Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-09-24
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 24, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ARRIVES IN THESSALONIKI
TODAY
[03] ASE GENERAL INDEX STILL ON A DECLINE TODAY
[04] EU COMMISSIONERS TO VISIT ATHENS FOR REVIEW OF QUAKE
DAMAGE
[05] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CONTINUES ITS DECLINE
[06] THE CABINET HELD A MEETING TODAY
[07] PAPANDREOU: THE US IS DETERMINED TO HAVE PROGRESS IN
THE CYPRUS ISSUE
[08] BSEC ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS: THE BALANCE OF THE WORLD
ENVIRONMENT IS IN DANGER
[09] THE PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AKKUYU NUCLEAR
PLANT COULD BE REVISED
[10] THE WIFE OF THE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER IS IN ATHENS
[11] VENIZELOS: SATISFACTION FOR THE FYROM PARLIAMENT
DECISION ON THE OKTA OIL REFINERIES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] HELLENIC PETROLEUM ACQUIRES CONTROL OF FYROM OIL
REFINERY
[13] PRESIDENT OF UGANDA TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE
[14] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ACCEPTS UN INVITATION FOR PEACE TALKS
[15] C OF E APPROVES 83 MILLION DOLLARS IN QUAKE AID FOR
GREECE
[16] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH US COUNTERPART
[17] GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[18] GREEK, ALBANIAN HOSPITALS ESTABLISH BILATERAL
COOPERATION
[19] GREEK FM TO MEET TURKISH COUNTERPART IN NEW YORK TODAY
[20] U.S. PRAISE NATO'S SOLANA FOR HIS "MASTERPIECE OF
DIPLOMACY"
[21] RUSSIAN PM: WE SHALL DESTROY TERRORISTS EVERYWHERE
[22] RUSSIAN PM DISMISSES RUMORS OF YELTSIN'S EARLY
RETIREMENT
[23] "THE GUARDIAN" CALLS ON THE BRITISH MUSEUM TO GIVE
ANSWERS ON THE ELGIN MARBLES
[24] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH US OFFICIALS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with
the United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in
New York yesterday, where the latter relayed the Clinton
Administration's resolve to assist in the Cyprus issue.
Addressing the UN Assembly, Mr. Papandreou announced
the establishment of a joint stand-by disaster response unit
(SDRU), comprising contingents drawn from governmental and
non-governmental agencies of both countries to reinforce the
UN capacity in this field.
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ARRIVES IN THESSALONIKI
TODAY
The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New
Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, will arrive in Thessaloniki
today for a three-day visit.
Mr. Karamanlis will arrive at Thessaloniki's Macedonia
Airport at 7 p.m. and his first stop will be at the Trade
Unions' Center.
Tomorrow morning, Mr. Karamanlis will visit the
Technical and Trade Chamber offices and later at noon he
will visit the Greek Sugar Industry plant at Plati in the
prefecture of Imathia, while in the evening he will speak in
a dinner that will be given in honor of the representatives
of the production sector at the "Ioannis Vellidis"
conference center.
On Sunday morning, he will visit Thessaloniki's Port
Organization and will give a press conference in the
afternoon at the "I. Vellidis" conference center.
[03] ASE GENERAL INDEX STILL ON A DECLINE TODAY
The Athens Stock Exchange general index ended 4.66
percent lower today at 5,547 points, mostly a result of the
mass liquidation in the banks sectors, with turnover having
reached 115 billion drachmas.
Sector indices ended as follows: Parallel Market -
7.41%, Construction -6.38%, Banking -3.71%.
According to press reports, the climate is just as
gloomy in other European markets.
[04] EU COMMISSIONERS TO VISIT ATHENS FOR REVIEW OF QUAKE
DAMAGE
Greece's EU Commissioner responsible for Employment and
Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou and her French colleague
Michel Barnier, responsible for Regional Policy, are to hold
meetings with Greek government officials in order to review
economic aid needed by Greece as a result of September 7's
devastating earthquake.
