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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-06-24Macedonian 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, June 24, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] THESSALONIKI HOSTS MEETING ON SOCIAL DIALOGUE PROGRESS IN EUROPEThessaloniki, June 24 (MPA)The first International Meeting for the Development of Social Dialogue in the countries of Central and south-eastern Europe will begin in Thessaloniki this evening.The Meeting's primary aim is to institutionalise cooperation among the southeastern European social allies and to establish a permanent observatory that will provide two-way information between the European Union and the region's countries. The initiative for the event was taken by the Greek Economic and Social Committee (OKE) which hopes to cover the cooperation gaps left by the various political and business-related conferences frequently held lately. Specifically, the organizers would like to form a mechanism that will expedite the process towards an institutional modernization and promote the updating of the various governments' institutional framework as a necessary pre-condition for harmonizing the southeastern European countries' economies with the demands of the European Union. The participants will also look into promoting the process of a permanent social and economic dialogue among the southeastern European countries on issues concerning development, employment and immigration. Participating in the meeting will be 30 institutes from eight countries: 15 trade unions from Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Croatia, FYROM and Slovenia and 11 employment associations from Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey. Greece will be represented by 26 delegates from the Greek Labourers' Union GSEE, the Association of Greek industries, the Confederation of Greek Trade and others. The Meeting will be saluted by the Minister of Macedonia- Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos, the undersectretary to the Prime Minister George Paschalides, and the Secretaries-General of the Ministries of National Economy and Labor, Apostolos Fotiades and V. Brakatsulas respectively, as well as the Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Kosmopoulos. A.F. [02] GREEK PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IS CURRENTLY IN CUBAAthens, June 24 (MPA)A nine-member parliamentary delegation is currently on a seven-day official visit to Cuba, led by Greece's former Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias.The delegates, representatives of the parliamentary committee of National Defense and Foreign Affairs, met yesterday with their Cuban counterparts with whom they discussed bilateral matters, with special emphasis given to Greece's national issues, as well as to the European Union's ties with Cuba and the United States. Mr. Papoulias relayed the Greek government's gratitude for Cuba's unreserved and continuous support in regards to the Cyprus issue,as well as on other matters of national interest. During their stay in Havana, the Greek parliamentarians will meet with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Robaina, Foreign Investments and Economic Cooperation Mr. Ferradaz and Foreign Trade Mr. