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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (96-10-08)Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, October 8, 1996TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES PASOK'S FIRST PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETINGAthens, October 8 (M.P.A.)Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis announced today that all those who hold seats as secretary-generals or director-generals of state-owned organizations will not be eligible to submit their candidacy in the country's next parliamentary elections.Mr. Simitis, addressing the ruling PASOK party's first Parliamentary Group meeting after his party won another four-year term in last month's general elections, explained that the governmental seats are to serve the common interests and not to fulfil personal ambitions. "Whoever wishes to be a candidate can seek employment elsewhere. The power held in these positions must not be used to secure a parliamentary election," he added. Moreover, Mr. Simitis stated that PASOK's government practices this term will be marked by a strict hierarchy and cohesiveness among the various governmental bodies, a course to be directed by the Parliamentary Group, which is in need of close cooperation between the ministries, the parliamentary work sectors and the legislators. The Premier also added that in the following four years, the country will undergo radical reforms and asked all party deputies to forego the "political cost" mentality. "We will not hesitate to undertake the correct and necessary decisions, even if powerful groups exert pressures," Mr. Simitis stated, underlining that PASOK has the responsibility and the aim to firmly apply its programs. [02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE EMBARKS ON THREE-DAY VISIT TO FINLANDAthens, October 8 (M.P.A.)The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, departed for Finland today for a three-day, formal visit after an invitation issued by Finnish President Maarti Ahtisari.The Greek President will meet with his Finnish counterpart and Finland's Prime Miister Paavo Liponen and will discuss bilateral relations and the overall developments in the European Union. According to his schedule, President Stephanopoulos will visit Helsinki's City Hall, the Uspenski Cathedral, the University of Kuopio and large industry plants. [03] EARTHQUAKE SHAKES SOUTHWESTERN PELOPONNESE THIS MORNINGThessaloniki, October 8 (M.P.A.)A strong earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale shook the region of Pylos this morning, in the southwestern Pelopponnese.The quake's epicenter was located at sea, west of Pylos. Earthquake experts and geologists from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki stated that there is no reason to worry as the earthquake is considered to be part of the area's normal seismic activity. The region's strongest quake to date occured in 1947, meassuring 7 points on the Richter scale. [04] NATIONAL GUARD OF CYPRUS COMPLETED "NIKIFOROS" MILITARY EXERCISE TODAYNicosia, October 8 (M.P.A.)The Cypriot National Guard's military exercise "Nikiforos '96" embarked on its final phase today, with simulated air combats and a paratrooping exercise conducted in the Larnaca region.Participating in yesterday's manoeuvres were Greek Air Force fighter jets, effectuated within the framework of the common defense strategy between Greece and Cyprus. Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides observed today's manoeuvres and congratulated the head of the National Guard Nikolaos Vorvolakos as well as all those who participated in the exercise. "The National Guard is a well-trained force and will continue to be strengthened until Attila departs Cyprus," Mr. Clerides stated. [05] FORMER CYPRIOT PRESIDENT: TURKEY IN CRISIS, DOES NOT LEAN TOWARDS WESTBudapest, October 8 (M.P.A.)"Turkey is undergoing a crisis period and that is why it behaves as a country that does not in the least advance towards Europe," stated the Cypriot former President George Vasiliou in an interview with the Nepszava daily in Budapest.Mr. Vasiliou referred to the recent violent episodes between the Greek-Cypriots and the turkish authorities and said that what led to these acts was the fact that for 22 years the Turks have occupied a part of Cyprus and do not intend to participate in crisis resolution procedures. "The Turks reacted with a barbaric and cold manner, over-reacting to the overall situation," Mr. Vasiliou stated. It would had sufficed to arrest the protesting youth, the former President added, pointing out that the murdered young men did not invade turkish territory but merely entered the island's neutral zone. "On the contrary, they (the Turks) brought onto Cyprus followers of the fascist organization Grey Wolves, who attacked and killed a Greek-Cypriot. After two days, another youth was shot when he attempted to lower the turkish flag," Mr. Vasiliou stated. The Former President stated that this was the way the Turks opted to relay the message that they and the Greek-Cypriots cannot co-exist harmoniously and, in spite of the time that has elapsed, the Greek-Cypriot grounds are occupied by them. When asked on the possibility of resolving the Cyprus problem, Mr. Vasiliou stated that his proposal was and is to summon the United Nations Session and the international community to exert pressure on Turkey. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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