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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-24

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, June 24, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] VISITING YOUNG SERBS EMBRACED BY EDITORS' ASSOCIATION
  • [02] FM BRIEFS POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
  • [03] UKRANIAN COMPANIES BATTLE OVER CRASH VICTIMS COMPENSATION
  • [04] O.A. STAFF OPPOSED TO MANAGEMENT CONTROL BY SPEEDWING
  • [05] PROSECUTOR ORDERS PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IN FRUIT JUICES
  • [06] CONCERN FOR THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA
  • [07] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL RESPOND TO MR. CEM'S LETTER MOST LIKELY TOMORROW
  • [08] 450 SOLDIERS FROM THE US AND FRANCE LEFT FOR KOSOVO VIA THESSALONIKI
  • [09] GREECE WANTS A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM
  • [10] PAPANDREOU MET WITH KONSTANTOPOULOS AND PAPARIGA
  • [11] THE FEDERATION OF CIVIL AVIATION UNIONS MEETS ON THE ISSUE OF THE NEW OA MANAGEMENT
  • [12] LACK OF CONTROL ON THE PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM EU COUNTRIES
  • [13] THE 4TH BALKAN MEETING FOR THE SUPPORT OF TORTURE VICTIMS WILL BE HELD IN ATHENS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] EX FM PANGALOS: INT/L LAW SHOULD BE APPLIED IN CYPRUS, TOO
  • [15] SELF-CALCULATION TAX SYSTEM CONSIDERED FOR GREECE
  • [16] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SOLANA TRAVELS TO KOSOVO TODAY
  • [17] THE YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT MEETS TO LIFT THE STATE OF WAR

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] VISITING YOUNG SERBS EMBRACED BY EDITORS' ASSOCIATION

    A group of 35 young Serbs, presently on an organized visit to Thessaloniki hosted by the Kalamaria Municipality and at the initiative of the Macedonian Press Agency, were warmly greeted by the Macedonia-Thrace Editors Association (ESIEM-TH) this morning.

    Upon their arrival at the Association's premises, every one of the children, whose ages range from 5-20, was given a gift by the Association's chairman Dimitris Gousides.

    "You should know that we sympathize with you and for all your country is going through," Mr. Gousides told his young guests, stressing that "this is your place, too, for anything you may need in the future.

    "I believe you are in good hands with the hospitality provided by the Kalamaria Municipality and the Macedonian Press Agency," he added.

    In turn, the Association's secretary-general Moschos Voitsides welcomed the youngsters by expressing his sorrow that their visit is taking place on the aftermath of war.

    "The Editors' Association is your home. Stay in touch with us, and we will help you with anything you need, " he said.

    The first to be given her present was five-year-old Vanya who kept staring at her enormous doll, perplexed with the sudden fortune.

    Fourteen-year-old Anna Radovanovic was happy to be in Greece, a wonderful gift of its own, she said.

    Yelena Vukovic, 19, was more to the point. The hospitality provided by Greece was a grant gesture of friendship, but no surprise.

    "I expected this gift because Greeks are true friends and Greece is a friendly country that looks after us," she said.

    After their visit to the Editors' Association, the Serbian guests traveled to the archaeological museum at Dion, Pieria and met with local authorities of the Litochoro Municipality.

    [02] FM BRIEFS POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES

    Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou will brief the secretary general of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) Aleka Papariga and the leader of the Coalition of the Left Wing and Progress (Synaspismos) Nikos Konstantopoulos on the government's foreign policy, in successive meetings.

    After meeting with the leader of the Democratic and Social Movement (DIKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas yesterday, Mr. Papandreou said that the crisis continued in Yugoslavia despite the end of the bombings and was now concerning the reconstruction of the region, reconciliation and humanitarian aid

    In turn, Mr. Tsovolas described the meeting as constructive and reiterated his request for a political leaders meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

    [03] UKRANIAN COMPANIES BATTLE OVER CRASH VICTIMS COMPENSATION

    Ukrainian airline Aerosweet, whose Yakovlev-42 plane conducting the Kiev-Thessaloniki route crashed in the mountains of northern Greece in December of 1997 killing all 83 passengers and crew members, has filed for interim measures against "Lvov Airlines" which owned the ill-fated aircraft.

    According to the petition, Aerosweet is seeking contribution for compensation for damages from Lvov claiming it as the actual carrier of the flight.

    Moreover, Aerosweet is also seeking contribution from Greece's Social Insurance Foundation (IKA), claiming that certain of the crash victims were employed in Greece and their survivors are now entitled to compensation.

    [04] O.A. STAFF OPPOSED TO MANAGEMENT CONTROL BY SPEEDWING

    Olympic Airways staff are opposed to the government's plans to hand over the beleaguered airline's management to Speedwing, a transport subsidiary of British Airways.