These meetings, expected to be held at the latest by
mid-October, will be preceded by a visit to Athens conducted
by EC experts who will meet with their Greek counterparts.
Although Commission President Romano Prodi has already
declared his intention to avail funds for Greece, diplomatic
sources in Brussels state that there are legal hurdles to be
overcome, i.e. a formula needs to be drawn that will allow
for the transfer of funds from the EU coffers for the
purposes of aid.
However, according to BBC, the major objection posed by
the Commission is that it does not wish to fund the building
of new homes for the earthquake victims but, rather, would
prefer that community funds be made available for restoring
damages to the infrastructures of the earthquake-stricken
regions of Attica.
[05] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CONTINUES ITS DECLINE
Today's session of the Athens Stock Exchange was
characterized by a strong downward trend. The main
characteristic was the massive liquidation which led all the
secondary indexes and the overwhelming majority of the
shares to a downward course. It should be noted that the
general index 45 minutes before the end of today's session
showed losses of 7.30% and dropped below 5.400.
Later, there was a slight correction and the losses
were limited to 5.41%, while the general index closed at
5.503,47. The volume of transactions reached 354.5 billion
drachmas.
[06] THE CABINET HELD A MEETING TODAY
The economic policy of the government, the developments
in the Athens Stock Exchange and next year's budget were the
main issues discussed in the cabinet meeting that was held
in Athens today.
Also, were presented figures on the cost of the
reconstruction of the regions hit by the earthquake, while
the course of privatization and the measures for the support
of the small and medium sized businesses were also
discussed.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis appeared satisfied with
the course of the economy, while he characterized as
nonsense the rumours speaking about early elections and
underlined that the present parliament can elect a president
of the republic.
Speaking in the cabinet meeting, minister of national
economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou suggested that the
issue of the stock market should not be discussed as it is
not a political issue. He said that the upward trend
characterizing the course of the Greek economy can not rule
out any fluctuations and predicted that the Athens Stock
Exchange will soon recover.
Mr. Papantoniou pointed out that Greece will submit its
application for its accession into the EMU in the first 10
days of March 2000 but the battle against inflation must
continue to the last minute. He also stated that inflation
will de-escalate further in the following months.
[07] PAPANDREOU: THE US IS DETERMINED TO HAVE PROGRESS IN
THE CYPRUS ISSUE
The US government appears determined to make efforts
for a new step in the Cyprus issue, stated Greek foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou after the meeting he had with
his US counterpart Madeleine Albright.
The Greek foreign minister underlined that this was the
impression he got from the meetings he had with Ms.
Albright, US ambassador to the UN Richard Halbrooke and US
assistant secretary of state Mark Grossman and also after
the short discussion he had with the US president himself.
Responding to questions by reporters on when the talks
will start, he stressed that this is left to the discretion
of UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and stated that the
timetable will be set after Turkish prime minister Bulent
Ecevit's visit to Washington.
On the Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Papandreou stated
that he discussed with his US counterpart the Euro-Turkish
rapprochement, adding that it was also stressed that there
is a need for the Greek-Turkish relations to be based on
international law and the treaties signed by the two
countries.
[08] BSEC ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS: THE BALANCE OF THE WORLD
ENVIRONMENT IS IN DANGER
The balance of the world environment is in danger and
this will affect directly the social prosperity and the
economic progress stated Greek undersecretary of
environment, land planning and public works Theodoros
Koliopanos at the opening of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation countries environment ministers' meeting that is
being held in Thessaloniki within the framework of BSEC's
Greek presidency.
In the meeting were discussed environmental issues of
mutual interest as the management of natural resources,
pollution control, coastal zones' management, the tourist
regions and the protection of the Black Sea.
In the meeting participated government ministers and
representatives from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia,
Moldavia Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Albania and Romania.
