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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-01-30Macedonian 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, January 30, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] ATHENS-THESSALONIKI RAILWAY BLOCKED BY FARMERS IN A SYMBOLIC SIT-INThessaloniki, January 30 (MPA)The farmers from central Greece's Thessaly region performed a symbolic sit-in on the Athens-Thessaloniki railway today.In Thessaloniki yesterday, the farmers from Macedonia blocked the entrance of Thessaloniki's International Fairgrounds, during the inauguration ceremony of the "Agrotica '97" exhibit. Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated that all Greek citizens, of course including the farmers, have the right to express their positions, but within the boundaries of the law. A.F. [02] THESSALONIKI OFFICIALLY PRONOUNCED "CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE" TODAYThessaloniki, January 30 (MPA)Thessaloniki will be for three days, beginning from today, the center of festivities and ceremonies that will pronounced it the "Cultural Capital of Europe 1997" and a score of culture ministers from various countries will attend the formal inauguration ceremonies.The artistic events will begin with a recital performed this evening by Greece's famous mezzo-soprano Agnes Baltsa. On Saturday, the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will officially inaugurate the year's program. A.F. [03] HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS EXTEND STRIKE FOR ANOTHER WEEKAthens, January 30 (MPA)Greece's high-school teachers have decided to press on with their protest of the government's economic policy and, as such, will extend their strike to the end of next week.Undersecretary of Education Ministry Yiannis Anthopoulos stressed today that all opportunities for dialogue with the teachers have been exhausted. "Talks for teachers-salary raises have ended," Mr. Anthopoulos said, emphasizing that the government is unable to provide additional benefits. The striking teachers will rally in the center of Athens tomorrow and will then march to the Premier's office. A.F. [04] GERMAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: CYPRUS WILL ENTER EU BEFORE TURKEYBonn, January 30 (MPA)Germany's deputy Foreign Minister Werner Hoyer stated his conviction that Cyprus is to gain accession to the European Union much earlier than Turkey will, referring to the informal meeting held yesterday in Rome between Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller and her counterparts from five member-countries of the EU, namely, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Great Britain.Mr. Hoyer characterized Turkey's relations with the EU as "the biggest challenge of 1997" and clarified that the matter of Turkey's accession to the EU is not on the daily agenda. "Such thing would provoke tension between the two sides," Mr. Hoyer said. "Improved cooperation with Turkey presupposes the reduction of tension in the most dangerous spot of crisis, regarding Europe's political developments in the upcoming years, that is, Cyprus. We immediately need a solution for Cyprus, within the framework of the United Nations' initiatives and proposals." Moreover, the German official emphasized that NATO, too, must turn its attention towards this direction, given that both Greece and Turkey are members of the Alliance, while he added that his country could play a key role in achieving a final resolution of the issue. A.F. [05] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES RECEIVES U.N.'S SPECIAL ENVOY HAN SUNG JUNicosia, January 30 (MPA)The President of the Republic of Cyrpus Glafkos Clerides met in Nicosia today with the United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy for Cyprus, Han Sung Ju.Mr. Ju stated that his meeting with President Clerides was "a good start", in light of his contacts in Cyprus, while also stressing his optimism that progress will be noted. However, Mr. Ju pointed out that the "window of opportunity is not very big", noting that careful attention must be granted so as to avoid an impasse. Mr. Ju also forwarded a letter to President Clerides in which the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expresses his interest and concern over the Cyprus issue. This evening Mr. Ju will be received by Turkish-Cyprot leader, Rauf Denktash, in northern Cyprus' occupied territory. A.F. [06] BULGARIA: PRESSING DEMAND FOR EARLY ELECTIONS CONTINUESSofia, January 30 (MPA)A new wave of anti-government rallies has surfaced in Bulgaria, with the demand that early elections be held immediately.President Petar Stoyanov stated that his country is on the verge of economic collapse and, as such, could be forced to postpone payment on its foreign debts. Meanwhile, the country's main opposition party, Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), rejected the proposal tabled yesterday by Premier Nikolai Dobrev who said that talks should be held in order to form a Cabinet that will offer a program of wide acceptance and will pave the road for early elections. The UDF insists on its demand to hold early elections and its leaders have stated that the party will engage in negotiations only when the socialists agree not to accept the mandate to form a cabinet. A.F. 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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