    The civil aviation unions federation is to conduct an emergency meeting on this matter today, while mobilizations are already in the works.

    Transportation Minister Tasos Mantelis said that that the management take over represents O.A.'s last chance. He further assured the staff that the agreement with Speedwing safeguards labor and pension rights.

    Speedwing would manage Olympic with a team of 12 people headed by Rod Lintz. Within five weeks, the team is to have drawn up a list of the national airline's problems and then implement a stabilization program announced by the government.

    [05] PROSECUTOR ORDERS PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IN FRUIT JUICES

    The Athens prosecutor has ordered a preliminary investigation in the country's fruit juice market, in order to ascertain whether or not the juices labeled as Greece-made are in reality imported from abroad.

    Specifically, the prosecutor will look into press reports which claim that these juices are imported frozen and in turn are liquefied and sold as fresh.

    [06] CONCERN FOR THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA

    The Greek government is concerned over the situation in Albania. According to Greek foreign ministry sources, there is an atmosphere of insecurity among the members of the ethnic Greek minority in south Albania because of the wave of abductions and blackmails committed recently by Albanian gangs.

    The Greek foreign ministry has already sent a memorandum to the Albanian government requesting the adoption of measures to counter the phenomenon and protect the Greek minority. Also, it has asked for the assistance of the EU member states and called for the increase of the economic aid to Albania that will be used for the development of infrastructure projects in regions populated by the Greek minority.

    [07] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL RESPOND TO MR. CEM'S LETTER MOST LIKELY TOMORROW

    Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will send a reply letter to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem most likely tomorrow with which he will respond to Mr. Cem's request for cooperation between the two countries in countering terrorism.

    According to reliable information, Mr. Papandreou will give a negative response to such a bilateral cooperation, pointing out that Greece is open for discussions on all issues that have to do with countering terrorism both within the framework of the Inter- Balkan cooperation and at a tripartite level involving Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.

    The Greek foreign minister will also point out that there are other sectors as well where there could be cooperation such as, the trade and economic sectors, while he will reiterate the firm Greek position that relations between the two countries can be developed based on the respect of the principles of international resolutions and organizations.

    Meanwhile, on the issue of the summer moratorium in the Aegean (June 15 to August 15) adopted within the framework of the confidence-building-measures, Turkey has not approved this time the issuing of such a statement by NATO secretary-general. However, it pledged that it will respect the agreement existing between the two countries concerning this two-month period.

    [08] 450 SOLDIERS FROM THE US AND FRANCE LEFT FOR KOSOVO VIA THESSALONIKI

    About 450 soldiers from the United States and France left this afternoon for Kosovo via Thessaloniki to undertake the repair of roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructures.

    About 50 US soldiers, who arrived last night on board three military aircraft which also carried a small number of military vehicles, are currently at the military camp in Sindos, near Thessaloniki.

    Meanwhile, two NATO ships, a US and a French, sailed into the port of Thessaloniki at noon today and unloaded about 150 military vehicles and tens of containers with supplies. On board the French ship were also 400 soldiers.

    They will undertake to build military installations in Kosovo where the French military force has been deployed and will take part in the repair works at the airport of Pristina. They will also assist in the construction of roads, public buildings and other infrastructures that were destroyed by the NATO bombings and the hostilities.

    [09] GREECE WANTS A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM

    The Greek government backs a political solution to the Kurdish problem, stated Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou after the meeting he had in Athens with Coalition of the Left president Nikos Konstantopoulos.

    Mr. Papandreou stated that the Greek position is the same with that of the European Union namely, that there has to be a political solution and added that Turkey is offered a chance to solve the Kurdish problem in a democratic way. He also stated that he does not know what will be the reactions outside Turkey in case Ocalan is sentenced to death.

    On the meeting with Mr. Konstantopoulos, he pointed out that there has to be a close cooperation with the political parties and that he briefed the Coalition of the Left leader on the developments in Kosovo and the Balkans in general, the Greek- Turkish relations and the reply letter he will send to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem.

    [10] PAPANDREOU MET WITH KONSTANTOPOULOS AND PAPARIGA

    Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met with Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos and Communist Party general secretary Ms. Aleka Papariga within the framework of the briefing of the political party leaders on foreign policy issues. Their discussion focused on the situation in the Balkans, the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem.

    Regarding the American interest expressed on the solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece has not received yet an official US plan and therefore, no comments can be made on the issue.

    Mr. Konstantopoulos suggested the establishment of a foreign policy council and added that the political party leaders should hold regular informal meetings.

    [11] THE FEDERATION OF CIVIL AVIATION UNIONS MEETS ON THE ISSUE OF THE NEW OA MANAGEMENT

    The Federation of Civil Aviation Unions is holding an urgent meeting today to decide on its future reaction to the government decision to give the management of Olympic Airways to the British Airways subsidiary, Speedwing. Already, federation president Thanasis Savidis has announced that there will be mobilizations.

