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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-02-15

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, February 15, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] REPPAS: NO APPLICATION HAS BEEN FILED REQUESTING ASYLUM FOR OCALAN
  • [02] SIMITIS: INFLATION WILL BE AT 2.5% BY THE END OF 1999
  • [03] MR. SIMITIS VISITED THE PAPANIKOLAOU HOSPITAL AND THE UNDER CONTRUCTION MUSIC HALL BUILDING
  • [04] THE DOCTORS CONTINUE THEIR MOBILIZATIONS
  • [05] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IS ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO VIENNA
  • [06] ARCHBISHOP SPIRIDON OF AMERICA: CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ARE ANNOYED BY THE CHANGES AND RESORT TO MUD-SLINGING
  • [07] BURNS: ARCHBISHOP SPIRIDON PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE UNITY OF THE GREEK-AMERICANS
  • [08] THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE SO- CALLED "MILLENNIUM BUG"
  • [Â] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [09] THE AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT SUGGESTS POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY
  • [10] RUSSIA IS IN FAVOR OF A POLITICAL SOLUTION FOR KOSOVO
  • [11] PAPANDREOU: A SOLUTION IN KOSOVO SHOULD BE FOUND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF YUGOSLAVIA

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] REPPAS: NO APPLICATION HAS BEEN FILED REQUESTING ASYLUM FOR OCALAN

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated today that no application has been filed requesting asylum for the Kurdish leader and the Greek government does not wish for this to happen. He added that the granting of asylum by Greece to Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan will not contribute positively to the struggle of the Kurdish people and it would add tension to the already tense climate between Greece and Turkey.

    Mr. Reppas also stated that the presence of the Kurdish leader in Greece is not advisable and useful and reiterated that the Greek government is close to the struggle of the Kurds.

    Commending on the operation to move the Kurds from the Koumoundourou Square at the center of Athens to the Western Attica Prefecture Hospital, Mr. Reppas characterized it as imperative.

    [02] SIMITIS: INFLATION WILL BE AT 2.5% BY THE END OF 1999

    Inflation will drop to 2.5% by the end of 1999 underlined prime minister Kostas Simitis saying that in order for this goal to be achieved an effort should be made by all those involved in the process because it is possible that the increased demand for cash will create inflationary pressures.

    Speaking before representatives of the production sector and parliament deputies elected in Thessaloniki, the prime minister referred to the positive growth of the economic indexes and said that there will be a new improvement, while he emphasized the development of programs for the creation of new job positions.

    Referring to Thessaloniki he said that the discussions made on the alleged abandonment of the city by the government have nothing to do with reality and stressed that the government's intention is to make Thessaloniki a center of great potential for the Balkans and south-eastern Europe.

    [03] MR. SIMITIS VISITED THE PAPANIKOLAOU HOSPITAL AND THE UNDER CONTRUCTION MUSIC HALL BUILDING

    The national health system has proven itself and contributes to the upgrading of the health services offered to the people, stressed prime minister Kostas Simitis during the inauguration of the hematology department in the Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki which will operate with the donations of the association of cancer suffering children "Storgi". The prime minister stated that the national health system will be improved to include the family doctor institution.

    Speaking in the inauguration ceremony, minister of health Lambros Papadimas underlined that Thessaloniki is the most important health center for the Balkans and south-eastern Europe.

    Later at noon, the prime minister went to the under construction Music Hall building and was informed by culture minister Evangelos Venizelos on the progress made in the construction work. Mr. Venizelos said that the time schedule for the completion of the project is followed closely and the Music Hall of Thessaloniki will open its doors to the public on the new year's day of 2000.

    The prime minister attended a working lunch with government ministers, parliament deputies and representatives of the local authorities.

    [04] THE DOCTORS CONTINUE THEIR MOBILIZATIONS

    The hospital doctors continue their mobilizations. In Thessaloniki, their strike action will last for a week.

    In Athens and Pireaus, the hospital doctors will hold 6-hour work stoppages today, tomorrow and on Wednesday.

    Meanwhile, the doctors of the Social Security Organization, IKA, are on a 5-day strike across the country demanding the permanent appointment of all the temporarily hired IKA doctors, they also want back certain of their benefits that had been cut but they continue to be received by the doctors who belong to the National Health System.

    [05] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS IS ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO VIENNA

    Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos is on a three-day visit to Vienna where he will meet with his Austrian counterpart Thomas Klestil, chancellor Victor Klima, the parliament president and the mayor of Vienna. Mr. Stephanopoulos will also visit the city of Gratz for contacts with members of the Greek community.

    President Stephanopoulos will visit the Greek Christian Orthodox church in Vienna and the National Library of Austria, while tomorrow he will deliver a message speaking in the country's Federal Chamber, where the Greek-Austrian economic forum will be held.

