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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-02-25Macedonian 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, February 25, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] CYPRUS' EU PRE-ACCESSION PROCEDURES TROUBLESOMEBrussels, February 25 (MPA)Cyprus' pre-accession procedures to the European Union don't appear to move on trouble-free.In spite of the pressures exerted by the French, British and Germans during yesterday's EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Greece firmly refused to allow the inclusion in the "15"'s common statement of a reference to the Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash which constitutes him as an equitable negotiator in the island's accession procedures. Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos spoke of underhanded and hostile behavior against Cyprus. "The European Union belongs to no one. We will not accept bosses. If some have mistaken our modesty and willingness to cooperate as a weakness, they are wrong," Mr. Pangalos said. A.F. [02] TEACHERS NATIONAL UNION PROPOSES THAT STRIKE BE CONTINUED FOR SEVENTH WEEKAthens, February 25 (MPA)The secondary education teachers might extend their strike into a seventh week, as per a proposal tabled by their national union (OLME).The president of OLME asked the government to return to the negotiations table for talks spanning all subjects. Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas revealed that Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis has forwarded a letter to OLME proposing a dialogue on all institutional matters concerning education. Also, the country's largest labour union (ADEDY) is conducting a 24-hour strike today, protesting the public servants' salary scale which was voted on principle late last night in Parliament. A.F. [03] BRITISH SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAYAthens, February 25 (MPA)Britain's special envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hannay is expected to arrive in Athens today where he will have talks with the Greek government within the framework of a new round of contacts he is performing in the region.Sir Hannay embarked on these contacts yesterday in Ankara where he met with Inal Batu, assistant to the Turkish Foreign Minister. Mr. Hannay stated that Britain's aim is to embark on direct talks for the Cyprus issue within the year's first six months, pointing out that there are more opportunities for such talks today than there were in the past. A.F. [04] EU TEMPORARILY FREEZES ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID TO ALBANIABrussels, February 25 (MPA)The European Union has decided to temporarily "freeze" the granting of additional economic aid to Albania, asking that the country proceed to new political and financial reforms.The EU's 15 Foreign Ministers issued a common statement yesterday where they said that "under the present conditions, it is very significant that the Albanian government display respect towards the basic democratic principles and fulfil its international obligations." This is apparently a clear reference to the Albanian police's violent interceptions during the mass rallies conducted by the people after the collapse of the get-rich-quick money-making schemes known as "pyramids". A.F. [05] TURKISH AIRCRAFT VIOLATE CYPRUS' FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONNicosia, February 25 (MPA)Two Turkish espionage aircraft, specially equipped for taking photographs, violated the Cypriot FIR yesterday during their flights to Israel.The aircraft, which took off from the Eski Sehir military base, flew into the open regions of Apostle Andreas and Famagusta and then moved on Israel where they landed at Tel Aviv's airport. Last Thursday the same aircraft violated Nicosia's FIR and flew above the sea regions of Rhodes-Cyprus and Pafos-Lemessos. According to the National Guard's General Staff, the Turkish aircraft were searching for photo targets related to the Joint Defense Doctrine. A.F. [06] "THESSALONIKI CULTURAL CAPITAL" ORGANIZATION REFUTES REPORTS OF FOUL PLAYThessaloniki, February 25 (MPA)The director of the "Thessaloniki, Cultural Capital of Europe '97" Organization Kostas Loizos has refuted the numerous press reports of foul play in the organization's finances.Mr. Loizos said that those who are hurling these accusations are targeting aims that are contrary to the best interests of the cultural capital institution. A.F. [07] KOSSOVO'S REBEL ORGANIZATION CALLS ALBANIANS TO AN UPRISEBelgrade, February 25 (MPA)A rebel organization in Kossovo that calls itself the "National Movememt for the Liberation of Kossovo" has called on the area's Albanian-speaking population to embark on an armed, populous uprising "against the Serb conqueror".In a press release forwarded by the organization's members to Pristina's daily "Dnevi Telegrapgh", they write that "the recent terrorist acts performed by the Serb authorities against the Albanians, the arrests and the murders, all lead to the need to undertake the necessary measures for an armed uprising." They also add that this solution is a difficult one, but is the only one that leads to freedom and victory against the Serb conqueror. A.F. [08] FINNISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ON VISIT TO FYROMSkopje, February 25 (MPA)A parliamentary delegation from Finland is currently conducting a visit to FYROM, in order to collect data of the activities performed by the peacekeeping mission UNPREDEP in Skopje.Headed by the President of Finland's Parliamentary Commitee on Foreign Affairs Marku Alonen, the delegates met with the President of FYROM's Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and discussed the tasks of the peacekeeping missions and their contribution to peace and stability in the greater region. The Finnish parliamentary delegation was also received by FYROM's President Kiro Gligorov and the President of FYROM's Parliament Tito Petkovski. 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 |