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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-06-18Macedonian 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 PRES AGENCYThessaloniki, June 17, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] SIMITIS: THE OUTCOME OF THE EU SUMMIT IS POSITIVE FOR GREECEAthens 18 June (MPA)The Greek Prime Minister characterized the outcome of the EU Summit meeting in Amsterdam as positive for the Greek positions.Mr.Simitis underlined that in the common foreign policy chapter a clause is included which provides for the protection of the EU external borders and backs political solidarity. For the first time ever, said mr.Simitis, the EU agreed that there should be a common defense policy. Mr.Simitis stated that with the new regulations the problem of unemployment will be handled more effectivelly, while he added that the clauses for the protection of citizens and social rights will improve the living conditions for the European citizens. He characterized the treaty of Amsterdam as an important step toward a more democratic and effective Europe, as it creates the preconditions for a new EU enlargement to include Cyprus and the Eastern European countries. [02] PAPANTONIOU: THE GREEK GOVERNMENT REMAINS FIRM IN ITS ECONOMIC POLICYAthens 18 June (MPA)Greek Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou stressed in a press conference that the government remains firm in its economic policy.Mr.Papantoniou stated that the government will implement the economic policy it has approved and which has already given specific positive results. He also clarified that in the EU Summit meeting in Amsterdam the issue of the relaxation of the Maastricht criteria was not raised. Mr.Papantoniou stated that the government's target regarding inflation is to keep it on the average at 5,9% throughout the year, while he stated that due to the deescalation of inflation the workers' real income will increase by 3%. The growth rate of the GNP is estimated to reach 3,5% in 1997. Already tax revenues have increased by 11%, while the target set was 14,6%. [03] THE GREEK-FYROM TALKS WILL RESUME IN AUGUSTNew York 18 June (MPA)The latest round of Greek-FYROM talks on the issue of the name, that will be used by FYROM, ended without a concrete outcome and it was decided that discussions between the two sides will resume in early August.The talks took place in the office of UN Secretary-General special mediator mr.Cyrus Vance. Greece and FYROM were represented by Ambassadors Christos Zacharakis and Ivan Tosefski respectivelly. [04] 2 MILLION TOURISTS WILL VISIT NORTHERN GREECE THIS YEARThessaloniki 18 June (MPA)Two million tourists will visit northern Greece this year and the majority of them will come from the countries of central Europe, the Balkans and Russia, while a wave of tourists from FYROM is expected to arrive in July and August.First in the preference of foreign visitors come the regions of Thessaloniki, Chalkidiki and Pieria. [05] THE LEFTIST PARTY IN SWEDEN URGES THE SWEDES NOT TO VISIT TURKEYStockholm 18 June (MPA)The Central Committee of the Swedish Party of the Left calls on the Swedes not to travel to Turkey this summer.The party urges the people to avoid visiting Turkey in a protest to the continuing invasion of Iraq and the attacks against the Kurds, while in a statement it has issued it is stressed that Turkey violates human rights in the worst possible way. Party Secretary mr.Lars Ohly stated that by cancelling the summer vacations to Turkey, the Swidish people will show solidarity to the Kurdish minority, while he also maintained that the rest political parties in Sweden should follow his party's example and issue the same appeal. [06] THE US WILL ASK FOR EXPLANATIONS FROM TURKEY ON THE 9 WARSHIPS THAT HAVE ARRIVED IN THE OCCUPIED PORTS OF CYPRUSWashington 18 June (MPA)The United States will ask for explanations from Turkey concerning the arrival of 9 warships at the ports of Famagusta and Kerynia in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus, according to US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns.Mr.Burns expressed the US concern over the information for movements of Turkish warships, adding that the US do not know the reasons behind those Navy manoeuvres. He also stated that it is very important to maintain a climate of cooperation and stability before the peace talks between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that will be held in mid July under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. According to information, the Turkish warships will remain in the occupied ports until tomorrow. [07] THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTSAthens 18 June (MPA)The Amnesty International report on the human rights situation all over the world was given to publicity today. It includes negative comments on the Turkish human rights record, while several state governments are