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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-10-29

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, October 29, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK FM IN BERLIN TO MEET WITH GERMAN COUNTERPART
  • [02] BOURSES THROUGHOUT WORLD ON AN UPWARD RALLY
  • [03] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THESSALONIKI
  • [04] DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ON SUNDAY, CLOCKS TURN BACK ONE HOUR
  • [05] GREEK, TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRIES ISSUE JOINT COMMUNIQUE
  • [06] MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER: BUY GREEK BONDS
  • [07] GREEK PREMIER SENDS CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA
  • [08] SMALL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [09] HALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN SUFFERING FROM CANCER ARE COMPLETELY CURED
  • [10] TECHNICAL PROBLEM IN AN OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PASSENGER PLANE
  • [11] THE EU COMMISSION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESTORATION OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN KOSOVO
  • [12] THE EUROPEAN COURT FOUND GREECE GUILTY OF NOT PAYING FAMILY ALLOWANCES TO WOMEN
  • [13] THE DISPILIO LAKE SETTLEMENT MUSEUM IN KASTORIA WAS INAUGURATED BY PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
  • [15] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS FORUM
  • [16] WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES CLINTON'S VISIT TO GREECE
  • [17] GREEK EXPERTS VISIT LONDON FOR PARTHENON MARBLES
  • [18] FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDERSECRETARY TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICA
  • [19] U.K. REPORTER, AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER DETAINED IN CHECHNYA
  • [20] TURKEY: FORMER PM IMPLICATES IRANIANS IN KISLALI'S MURDER
  • [21] ARMENIA: MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR RESIGNS
  • [22] BOMB EXPLODES AT ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, NO VICTIMS
  • [23] GREEK ENTERPRISES MARK STRONG PRESENCE AT EUROPARTENARIAT
  • [24] SOFIA WANTS $160 MILLION PER YEAR TO CLOSE KOZLODUI REACTORS
  • [25] THE CYPRUS ISSUE IS AT THE CENTER OF THE PAPANDREOU-FISCHER MEETING
  • [26] THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN FYROM WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY
  • [27] THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE GROUP CONTROLS THE MAJORITY SHARES OF SKOPJE'S STOPANSKA BANKA
  • [28] A VETERINARY CONTROL ZONE WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY BULGARIA AT ITS BORDERS WITH GREECE AND TURKEY
  • [29] A PRAISE FOR THE GREEK LANGUAGE - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK FM IN BERLIN TO MEET WITH GERMAN COUNTERPART

    Foreign Minister George Papandreou is presently in Berlin, continuing his European tour to outline Greece's position on EU membership for Turkey and Cyprus.

    Mr. Papandreou will meet with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer with whom he will discuss Turkey's candidacy for accession to the EU.

    Addressing the German parliament, Mr. Fischer supported Turkey's candidacy, sparking an intense reaction from the opposition parties which stated that Turkey's shortcoming in democratic processes render the country's candidacy problematic.

    Mr. Papandreou will visit Canada on October 31, from where he will leave for Boston on November 4 to address an event organized by Harvard

    He will leave for Paris from Boston to meet his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine and French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Prime Minister Costas Simitis will also be in Paris as of November 8 to attend the Socialist International's meeting.

    Mr. Papandreou will leave for The Hague on November 9 to meet his Dutch counterpart Van Archen. He will then return to Athens to be present during the visit by US President Bill Clinton.

    On November 15, Mr. Papandreou will participate in the European Union's Council of General Affairs and then leave for Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov, as well as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

    On November 18-19, Mr. Papandreou will accompany Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the OSCE's summit in Istanbul.

    [02] BOURSES THROUGHOUT WORLD ON AN UPWARD RALLY

    An upward race is marked in today's trading at foreign bourses, a positive turn of events that is expected to spill over into the Athens Stock Exchange as well.

    The Dow Jones marked an increase of 2.19%, given the lack of inflationary pressures in the United States, while the London bourse rose by 1.71 per cent.

    In other markets, Madrid's rose by 2.03 percent, Sydney is presently at 1.39%, Hong Kong at 3.02%, the Nikkei index has risen by 2.65%, Philippines +3.41%, Thailand +1.46% and Singapore +1.8%.

