Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-07-20
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 20, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HRISOHOIDIS TO MEET ALBANIAN COUNTERPART
[02] IN THESSALONIKI THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE BALKAN
RECONSTRUCTION
[03] MR. KAKLAMANIS WILL INAUGURATE THE INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL
CENTER DEDICATED TO ALEXANDER THE GREAT
[04] MEETING UNDER THE PRIME MINISTER ON EDUCATION
[05] THE WORK PERMIT ISSUING PROCEDURE FOR IMMIGRANTS IS BEING
SPED UP
[06] THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS WILL
START OPERATING IN THESSALONIKI BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER
[07] THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY APPEARS INDIFFERENT TOWARD THE
CYPRUS PROBLEM
[08] THE GREEK PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER MET WITH HIS ALBANIAN
COUNTERPART
[09] VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN STUDENTS AND POLICE IN THE CENTER OF
ATHENS
[10] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ISSUE OF THE GREEK STUDENTS IN
YUGOSLAV UNIVERSITIES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] A BLACK CELEBRATION FOR CYPRUS
[12] US PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VISIT SARAJEVO
[13] PAPANDREOU COMMENTED ON THE SEAT OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS
[14] TURKISH INMATES HAVE TAKEN HOSTAGE 8 PRISON GUARDS
[15] BRITISH JOURNALISTS REFER TO THE TRAGEDY OF CYPRUS AS THE
KISSINGER CONSPIRACY
[16] DRASKOVIC ACCUSES KFOR OF COVERING UP THE ETHNIC CLEANSING
AGAINST THE SERBS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HRISOHOIDIS TO MEET ALBANIAN COUNTERPART
Public Order Minister, Michalis Hrisohoidis is meeting today
with his Albanian counterpart in Ioannina. The meeting will focus
in taking up increased measures in the borders by the albanian
side in order to prevent a new wave of illegal migration towards
our country.
[02] IN THESSALONIKI THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE BALKAN
RECONSTRUCTION
Thessaloniki will host the headquarters of the Balkan
Reconstruction Organisation. This was decided yesterday by the 15
Foreign Ministers of the European Union. The final decision names
Thessaloniki as the "rightful headquarters" of the organisation,
which means, according to Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos
Papandreou, that all the great decisions regarding the function
and the reconstruction process will be taken by the administrative
board which will convene in Thessaloniki
[03] MR. KAKLAMANIS WILL INAUGURATE THE INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL
CENTER DEDICATED TO ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis characterized
the cultural center built in Litochoro at the initiative of the
Pan-Macedonian Association of America-Canada as "the best vehicle
for the promotion of the historical truth on Macedonia".
A newly constructed building will house the international
cultural center that will promote the achievements of Alexander
the Great. The inauguration will be made by Greek parliament
speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis and it will take place on Friday,
July 23.
In a press conference, parliament deputy and the institute's
executive secretariat chairman Dimitris Pantermalis as well as,
the New York based "Alexander the Great Institute" president
Panagiotis Mitoulis stressed that the creation of the cultural
center was decided in recognition to the magnificent work of the
great Macedon army commander. They also stressed that the
international conferences that will be held there will contribute
to the continuous search for the scientific truth concerning the
achievements of Alexander the Great.
[04] MEETING UNDER THE PRIME MINISTER ON EDUCATION
A meeting on education is being held today under prime
minister Kostas Simitis with the participation of minister of
education Gerasimos Arsenis, undersecretary of education Yiannis
Anthopoulos and governing socialist party of PASOK central
committee secretary Kostas Skandalidis.
In a press conference he gave earlier today, Mr. Arsenis
stressed that the measures of the education reform need good
implementation and ruled out the likelihood of immediate changes.
On the high school test results, he stressed that it is too early
to reach any conclusions as the grading of the tests has not been
completed yet. Mr. Arsenis speculated that the results will be at
the same levels with last year.