    [06] ARCHBISHOP SPIRIDON OF AMERICA: CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ARE ANNOYED BY THE CHANGES AND RESORT TO MUD-SLINGING

    Archbishop Spiridon of America, in a press conference he gave in Athens today just before his departure for the United States, stated that he is satisfied with the results of his first formal visit to Greece that was made at the invitation of the Greek government.

    Responding to a question concerning those who want the independence of the Church of America, the Archbishop stated that the activities of certain circles do not have any effect on the Greek-American Orthodox communities and therefore, a movement backed by an insignificant minority that would have had as a consequence the Church of America to become autocephalous can not materialize.

    Archbishop Spiridon referred to the use of the English language in the Christian Orthodox churches of America since 1970, stressing that the faithful should pray and hear the Holy Liturgy in the language they understand. On the problem of the mixed marriages, he said that 95% of the marriages in America are mixed and this fact creates a big problem.

    Speaking about the internal problems of the Church of America and the reactions to his policy, he said that certain situations are blown out of proportion and reality is being altered, adding that it is natural for certain individuals to be annoyed by the changes and resort to mud-slinging. He said that those individuals act alone and have no influence on the Church of America. The Archbishop also said that they have access to certain mass media but they can not be characterized as a problem of the Church, adding that he will do his duty and resolve the problems peacefully and through dialogue.

    Archbishop Spiridon of America made a special reference to Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece thanking him for the warm welcome and stressed that it was agreed that relations should become even closer at many different levels as there are common problems and goals.

    [07] BURNS: ARCHBISHOP SPIRIDON PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE UNITY OF THE GREEK-AMERICANS

    US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns received Archbishop Spiridon of America yesterday saying characteristically that he respects deeply the Archbishop of America and the role he plays for years now in maintaining the unity of the Greek-Americans as well as the unity of the Church by creating a bridge between the two great countries, Greece and the United States.

    The US diplomat characterized as important the Archbishop's mission and stressed that he will offer him his support.

    Responding Archbishop Spiridon referred among others to the contribution of the Greek-American community to the development of the American society, adding that its members have made significant achievements in every sector, political, business, scientific and academic.

    [08] THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE SO- CALLED "MILLENNIUM BUG"

    In a period when public agencies, organizations, universities and private businesses around the world spend great sums of money to deal with the computer virus, called the "millennium bug", Macedonian Press Agency is among the few institutions that will face no problem as it took all the necessary precautions.

    The Macedonian Press Agency uses a four-digit date presentation as the data base on which the MPA computer system is based is the Oracle 7.0 which can accept a four-digit date.

    [Â] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [09] THE AUSTRIAN PRESIDENT SUGGESTS POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

    Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos met with his Austrian counterpart Thomas Klestil within the framework of his three-day formal visit to the country.

    In a join press conference they gave after their meeting, they pointed out that relations between Greece and Austria are excellent. The Austrian president responding to a question by MPA regarding the Greek-Turkish relations and Austria's intentions, he stated that he suggests the holding of a political dialogue between Greece and Turkey for the solution of the problems.

    On Cyprus, the Austrian president stated that when his country had the EU presidency it backed the opening of negotiations with Cyprus in order to become an EU member, adding that those negotiations are now underway and they must lead to a political solution of the Cyprus problem.

    [10] RUSSIA IS IN FAVOR OF A POLITICAL SOLUTION FOR KOSOVO

    Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov stated from Rambouillet, France that the international community must ask for Belgrade's approval before sending a NATO peace-keeping force to Kosovo.

    Mr. Ivanov stated that the issue must be discussed with the leadership of Belgrade and added that Russia and the Contact group want the political solution of the problem and not the use of military force.

    [11] PAPANDREOU: A SOLUTION IN KOSOVO SHOULD BE FOUND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF YUGOSLAVIA

    The informal EU foreign ministers meeting that was held in Paris during the weekend to examine the course of the peace negotiations on Kosovo, confirmed the basic principles for the solution of the problem in the Serb province which are backed by Greece.

    Deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, who represented Greece in the meeting, stated that it backed a solution within the framework of Yugoslavia with a great degree of autonomy but at the same it did not back any change in the existing borders.

    Mr. Papandreou said that in case of a peace agreement, Greece will support the lifting of the sanctions against Serbia and the end of the embargo which is still in effect while it will back Yugoslavia's participation in the international organizations.

    He stressed that the international community rejects the proposal made by the Kosovo ethnic Albanians for a referendum which would mean a 99% secession after 3 years and added that the international attention is on the disarmament of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the Serbs and on the monitoring of the cease fire by a peace-keeping force.


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