In the text with the conclusions reached in the meeting
that will be signed after its completion, it will be
stressed that there is a need for the improvement of the
Black Sea environment quality. Also, a special reference
will be made to the importance of the coastal regions for
the preservation of the natural environment and for the
economic development, while they will stress that tourism
tends to be of the most important economic activities
worldwide and the necessary measures should be taken so that
tourism will not hurt the environment.
[09] THE PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AKKUYU NUCLEAR
PLANT COULD BE REVISED
The revision of the plan for the construction of the
Akkuyu nuclear plant is expected to be discussed but this
would not mean that the plant's construction will be
canceled, stated to MPA Turkish minister of environment
Fevzi Aitekin, who attends the BSEC environment ministers
meeting that is being held in Thessaloniki.
Mr. Aitekin pointed out that the Akkuyu nuclear plant
is very important for Turkey because it will cover the
country's energy needs and therefore, its construction can
not be canceled. However, he pointed out that because of the
earthquakes that recently hit Turkey the issue of the
revision of its construction plan could be discussed in
order to minimize the dangers in case of a natural disaster.
[10] THE WIFE OF THE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER IS IN ATHENS
The wife of Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Asnar is
in Athens on a private visit and this morning she visited
the Acropolis accompanied by the wife of the Greek prime
minister Kostas Simitis, Daphni.
While touring the archaeological site, Ms. Daphni
Simitis stressed to Ms. Anna Botegia Asnar that the most
important of the Parthenon sculptures are kept in the Museum
of London.
[11] VENIZELOS: SATISFACTION FOR THE FYROM PARLIAMENT
DECISION ON THE OKTA OIL REFINERIES
Greek minister of development Evangelos Venizelos
expressed satisfaction after yesterday's decision reached by
the FYROM parliament to ratify the contract through which
45% of the OKTA oil refineries will be acquired by Hellenic
Petroleum Ltd.
Mr. Venizelos stated that with this decision is being
ratified the contract through which the Hellenic Petroleum
Ltd becomes the owner of the majority of the company to
which belong both Skopje's OKTA oil refinery and the company
that will build and manage the Thessaloniki-Skopje oil
pipeline.
Mr. Venizelos stated that this way is being completed a
move of strategic importance which has an evident energy,
economic and political significance.
In his statement, Mr. Venizelos also underlined that
this move is one of the many taking place in the energy
diplomacy sector, within the framework of the inter-Balkan
cooperation in the sector of energy.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] HELLENIC PETROLEUM ACQUIRES CONTROL OF FYROM OIL
REFINERY
Greece's Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) has acquired control
of Skopje's OKTA oil refinery and, within its plans to tap
into energy sector investment opportunities in SE Europe,
will now proceed with the construction of a Thessaloniki-
Skopje oil pipeline.
FYROM's 120-seat Parliament approved the acquisition
with 71 votes in favor, thus overcoming the relevant veto
imposed by the country's President Kiro Gligorov.
The agreement calls for ELPE becoming the strategic
investor of FYROM's OKTA refinery, with the investment
being the largest ever in the neighboring country. ELPE,
which is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, will upgrade
OKTA's facilities and will construct the 90-million-dollar
pipeline, which will have an annual capacity of 2.5 million
tons and a length of 220 kilometers. The pipeline is due for
completion in three years.
[13] PRESIDENT OF UGANDA TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE
The president of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Keguta
Museveni, will
conduct an official visit to Greece upon the invitation of
the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis
Stephanopoulos.
President Museveni will be in Greece between September
29 - October 1.
[14] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ACCEPTS UN INVITATION FOR PEACE TALKS
The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos
Clerides stated yesterday that he would "certainly" attend
UN-backed peace talks on the fate of the divided island of
Cyprus, even if the Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash
refused to do so.
If Mr. Denktash fails to show "that is his business. It
is not my business," President Clerides stated during a
press conference at the United Nations, saying that for his
part, he "certainly will accept" an invitation.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to extend
the invitation for peace talks over the course of the next
several days.