[05] THE WORK PERMIT ISSUING PROCEDURE FOR IMMIGRANTS IS BEING
SPED UP
An amendment that is being expected to be submitted in
parliament today by the ministry of labor will accelerate the
procedures for the issuing of green card or work permit for
immigrants in Greece.
This is regarded as a first measure aimed at limiting the
problems caused by illegal immigration in the country.
[06] THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS WILL
START OPERATING IN THESSALONIKI BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER
The headquarters of the Organization for the Reconstruction
of the Balkans will start operating in Thessaloniki by the end of
September or in early October after the decision reached by the
foreign ministers of the European Union. The above was announced
by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas who spoke of a great
decision with obvious political gains that will promote the role
of Thessaloniki in the Balkans.
Responding to a relevant question by reporters, Mr. Reppas
stated that it is logical to establish a center of operations in
the regional capital of Kosovo, Pristina as the region was mostly
hit during the crisis.
Mr. Reppas also referred to the issue of the Greek-Turkish
dialogue and stated that its first phase will be held in Ankara on
July 26 with the participation of Greek and Turkish diplomats. In
the meeting will be discussed issues of economic cooperation and
trade and tourist exchanges. The second meeting will be held in
Athens.
[07] THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY APPEARS INDIFFERENT TOWARD THE
CYPRUS PROBLEM
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
international community shows indifference toward the Cyprus
problem and stressed that there is a pressing need to find a
solution within the framework of international law.
Mr. Reppas pointed out that Turkey can not pretend to be a
modern state when it defends the invasion of Cyprus and undermines
every effort made for the solution of the problem.
[08] THE GREEK PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER MET WITH HIS ALBANIAN
COUNTERPART
Greek minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis met in
the north-western Greek city of Ioannina today with his Albanian
counterpart.
The main issue of discussion was the adoption of tougher
measures along the borders by the Albanian side in an effort to
stop the wave of illegal immigration to Greece.
Both ministers stated that they are determined to uproot
organized crime and decided that their ministries should be in
constant communication for the exchange of information, while
Greek and Albanian police officers from the border regions in both
countries will meet on a weekly basis.
Mr. Chrisochoidis stated that the deportations of illegal
immigrants aim only at those Albanians who are entering Greece
illegally and do not intend to put the label of a criminal on each
economic immigrant.
From his side, the Albanian minister of public order
reiterated the continuous interest of his country in the Greek
minority in Albania.
[09] VIOLENT CLASHES BETWEEN STUDENTS AND POLICE IN THE CENTER OF
ATHENS
Violent clashes between police forces and Greek students
studying in Yugoslav universities erupted in the center of Athens
at noon today. The incidents began when the students and their
parents attempted to break the police line and enter the prime
minister's office building. The police used tear-gas and two
students were taken to hospitals with respiratory problems.
The students want to be allowed to register to Greek
universities as a result of the situation that has been created in
Yugoslavia because of the NATO bombings. According to the
students, the Yugoslav universities have given them a deadline
until today in order to decide if they will continue their studies
in the country.
The students maintain that they can not go back to Yugoslavia
because the environment is polluted by the bombings, while the
political situation in the country is tense.
[10] MR. REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE ISSUE OF THE GREEK STUDENTS IN
YUGOSLAV UNIVERSITIES
The position of the Greek government that the Greek students
studying in Yugoslav universities can not transfer to Greek
universities was reiterated at noon today by government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas. The minister of press and mass media also stated
that there will be a special settlement only for the students who
were studying in the university of the regional capital of Kosovo,
Pristina.
Mr. Reppas stated that the Greek students in Yugoslavia are
about 1.500 and 1.200 of them are in medical and dentistry
schools. Therefore, the transfer of students from Yugoslavia would
downgrade the level of studies in the Greek universities given the
fact that the students admitted in Greek medical schools each year
are about 1.000.
