Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-07-19
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 19, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE PUBLIC WORKS WERE AT THE CENTER OF THE GOVERNMENTAL
MEETING
[02] NEW RECORD HIGH IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[03] OVER 19.000 NATO SOLDIERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO KOSOVO VIA
THESSALONIKI
[04] MORE RUSSIAN SHIPS ARE EXPECTED TO SAIL INTO THE PORT OF
THESSALONIKI
[05] PAPANDREOU: THE ATHENS-ANKARA DIALOGUE IS A TEST
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE IS ON A VISIT TO GEORGIA
[07] THE EU WILL REACH A DECISION ON THESSALONIKI TODAY
[08] DJINDJIC HAS BEEN CALLED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR ON
JULY 22
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] THE PUBLIC WORKS WERE AT THE CENTER OF THE GOVERNMENTAL
MEETING
The public works were at the center of the governmental
meeting that was held under prime minister Kostas Simitis.
In the meeting were discussed projects that will be
materialized by local communities, municipalities and prefectures
across the country. It was held with the participation of
ministers of interior Vaso Papandreou, national economy and
finance Yiannos Papantoniou and public works, environment and land
planning Kostas Laliotis, while also present were undersecretaries
of national economy Christos Pachtas and public works, environment
and land planning Christos Verelis.
[02] NEW RECORD HIGH IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
A new record high was recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange
today in the first session of the week.
Specifically, the general index following an upward trend
from the beginning of the session recorded gains of 2.68% and
closed at 4.528,38. The value of transactions reached 171 billion
drachmas.
[03] OVER 19.000 NATO SOLDIERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO KOSOVO VIA
THESSALONIKI
Over 19.000 NATO soldiers were transported to Kosovo via
Thessaloniki since February 10.
According to data provided by NATO, 327 transport planes
carried 14.384 soldiers, 253 vehicles and 160 containers, while
106 ships transported 4.238 soldiers, 214 armored tanks, 10.727
vehicles and 7.100 containers. Also, 876 soldiers, 207 vehicles
and 120 containers with military supplies were transported to
Kosovo by train.
In total, 19.498 soldiers, 214 armored tanks, 11.187 vehicles
and 7.380 containers passed through Thessaloniki on their way to
Kosovo to become part of the KFOR peacekeeping force.
[04] MORE RUSSIAN SHIPS ARE EXPECTED TO SAIL INTO THE PORT OF
THESSALONIKI
Other four Russian ships carrying soldiers who will be
deployed in Kosovo are expected to sail into the port of
Thessaloniki on July 22, according to the Russian news agency Itar-
Tass.
Based on news reports, Russian army soldiers as well as
military equipment and supplies which arrived by train to the port
of Tuapce in southern Russia, already prepare to board Black Sea
fleet warships.
[05] PAPANDREOU: THE ATHENS-ANKARA DIALOGUE IS A TEST
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in an interview
with the Athens newspaper "Eleftherotypia" characterized the
Athens-Ankara dialogue that will be held at a specialists level as
a test which will determine if the major Greek-Turkish issues can
be discussed.
However, Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit insists in his
intransigent stance on the Cyprus issue. Just a few days before
the 25th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and in the
eve of the Greek-Turkish dialogue, Mr. Ecevit appeared on the
Turkish state television and in an interview he called on the
international community to recognize the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-
state.
On the issue of terrorism and the US views on the matter,
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou stressed that there were
no pressures exerted on behalf of the United States, adding
however, that there was a display of justified interest and
cooperation.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[06] THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE IS ON A VISIT TO GEORGIA
Greek undersecretary of defense Dimitris Apostolakis is on a
visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia where he already
had a meeting with Georgian minister of defense David Tevzadze and
chief of the armed forces general staff John Pirtakalaishvili.
The Greek undersecretary of defense announced that Greece
will offer another Greek Navy patrol boat to Georgia to be used
for research and rescue purposes, while he also announced the
decision to increase the number of Georgian officers who will be
trained in Greek armed forces schools.
Mr. Apostolakis also stated that Greece will encourage and
assist Georgia in its efforts to become a member of international
organizations.
[07] THE EU WILL REACH A DECISION ON THESSALONIKI TODAY
The European Union foreign ministers, who are meeting in
Brussels, are expected to reach a decision today based on which
Thessaloniki will be the headquarters of the Organization for the
Reconstruction of the Balkans main services.
The European Commission and the Finnish EU presidency reached
a compromise proposal according to which, the economic,
administrative and legal services of the Organization will be
based in Thessaloniki.
Deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis will attempt
today to widen as much as possible the responsibilities of the
services that will be based in Thessaloniki.
[08] DJINDJIC HAS BEEN CALLED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR ON
JULY 22
The Serb military authorities will question Serb opposition
leader Zoran Djindjic on July 22, who is accused of abandoning
Belgrade during the NATO air strikes, stated his attorney Sinisa
Nikolic.
Mr. Nikolic stated that Belgrade's authorities will question
his client, president of the Serb Democratic Party, because he did
not serve in the military when he was asked to do so and because
he abandoned the country in a time of war. Djindjic's attorney
stated that the procedure could be canceled because his client is
scheduled to visit Germany this week. Mr. Djindjic had stated last
week that he will appear in court even though he regards the
accusations made against him as "cynical".
Mr. Nikolic stated that his client could face a jail term of
5 to 20 years and added that the leadership in Belgrade has
already expressed its discontent over his stance namely, to seek
refuge in a city in Montenegro as soon as the NATO bombings had
started.
It should be noted that the military court in the town of
Uzice has sentence to 2 years in prison a high ranking Serb
Democratic Party official who was tried in absentia under the
accusation that he ignored the wartime laws and abandoned Serbia.
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