"Let the international community decide what to do with
Mr. Denktash to bring him to the negotiating table, because
I will be sitting there waiting," President Clerides said.
[15] C OF E APPROVES 83 MILLION DOLLARS IN QUAKE AID FOR
GREECE
The Council of Europe's Social Development Fund (SDF)
has approved loans of 312 million dollars for Turkey and 83
million dollars for Greece for the victims of recent
devastating earthquakes in the two countries.
During a meeting yesterday, the governing body of the
SDF agreed on the aid after reviewing the countries' most
urgent reconstruction needs.
In Turkey, part of the aid will be spent on re-building
around 10,000 homes in the Marmara region, where 15,000
people were killed in the earthquake of August 17, while
Greece is still reviewing the reconstruction projects it
intends to proceed to.
The SDF is the Council of Europe's development bank.
One of its major roles has been to make loans to member
states hit by natural disasters.
[16] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH US COUNTERPART
Greece's National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos
held talks with his United States counterpart William Cohen,
en route to Boston from Toronto yesterday.
Commenting on the talks, which centered on bilateral
relations and Balkan issues, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated
that the discussions were useful for both sides.
"We discussed new ways of cooperation for stability in
the Balkans and
the Middle East...We also discussed bilateral issues, issues
of military cooperation, but also the process of
modernization of NATO forces in all member-states," he
stated.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos added that he and Mr. Cohen also
discussed the situation in the region after the Kosovo
crisis.
" I drew attention to the weaknesses existing at
present, both in terms of the formation of a police force by
the United Nations that will guard the borders and ensure
internal security, and as regards the further strengthening
of KFOR, for it to be able to implement the UN mandate and
safeguard human rights for all ethnic groups," he stated.
[17] GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
In his address before the 54th Session of the United
Nations General Assembly, Greece's Foreign Minster George
Papandreou called for a coherent and consistent approach by
the international community to tackle Balkan problems, in
line with a universal application of principles where the
protection of peace and human rights, and the closing of the
gap between rich and poor figure prominently.
"We must strive to develop three pillars of the
Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe: Democracy, Security
and Reconstruction, Mr. Papandoreu stressed.
"Globalization in the field of information, ideas, the
economy, democracy, and human rights, has been the dominant
feature of the last years of our century. Some people fear
it, some try to ignore it, a few try to fight it, others to
avoid it. Many welcome it as a creative challenge.
"We Greeks are amongst the latter category. We thrive
on openness, freedom of exchange, freedom of thought, of
expression and of inquiry. We speak the language of
dialogue, the language of Ideas. This is our tradition.
"We are proud of this tradition that sparked off the
Renaissance and supported the Enlightenment, whose essence
was captured by Immanuel Kant's motto: 'sapere aude' -dare
to think. Globalization challenges us to dare think the
unthinkable in terms of sovereignty, international relations
and human rights. But this is not enough. We know we must go
beyond. We must dare to state a vision for our world," he
stated.
"We need to globalize peace. We watch in awe as
Israelis and Palestinians shake hands once again. The peace
might be local but our pride is international. Equally, when
watching India and Pakistan we dare to hope for non-
proliferation; we cringe as pictures of war come out of
Africa. We cannot hope for peace and yet shut our eye to
war.
"We need to globalize human rights, Do we apply the
same standards everywhere, from Kosovo to Timor to Cyprus to
Rwanda?"
Furthermore, Mr. Papandreou referred to Greek and
Turkish relations, by stating that "from the outset, Greece
shared with Turkey the vision that one day Turkey will
become a worthy member of a United Europe. But we recognize
today that our role needs to load the process.
"The terrible earthquakes that shook both our countries
have accelerated the process. Spontaneous and dramatic acts
of fraternity and solidarity between our citizens short-
circuited elaborate diplomatic strategies, and exerted
powerful pressure on our governments to move ahead boldly.
