlands.
US State Department spokesperson James Rubin stated that the
US believes that the PKK leader should be brought to justice for
the crimes of which he is accused in a matter consistent with
international standards and due process.
He stated Washington believes that perhaps Mr. Ocalan's plane
had landed in here but Greece, like other countries, did not allow
him to stay.
"I think that private plane is flying around without a home,"
Mr. Rubin added.
[20] PANAFON IS INTERESTED IN THE STATE-RUN ALBANIAN MOBILE PHONE
COMPANY
The Greek mobile phone company "Panafon" expressed interest
in the privatization of the state-run Albanian mobile phone
company AMC.
According to the Albanian press, the visit of "Panafon"
president Mr. Koronias to Tirana was indicative of the company's
interest.
Based on data published by the Albanian newspaper "Zeri i
Populit", AMC has 8.000 subscribers, 75% of whom are in Tirana and
covers 42% of the Albanian market. In the immediate future it will
invest 3 million dollars in order to increase its subscribers to
12.000 and to expand across Albania.
[21] CONTINUOUS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY
The foreign delegations that visited Turkey to attend the
trial for the murder of journalist Metin Goktepe were stunned by
the extend of human rights violations in the country.
In a statement to the press, French Journalists National
Syndicate president Pierre Barabancay, German Labor Solidarity
Union president Wilheen Frohn and representatives of the Turkish
newspaper "Evrensel" for which Goktepe was working, stressed that
the trial was not held based on the principles of law. At the same
time, they pointed out that the presence of plain clothes
policemen in the court house and all that happened after the trial
do not prove the independence of the Turkish justice system.
German Labor Solidarity Union president Mr. Frohn stated that
the state authorities acted arbitrarily both during the Goktepe
trial and the protest demonstration held by the so-called
"Saturday Mothers".
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