    [03] BALKAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THESSALONIKI

    Thessaloniki will host a conference on Balkan reconstruction on November 2 and 3, which will be inaugurated by the special coordinator of the Stability Pact for SE Europe, Bondo Hombach and attended by prominent officials of several governments and organizations, with the president of the European Commission Romano Prodi also expected to be present .

    The conference will include discussion of inter-Balkan cooperation in business and banking, and of the financing of the planned reconstruction projects.

    National economy minister Yiannos Papantoniou will present Greece's Balkan reconstruction plan, to be followed by an exchange of views with his Balkan counterparts.

    The event is jointly organized by the Industries Association of Northern Greece (SVVE), the International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki and the Euromoney publications.

    [04] DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ON SUNDAY, CLOCKS TURN BACK ONE HOUR

    Clocks turn back an hour at 4 a.m. on Sunday October 31, marking the end of Daylight Savings Time.

    Winter time will be in force until March 26, 2000, when clocks will again go forward an hour.

    [05] GREEK, TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRIES ISSUE JOINT COMMUNIQUE

    Following their second round of talks in September, high officials of the Foreign Ministries of Greece and Turkey met for á third round in Ankara (21 and 22 October 1999) and Athens (25 and 26 October 1999) to discuss issues related to tourism the environment, economic and commercial relations, culture, cooperation in the multilateral regional field and combating organized crime, illegal immigration, drug trafficking and terrorism.

    According to a joint communique issued by the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministries, the talks were held in a friendly and business-like atmosphere. The two delegations, with the participation of representatives of the competent authorities from their respective country, elaborated the items of the agreed agendas. These included updating the contractual framework of Greek-Turkish relations as and where appropriate, as well as defining specific areas where cooperation could be initiated in the short or longer term.

    The delegations decided to establish working groups related to the above fields with the aim of further elaboration of the draft texts already exchanged and relevant matters. These working groups, headed by high officials of the respective Foreign Ministries at ambassadorial level and composed of representatives of competent authorities, will convene in November 1999.

    The two sides agreed that the conclusions of the working groups will be assessed during the fourth round of talks, in principle due to take place in December, with the aim of presenting the results achieved to their Foreign Ministries.

    [06] MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER: BUY GREEK BONDS

    A leading financial analyst for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter is optimistic that Greece's inflation rate will soon be curbed, while he is also confident that Greek bonds will soon register an impressive performance.

    Specifically, Ricardo Barbieri notes that if the European Union's harmonized inflation index is raised from 1.5% in September to 1.6% in October and remains at that level, then Greece will be given the coveted "go ahead" for accession to the Economic and Monetary Union, since in February it would mark an annual average of 1.9 per cent.

    Concerning bonds, Mr. Barbieri opines that Greece's accession to the EMU on January 1, 2001, will mark the Greek bonds rapprochement with European levels and, thus, urges buyers to opt for the said bonds in order to reap substantial benefits later.

    [07] GREEK PREMIER SENDS CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis has forwarded his condolences to the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian wherein he expresses the Greek people's and the government's sympathies towards Armenia and its people.

    The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis also expressed his dismay over the massacre in the Armenian House, stating that the attack harbors dangers for an overall destabilization in that region.

    [08] SMALL RISE IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    A small rise was recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index showed a rise of 0.96% and closed at 5.442,14, while the transactions reached 298.6 billion drachmas. The general index had ups and downs, while there was increased demand of bank shares today.

    Two hundred and four shares moved upwards, 97 dropped and 20 remained stable. The bank shares showed an increase of 2.17%, leasing dropped by 0.50%, securities -2.57%, investments -0.37%, industrial shares increased by 0.82%, holdings -1.43%, others rose by 0.37% and the parallel market showed a increase of 1.32%.

    [09] HALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN SUFFERING FROM CANCER ARE COMPLETELY CURED

    Half of the men and women who are suffering from cancer can be completely cured, while new methods and new drugs are being tested to treat the cancerous cells.

    This optimistic message comes out from the 7th post-graduate conference of clinical oncology that is being held in Iraklion, Crete.

    New drugs and vaccines against cancer will be announced in the conference that will be completed on Sunday, while scientists stress the importance of annual check-ups which help in detecting cancer in early and more treatable stages.