"I, for one, shall never forget the sweat, tears and
the genuine expressions of solidarity and friendship shared
by so many non-governmental organizations and particularly
by members of the Greek and Turkish rescue workers (EMAK and
AKUT), sifting over the rubble of buildings destroyed by the
earthquakes. These people did not wait for us to act. Their
actions globalize democracy," he said.
[18] GREEK, ALBANIAN HOSPITALS ESTABLISH BILATERAL
COOPERATION
Albania's regional hospital Petro Nako of Saranda has
established relations with Northern Greece's hospital of
Ioannina, according to the Albanian news agency ATA.
The field of bilateral cooperation between the two
hospitals will cover regular ties, joint operations
performed by Albanian and Greek surgeons, as well as one and
two-month courses of specialization.
During Albania's unrest of 1997, scores of wounded from
the districts of
Saranda and Delvine were treated at the Ioannina hospital.
[19] GREEK FM TO MEET TURKISH COUNTERPART IN NEW YORK TODAY
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet
with his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem in New York today,
on the sidelines of the 54th General Assembly of the United
Nations.
The United States Ambassador to the UN Richard
Holbrooke relayed to the President of Cyprus Glafcos
Clerides the Clinton Administration's interest in restarting
talks between the island's two sides.
[20] U.S. PRAISE NATO'S SOLANA FOR HIS "MASTERPIECE OF
DIPLOMACY"
The United States Pentagon awarded NATO Secretary-
General Javier Solana a medal for distinguished service
yesterday, for his "lasting contribution to peace and
security" as leader of the Alliance in a period of expansion
and conflict in Balkans.
US Defense Secretary William Cohen praised Mr. Solana's
"masterpiece of diplomacy" in keeping the Alliance united
during its air war against Yugoslavia, the first war in
NATO's 50-year history.
"I would say only a man of calm determination could
have persuaded the
reluctant and restless to stay the course," Mr. Cohen said
bestowing the Defense Department's Medal for Distinguished
Service upon Mr. Solana.
Mr. Solana, will step down from his post as secretary
general on October 6. He will be succeeded by Lord George
Robertson, the former British defense minister.
[21] RUSSIAN PM: WE SHALL DESTROY TERRORISTS EVERYWHERE
"Russian planes are dealing and shall go on dealing
blows only at the bases of terrorists in Chechnya," Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told a press conference in
Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, today.
"We shall pursue the terrorists everywhere. If we catch
them even in a WC, we shall finish them off there, too," he
stated.
[22] RUSSIAN PM DISMISSES RUMORS OF YELTSIN'S EARLY
RETIREMENT
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin dismissed rumors
that President Boris Yeltsin would step down early, saying
that such talk is an attempt to destabilize the political
situation in Russia.
Rumors of "the resignation of the president and
government are connected with the undeclared war of
international terrorism against Russia," Premier Putin told
journalists today, adding that "I am sure that these are
rumors deliberately started by those who are attacking
Russia in order to destabilize the internal political
situation."
Repeated rumors that Yeltsin will step down next month
have been splashed across the front pages of Moscow's
newspapers and have kept the Russian capital abuzz for more
than a week.
[23] "THE GUARDIAN" CALLS ON THE BRITISH MUSEUM TO GIVE
ANSWERS ON THE ELGIN MARBLES
The British newspaper "The Guardian", within the
framework of its freedom of information campaign, calls on
the British Museum to make public all the documents
concerning the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece. The
newspaper mentions that those in charge of the museum
maintain a total secrecy on the issue in spite of the fact
that the discussions on the fate of the Parthenon Marbles
have started about two centuries ago.
At the same time, the newspaper requests that all the
documents concerning the maintenance of the Parthenon
Marbles be made public and in its relevant article points
out that the British Museum has refused to give to publicity
confidential documents since 1968 without justifying this
decision.
[24] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH US OFFICIALS
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos met
yesterday with the US National Security Council adviser Mr.
Berger.
They discussed issues concerning the Balkans, the
situation in Kosovo and the refugees.
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