    Minister of transportation Tasos Mandelis defended the government decision characterizing it as the best way out for Olympic Airways. He also stated that this is a challenge to which the airline must respond positively and take advantage of its capabilities. Referring to the procedure followed in order to give the management to the British Speedwing, Mr. Mandelis stated that it was totally transparent.

    [12] LACK OF CONTROL ON THE PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM EU COUNTRIES

    President of the customs officers federation Mr. Dimitris Spanomarkidis stated that for the moment no dioxin contaminated foods have been found in the 20 containers from Belgium that had been confiscated recently in Athens.

    In the meantime, the Greek authorities have returned 3 containers with food products to Belgium as their importers did not allow them to be inspected.

    Mr. Spanomarkidis stated that the goods imported from EU countries can not be fully inspected as the customs authorities in Greece have a jurisdiction to make inspections in the free zones of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki but they have no authority in the ports of Patras, Igumenitsa and elsewhere.

    [13] THE 4TH BALKAN MEETING FOR THE SUPPORT OF TORTURE VICTIMS WILL BE HELD IN ATHENS

    Organizations from 6 Balkan countries will take part in the 4th meeting of the Balkan Network that will be held in Athens on June 25 and 26. The representatives of 10 non governmental organizations from Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Albania, Croatia and Bosnia will discuss ways in which psychological and social support can be offered to the victims of torture.

    The United Nations recognize June 26 as the World Day in memory of all those who died in horrible torture sacrificing their lives for their beliefs.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [14] EX FM PANGALOS: INT/L LAW SHOULD BE APPLIED IN CYPRUS, TOO

    Greece's former Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos hopes that the G8's communique on Cyprus, coupled with US President Bill Clinton's opposition to ethnic cleansing, will form the framework for negotiations that can promote a mutually-acceptable solution to the Cyprus issue.

    Speaking upon his arrival to Cyprus, Mr. Pangalos said that the same standards in regards to human rights protection need to be applied all over the world.

    He stated that he hopes, after Kosovo, Europe will "get back on track and move towards progressive enlargement to encompass an area which is politically and culturally European ", adding that Cyprus undoubtedly belongs to this area.

    Regarding the Kosovo issue, Mr. Pangalos said that Greeks are sensitive to the protection of human rights and have known all along that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic committed scores of crimes.

    "However, we demand and have said it many times that there should be no double standards," Mr. Pangalos said.

    Invited to comment on Mr. Clinton's statement that NATO will intervene in trouble spots around the globe, he said "the issue of human rights is no longer an internal matter for each country and no powerful tyrant can impose his own law and order."

    The international community, he said, will come "to impose its own code of conduct, widely accepted by everybody and surely this must apply to Cyprus and elsewhere."

    When asked if he thought Mr. Milosevic will soon be replaced, Mr. Pangalos said this was a matter for the people of Yugoslavia to decide.

    "He has done a great deal of damage to his country. If I were a Yugoslav, I would not vote for him," he stated.

    [15] SELF-CALCULATION TAX SYSTEM CONSIDERED FOR GREECE

    Greeks may soon be called on to calculate their own income taxes, according to Deputy Finance Minister George Drys, who is presently on a four-day visit to Britain where he is reviewing the country's tax system.

    According to reports, Mr. Drys wants to be informed on the operation of the British tax settlement system which enables taxpayers to calculate their taxes by themselves and pay the first installment simultaneously with the submission of tax statements.

    The incorporation and adjustment of the said system to Greece will contribute to the simplification of the tax system, while also bearing other significant advantages, Mr. Drys stated.

    Mr. Drys also ruled out the possibility of new taxes being imposed next year.

    "There will not be one single new tax measure which would burned citizens or firms," he stated categorically.

    [16] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SOLANA TRAVELS TO KOSOVO TODAY

    NATO's Secretary-General Javier Solana and Gen. Wesley Clark, the supreme NATO commander in Europe, are to travel to Kosovo today in order to assess the size of the peacekeeping force assigned to the region.

    The two officials will meet with the force's commander, British Lt. Gen. Mike Jackson as well as will Albanian and Serb leaders.

    Mr. Solana is expected to stress that the force's mission is to protect all of Kosovo's residents, while he will also appeal to the Serbs that they remain in the region.

    [17] THE YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT MEETS TO LIFT THE STATE OF WAR

    The Yugoslav parliament meets today to decide on the lifting of the state of war that was imposed after the NATO air strikes. This would mean the restoration of the biggest part of the freedom of the press. However, most of the restrictive measures concerning the activities of opposition political parties will continue to be in effect.

    Meanwhile, French soldiers of the peacekeeping force arrested three Serb civilians after an exchange of gunfire in the town of Mitrovica in Kosovo.


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