Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 96-12-03

Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, December 3, 1996

TITLES

[01] PROTESTING GREEK FARMERS BLOCK ALL NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORTATION ROUTES

[02] GOVERNMENT GRANTS FINANCIAL AID TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN XANTHI

[03] RUSSIA INSISTS THAT NATO MUST NOT EXPAND TOWARDS EAST

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] PROTESTING GREEK FARMERS BLOCK ALL NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORTATION ROUTES

Thessaloniki, December 3 (M.P.A.)

The protesting farmers denounce the Government's economic policy and demand from the State to clear their debts and offer them increased crop subsidies.

Thessaloniki has been "sliced-off" from the remaining country as roadblocks have been place in all intrastate roads, although access to the "Macedonia" airport is feasible through detour roads.

Yesterday evening, the Thessaly Coordinating Committee of Farmers turned down the Agriculture Minister's (Stefanos Tzoumakas) proposed measures for cotton farmers regarding the settlement of outstanding debts and increased cotton subsidies.

Mr. Tzoumakas announced that a Committee will be formed which, by December 10, will submit a proposal for an overall settlement of the farmers' current debts.

Meanwhile, the leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Miltiades Evert, stated that while his party does not espouse these drastic mobilizations, it does stand by the side of those who are being tried by the Government. Mr. Evert also called upon Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to come in personal contact with the protesting farmers and address the problem in its true dinension, which is, he said, a national one.

[02] GOVERNMENT GRANTS FINANCIAL AID TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN XANTHI

The Government began issuing today GRD200,000 ($810) to the families that suffered damages and losses during from the torrential rains that flooded Xanthi, a city in northeastern Greece, on Sunday.

Also, a relief fund of two million drachmas ($8,100) will be given to each of the families whose members lost their lives during the flood.

The Undersecretary of Health and Welfare is currently in the stricken region in order to execute the decision drawn yesterday by the Minister of Environment, Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis. Also, Undersecretary of the Interior Labros Papademas announced that interest-free loans and emergency financial subsidies will be given to the region's municipalities for reconstruction projects.

Currently, damage estimates are been assessed by perfectural committees on the premises. The heavy rain caused severe losses to the region's crops, while many houses and stores have been devastated by damages. Hundreds of families from the surrounding villages have been rendered homeless. The committees' reports will be submitted to Mr. Laliotis within the following ten days whereupon the Minister wil once again visit the region.

The rainfall has subsided in Xanthi and the Kossynthos River's water line, which came dangerously close to overtflowing, has substantially lowered.

[03] RUSSIA INSISTS THAT NATO MUST NOT EXPAND TOWARDS EAST

Lisbon, December 3 (M.P.A.)

Instead, Russia proposed that OSCE be strengthened in such as a way as to gain equal status with the Alliance. This proposal was turned down by the OSCE delegates.

Russian Prime Minister Victor Cernomyrdin, who spoke after the Portuguese Premier Antonio Guterres inaugurated the session, stated that it would be a great mistake if NATO continued with its efforts to expand to central and eastern European countries.

"This will create new divisive lines and the geopolitical situation in the world will worsen," Mr. Cernomyrdin stated.

The United States and NATO contested the Russian official's arguments, assuring that the Aliance's expansion does not pose a threat to any country and that it ultimately seeks cooperation with Russia.

"NATO was, is and will remain a defense alliance," stated U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, adding that "it can contibute to stability and is in a position to vow for the security of the countries in central and eastern Europe."

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