    [10] TECHNICAL PROBLEM IN AN OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PASSENGER PLANE

    A technical problem was recorded in an Olympic Airways passenger plane that had departed from Athens and was flying over the north-eastern Aegean island of Chios on its way to Sidney, Australia.

    The pilot of the airplane, with 294 passengers on board, noticed a technical problem just after take off from Athens and managed to bring it back to the airport of the Greek capital where it landed safely. The passengers boarded another plane and continued their trip.

    [11] THE EU COMMISSION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESTORATION OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN KOSOVO

    The EU Commission does not have any responsibility to take measures for the protection of the cultural heritage in Kosovo, according to EU Commissioner in charge of exterior relations Chris Patten, who made the statement responding to a question by Greek Coalition of Left Euro-deputy Alekos Alavanos.

    The Euro-deputy used figures, according to which, 160 cultural monuments that are part of the European cultural heritage were hit during the war, among them 13 archaeological sites and 60 monasteries and churches.

    [12] THE EUROPEAN COURT FOUND GREECE GUILTY OF NOT PAYING FAMILY ALLOWANCES TO WOMEN

    The European Court found Greece guilty of not paying the lawful family allowances to working women since 1981 when the country became a member of the united Europe. The Greek Social Security Organization (IKA) had begun implementing the measure years later, in 1989.

    The court decided that the backdated marriage and children benefits should be paid to all married women who did not receive them in the period of 1981-89.

    The public workers' union in Greece has expressed satisfaction over the European Court decision.

    [13] THE DISPILIO LAKE SETTLEMENT MUSEUM IN KASTORIA WAS INAUGURATED BY PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS

    Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos referred to the existing political climate which is very good, in the inauguration of the museum of the Dispilio pre-historic lake settlement in Kastoria.

    Mr. Stephanopoulos was very excited with the exhibits and urged all Greeks to visit the museum. The pre-historic settlement was discovered by Aristotle University archaeology professor Giorgos Hourmouziadis. In the region of Dispilio were discovered the most ancient music instruments in Greece. The settlement is estimated to be 7.000 years old.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [14] ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

    Armenian President Robert Kocharian is to hold a series of meetings with members of his country's parliament, following Wednesday's massacre when terrorists gunned down seven people in the House, including Armenia's Prime Minister and the National Assembly Chairman.

    The country's new government will not be appointed before the victims' funerals on Sunday. The end to the 18-hour crisis came after Armenian President Robert Kocharian promised to spare the lives of the hostage-takers if they gave themselves up, and guaranteed them a fair trial.

    [15] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BULGARIAN TELECOMS FORUM

    More than 20 Greek telecommunications companies will participate in a Greek-Bulgarian telecommunications forum to be held in Sadanski, Bulgaria, on November 3-5.

    ``The forum is organized by the American Commerce, Industry and Science Council for Greece and the Balkans, based in Thessaloniki and aims to promote regional cooperation and joint ventures by Greek and Bulgarian companies.

    The forum's main attraction is an evolving alliance between Hellenic Telecommunications Organization with Bulgaria's state telecoms company.

    Telecommunications companies from the two countries will have the opportunity to discuss further cooperation.

    [16] WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES CLINTON'S VISIT TO GREECE

    United States President Bill Clinton will officially visit Greece on November 13-15, according to a White House announcement.

    Mr. Clinton will visit Turkey on November 15-17 ahead of a planned Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit, scheduled for November 17-19 in Istanbul.

    The OSCE summit "is an opportunity for the leaders of 54 countries of the Euro-Atlantic region to focus on the promotion of democracy, human rights, security and stability between us, as well as within the participating countries," the announcement read.

    Mr. Clinton will also visit Italy on November 20-21 and Bulgaria on Nov. 21-23.

    [17] GREEK EXPERTS VISIT LONDON FOR PARTHENON MARBLES

    A team of Greek experts are presently in London, where they will examine the state of the Parthenon Marbles following revelations made in a book by British historian Ian Saint Clair that they were seriously damaged during their cleaning process by British Museum workers about 50 years ago.

    The committee's findings and reports will be forwarded to Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi first and will be presented at a special conference to be organized by the British Museum at the end of November on the state of these historic monuments.

