Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-01-20

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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, January 20, 1997

TITLES

[01] STRIKE FEVER STRIKES AGAIN, SEAMEN ARE EXTENDING THEIRS, OTHERS JUST START

[02] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER ATTENDS EU'S GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL

[03] GREEK EDUCATION MINISTER ARSENIS IN CYPRUS, MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLERIDES

[04] THOUSANDS OF DISGRUNTLED ALBANIANS FLOCK TO THE STREETS OF TIRANA

[05] F.R.Y.: OPPOSITION CONTINUES RALLIES, BUT MILOSEVIC REMAINS UNMOVED

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] STRIKE FEVER STRIKES AGAIN, SEAMEN ARE EXTENDING THEIRS, OTHERS JUST START

Piraeus, January 20 (MPA)

At midnight yesterday, the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation turned down a written proposal -submitted by the Minister of Merchant Marine Stavros Soumakis- which contained the State's final offer.

The Undersecretary of Finance George Drys also confirmed the Government's vow not to proceed to changes in the taxation program.

The seamen plan a protest rally to the center of Athens today, to be followed by a march to the Parliament.

High school teachers also embarked on a lengthy strike today, demanding wage increases.

On Thursday, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) will conduct a 24-hour country-wide strike. On January 27, the country's pensioners will organize a mass rally, while on February 3-4 the Highest Union of Public Servants (ADEDY) will hold a 48-hour strike, protesting the Government's new wage list.

[02] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER ATTENDS EU'S GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL

Brussels, January 20 (MPA)

At the Council, the EU's 15 Foreign Ministers will discuss issues related to the Intergovernmental Conference, as well as the matter of Cyprus.

The President of the EU's Foreign Ministers Council, Hans van Mirlow, will receive the U.S. official Carey Cavanaugh today and the two men will discuss the latter's recent contacts in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara.

[03] GREEK EDUCATION MINISTER ARSENIS IN CYPRUS, MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLERIDES

Nicosia, January 20 (MPA)

Mr. Arsenis and Ms. Aggelidou briefed President Clerides on the educational cooperation programs between the two countries, while matters of national and international developments were also brought up during the discussion.

Mr. Arsenis, who has also served as Greece's Defense Minister in the past, stated that "while Cyprus' position was and is to conduct negotiations directed towards the federation solution, close attention must be paid, since such proposal could conceal a co-federation solution, which essentially ratifies the island's division."

Moreover, Mr. Arsenis stated that Greece and Cyprus have a common future, and no Greek foreign policy or national strategy can be established if it does not contain the Cyprus issue.

The Education Minister also referred to the common threat Greece and Cyprus face and pointed out that two separate national strategies would be a "recipe for disaster."

[04] THOUSANDS OF DISGRUNTLED ALBANIANS FLOCK TO THE STREETS OF TIRANA

Tirana, January 20 (MPA)

The police tried in vain to control the masses, which managed to bypass the strong force and gather at the city's central plaza.

The rally was organized by the opposition party, following the upset noted in the recent days, due to the government's decision to do away with a number of investment programs.

[05] F.R.Y.: OPPOSITION CONTINUES RALLIES, BUT MILOSEVIC REMAINS UNMOVED

Belgrade, January 20 (MPA)

Since early this morning, thousands of students are at Belgrade's central square, face-to-face with the strong police force obstructing the access.

One of the coalition's leaders, Vuk Drascovic, has stated that his party will continue the rallying and the protests until the government recognizes -in its entirety- the report issued by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which upheld Zajedno's victory in the majority of the municipalities.

Yesterday, Drascovic stated that Milosevic is provoking a civil war in Kossovo in an effort to shift the weight of the crisis away from Belgrade and thus bury the local elections issue, all for the sake of saving his regime.

"Milosevic is dealing his last card, not caring about the consequences and the blood about to be shed. Serbia is now at the verge of chaos," Drascovic warned.

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/

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