condemned over the fact that they have not assumed their responsibilities for the waves of refugees trying to escape from regions with armed conflicts. According to the report, the number of refugees worldwide has doubled over the last decade.Regarding Turkey is pointed out that tortures continue to be a regular practice in police stations and a number of people have died while in police custody. [08] MR.GLIGOROV SEES IN A POSITIVE WAY THE POLICY FOLLOWED BY MR.SIMITISWashington 18 June (MPA)FYROM's President Kiro Gligorov stated to US President Bill Clinton that he sees positivelly the policy followed by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in the Balkans.Mr.Gligorov met in Washington with the US President to discuss the situation in the Balkans as well as, FYROM's accession into NATO. [09] THE GREEK EXPORTS TO YUGOSLAVIA SHOWED AN IMPRESSIVE INCREASEThessaloniki 18 June (MPA)The Greek exports to Yugoslavia showed an impressive increase compared to the Greek export activity to the country before the war in former Yugoslavia and the UN embargo.In the first 10 months of 1996, exports doubled in the region of New Yugoslavia compared to the exports in 1990 in the whole former Yugoslavia . Nevertheless, there is skepticism over the fact that the largest part in the total export earnings, 70%, comes from fuel, while in 1990 the fuel sector covered just 11% of the Greek exports. At the same time, traditional Greek products, which in the past occupied the first place in the Greek exports, have not regained the ground they have lost in that specific market since the early '90's. [10] ALBANIA WANTS A THREE-MONTH EXTENSION TO THE MANDATE OF THE MULTI-NATIONAL PROTECTION FORCETirana 18 June (MPA)Albania with a letter to the UN Security Council asks for a three-month extension to the mandate of the multi-national protection force deployed in the country, while its permanent representative to the international organization mr.Pellumb Kulla referred to the positive effects of the force's presence.At the same time, it has also circulated in the UN and the 6th fortnightly report issued by Italy on the activities of the multi-national force in Albania which is under Italian command. Among others, it mentions the need for the extention of the force's three-month mandate, which ends one day before the June 29 Albanian elections. Meanwhile, the tension continues in the Albanian south as the attacks of armed gungs have not ceased. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of the Interior, 18 people have lost their lives in the last 24 hours. [11] THE WORK OF 4 GREEK POETS WAS PRESENTED IN SKOPJESkopje 18 June (MPA)The work of 4 Greek poets was persented in Skopje last Monday in the presence of representatives of FYROM's artistic, cultural and scientific community.The presentation of the work of Odysseas Elytis, Giorgos Seferis, Yiannis Ritsos and Nikiforos Vretakos was made by University of Skopje distinguished professor mr.Atanas Vagelov, who stressed among others, that cultural diplomacy has made significant steps toward the strengthening of relations between Greece and FYROM. [12] SEVEN TONS OF GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE ALBANIAN CITY OF POGRADECThessaloniki 18 June (MPA)The 7 tons of humanitarian aid gathered by hospitals in Thessaloniki will arrive in the Albanian city of Pogradec tomorrow, within the framework of the Doctors of the World mission, and under the protection of Italian troops that belong to the multi-national force deployed in the country.The aid includes 5 tons of medicine and medical equipment and 2 tons of food destined for Pogradec's hospital. [13] THE BSEC'S PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY MEETING CONTINUES IN ATHENSAthens 18 June (MPA)The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pact Parliamentary Assembly, PABSEC, meeting opened in Athens today and Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos stressed in his message, the important role of economic cooperation among the member states as well as, the decisive role PABSEC is being called to play in the efforts for the strengthening of pluralistic and democratic structures and political stability in the sensitive region of the Black Sea.Earlier, Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis had welcomed the positive steps already made in the 4 years since the establishment of BSEC, with a special reference to the creation of a Free Transactions Zone in the region, which will lead to the liberalization of trade and the strengthening of the states' economies. The Plenary Session of PABSEC has unanimously approved the membership of the Bulgarian Parliament, while the Georgian vice- President of the organization asked for Greece's assistance in order for BSEC to acquire an observer status both in the EU and in the OSCE. 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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