    The committee studied the marbles yesterday and compared them with archived photographs.

    [18] FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDERSECRETARY TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICA

    Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Grigoris Niotis is presently in south Africa where he will meet with the Greek communities of Pretoria, Johannesburg and Derban and will be received by his South African counterpart.

    On November 1, Mr. Niotis will travel to Dubai where he will participate in the conference of European Union Foreign Ministers - Cooperation Council of Gulf Countries.

    During his stay at the Arab Emirates, Mr. Niotis will have meetings with various officials as well as members of the Greek community.

    [19] U.K. REPORTER, AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER DETAINED IN CHECHNYA

    British officials are presently conducting negotiations with Russian authorities over the detention in Chechnya of journalists, a Brit (Anthony Lloyd of U.K.'s Times daily) and an American (freelance photographer Tyler Hicks), a Foreign Office official representative said. According to latest reports, the two were detained by Russian soldiers yesterday when their car was trying to cross the roadblock to rebel Chechnya.

    The representative said Foreign Office was looking for a direct contact with Mr. Lloyd and wanted to know reasons of his detention.

    The representative stated that all British journalists had been strongly advised not to travel to Chechnya.

    [20] TURKEY: FORMER PM IMPLICATES IRANIANS IN KISLALI'S MURDER

    Iranians currently living in Germany had a hand in last week's murder of Turkish intellectual Ahmet Taner Kislali, former prime minister Mesmut Yilmaz was quoted as saying by the Turkish daily Sabah.

    "It appears that the people who organized the attack are Iranian and are now in Germany," Mr. Yilmaz is quoted as having stated, adding that "Iran holds Turkey responsible for disturbances last July in Tehran."

    Relations between the Islamic republic of Iran and secular Turkey have been stormy in recent years, with Ankara accusing Tehran of backing Muslim extremists in Turkey.

    Mr. Kislali, a former culture minister and journalist, was killed October 21 in front of his home in Ankara when a parcel bomb placed on his car exploded.

    Two Iranians were questioned but then released in Istanbul two days later, while an Islamic group claimed responsibility for the attack.

    [21] ARMENIA: MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR RESIGNS

    Armenia's Minister of the Interior Suren Abramian handed in his resignation yesterday, following the shooting at the parliament that left the premier and seven other politicians dead.

    A three-day mourning period has been declared in the country, where flags will wave at half-mast until October 31.

    [22] BOMB EXPLODES AT ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY, NO VICTIMS

    A bomb exploded early this morning at the campus of Marmara University in Istanbul, causing minor damage but no casualties, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.

    According to the report, an unidentified person called Anadolu's Istanbul bureau and claimed responsibility for the bombing in the name of an extreme-Islamist group, the Islamic Front of Raiders of the Great Orient, known by its Turkish acronym of IBDA-C.

    The IBDA-C, founded in 1985, is known to have carried out attacks against bars, discotheques and churches in Istanbul.

    The group was last suspected of being behind a bomb attack on October 21 in Ankara that killed former culture minister, academic and journalist Ahmet Taner Kislali, but police say they do not yet know who is responsible for the assassination.

    [23] GREEK ENTERPRISES MARK STRONG PRESENCE AT EUROPARTENARIAT

    Greek and German businesses will have the opportunity to discuss future alliances at the Europartenariat trade fair and forum, which got underway today in Potsdam, Germany.

    More than 70 Greek enterprises are partaking in the forum which also features the participation of 405 select German firms and 2,500 from other countries, both from within the EU and from Eastern Europe, North and Latin America, Asia, South Africa and the Mediterranean basin.

    Trade between Greece and Germany totaled 5.2 billion ecu last year, according to the Northern Greek Exporters Union, making the country Greece's biggest trade partner.

    German imports increased 20 percent in the last five years, marking an annual average growth rate of 5.0 percent.

    Imports totaled 2.96 billion ecu in 1994, rising to 3.28 billion ecu the following year, but declining to 3.18 billion ecu in 1996. They rose again in 1997 and 1998 to 3.235 and 3.56 billion ecu, respectively.