The Greek government spokesman pointed out that the students
should accept to return to their universities and complete their
studies.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] A BLACK CELEBRATION FOR CYPRUS
This is a day for black celebration in Cyprus. Throughout the
free areas of the island, ceremonies in the memory of the 25th
anniversary of the Attila's invasion, reach their peak. Turkish
premier Bulent Ecevit arrives today in the self-proclaimed Turkish
Republic or Northern Cyprus. The "Attila premier" stated yesterday
that the Cyprus issue was solved back in 1974. On his part, Greek
Defense Minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, declared that whoever dares
to threaten Cyprus will counter Greece.
[12] US PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL VISIT SARAJEVO
US president Bill Clinton announced that he will attend the
international summit meeting that will be held in Sarajevo on July
30 which will have as a main goal the drawing up of the Balkan
Stability Pact.
According to a statement issued by the White House, the
leaders who will gather in Sarajevo will examine ways to safeguard
peace, stability and democracy and promote economic reforms
throughout south-eastern Europe. The summit meeting will be
attended by the leaders of about 30 states and heads of
international organizations.
[13] PAPANDREOU COMMENTED ON THE SEAT OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKANS
Thessaloniki will be the seat of the basic services provided
by the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Balkans after a
proposal made by the EU Commission and the Finnish EU presidency
which was adopted by the EU foreign ministers yesterday.
In the city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece will be based
the economic, administrative and legal services of the new
organization, while the reconstruction work will be taken over by
the Pristina based operational center.
In statements he made to the BBC, Greek foreign minister
Giorgos Papandreou said that the decision is of historical
importance for Greece as Thessaloniki will become the center of
important economic activities.
Mr. Papandreou also stated that Greece is now called to put
in practice its Balkan policy, adding that it is a great challenge
for the country.
[14] TURKISH INMATES HAVE TAKEN HOSTAGE 8 PRISON GUARDS
A group of inmates in an Ankara prison have taken hostage 8
prison guards, according to a news report by the Turkish news
agency Anadolu.
The reasons that led the inmates to this action are not known
yet and according to information, everything started in a prison
wing where members of the extreme-left Revolutionary Popular
Liberation Front are being held. The organization is a Marxist
group which has been outlawed by the Turkish state.
According to the Turkish mass media, the inmates broke the
windows in their wing and blocked the doors using their beds.
[15] BRITISH JOURNALISTS REFER TO THE TRAGEDY OF CYPRUS AS THE
KISSINGER CONSPIRACY
Two British journalists attribute the tragedy in Cyprus to a
conspiracy by Henry Kissinger with the colonels in Athens and the
then Turkish political and military leadership.
In their book under the title "The Cyprus Conspiracy" British
journalists B. O'Malley of the London Times and I. Graig of the
Manchester Evening News maintain that apart from the internal
tensions between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, the
then US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger facilitated the
developments.
In the book it is stressed that Kissinger alarmed by the
approach reported between Archbishop Makarios and Russia,
encouraged the military junta in Athens to plan a coup for the
overthrow of Makarios, while at the same time, he gave this
information to the Turkish leadership offering assurances that it
will not suffer US sanctions.
[16] DRASKOVIC ACCUSES KFOR OF COVERING UP THE ETHNIC CLEANSING
AGAINST THE SERBS
Serb opposition leader Vuk Draskovic accused the peacekeeping
force in Kosovo, the KFOR, of covering up the ethnic cleansing and
the genocide committed in the region against the Serbs.
The leader of the Serb Renewal Movement stated to reporters
that KFOR in a way operates like an umbrella covering up the
biggest crime which is the ethnic cleansing and the genocide
against the Serbs in Kosovo.
At the same time, he stressed that the UN resolutions call on
the peacekeeping force to protect the borders of Albania with
Kosovo and stop the ethnic Albanian rebels from entering the Serb
province. Draskovic stated characteristically that the Albanian
army and police forces together with those who are doing the
looting enter Serbia without problems where they launch a campaign
of killings and destruction targeting the Serbs and their
property.
He also stressed that the KFOR forces have an obligation to
offer guarantees for the personal, material and ethnic safety in
Kosovo but it appears that they support directly or indirectly the
plan for the creation of a Greater Albania or the autonomy of the
ethnic Albanians.
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