    On the other hand, Greek exports to Germany remained stable in 1998 at 1994 levels to total 1.676 billion ecu, despite small increases in 1995 and 1997.

    [24] SOFIA WANTS $160 MILLION PER YEAR TO CLOSE KOZLODUI REACTORS

    Bulgaria's would need economic assistance from the European Committee amounting to $160 million on an annual basis in order to shut down its first and second nuclear reactors at the Kozlodui plant, according to the country's designated task force which replied as such to the EC's ultimatum that Sofia draw specific guidelines for inactivating the plant's four old reactors.

    According to Bulgarian press reports, Premier Ivan Kostoc has asked the Parliament's energy committee to support the closing of the plant's first and second reactors, warning that if they are not rendered useless, then the country will not be invited to embark on accession negotiations with the European Union.

    However, this initiative calls for significant economic aid from the West, amounting to $80 million for each reactor, which figure was arrived at after Bulgaria calculated its direct and indirect losses from such move.

    [25] THE CYPRUS ISSUE IS AT THE CENTER OF THE PAPANDREOU-FISCHER MEETING

    Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will meet in Berlin with his German counterpart Joshka Fischer.

    Their talks will focus on the Greek-German relations, the Cyprus issue, the Greek-Turkish relations, the developments in the Balkans, Turkey's EU association in view of the Helsinki summit meeting and EU enlargement issues. After the meeting the two ministers will visit the federal parliament and later in the evening they will have a private dinner.

    Tomorrow's schedule includes a tour of Berlin by ship and lunch on board. Mr. Papandreou will return to Athens on Sunday morning.

    [26] THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN FYROM WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY

    The presidential elections in FYROM will be held on Sunday. The registered voters are 1.610.338 and they will exercise their right in 2.973 polling stations.

    Based on political analysts in Skopje, most favorite to replace president Kiro Gligorov are the candidate of the governing VMRO-DPMNE party Boris Trajkovski and the candidate of the Social- democratic Union party Tito Petkovski. The first unofficial results will be announced by Wednesday.

    [27] THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE GROUP CONTROLS THE MAJORITY SHARES OF SKOPJE'S STOPANSKA BANKA

    The National Bank of Greece Group controls 55% of Stopanska Banka, the biggest bank in Skopje. An agreement was signed at noon today by FYROM's minister of finance Boris Stojmenov, Stopanska Banka director Ljupco Popovski and National Bank of Greece assistant director Apostolos Tabakakis.

    The day of the signing of the agreement had not been made public in advance to avoid possible political reactions in view of Sunday's presidential elections in FYROM.

    [28] A VETERINARY CONTROL ZONE WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY BULGARIA AT ITS BORDERS WITH GREECE AND TURKEY

    A 50kilometer long veterinary protection zone will be established by Bulgaria along its borders with Greece and Turkey to limit the spread of epidemics.

    The above was announced by the national veterinary agency director who stated that the zone will spread between the village of Slivarovo in the region of Burgas and the village of Matocina in the region of Haskovo.

    The total investment is estimated at 550 thousand EURO and the money will come from the European Union PHARE programme.

    [29] A PRAISE FOR THE GREEK LANGUAGE

    The French-speaking newspaper "Le Republiquen Lorein" made a special presentation to philhellene Anri Miller, known for his adoration of Greece and the Greek civilization on the occasion of the publication of Nikos Kazantzakis' work in the Luxembourg language. Mr. Miller, who is a retired professor, has translated Kazantzakis' book The life and Works of Alexis Zorba which was published last May.

    Responding to the question on why he has such passion with the ancient Greek language which is a so-called dead language, he said that the Greek language and civilization had a tremendous effect on everything existing today, stressing that the world is in debt to the Greeks for all the intellectual tools they have given to humanity.

    Mr. Miller said that the Greeks were the first to write drama in the form of ancient tragedies, while most authors have been inspired by Greek mythology, adding that the ancient Greeks were the ones who created sculptures and architectural forms that are models of perfection. He said that those who study philosophy have to study the Greek philosophers, while the complexity of the ancient Greek language makes those who master it more able to learn faster any modern language. The knowledge of the Greek language makes it easier to learn anything that has to do with higher thought, while those who speak the ancient Greek language will learn to handle better even their own mother-tongue.

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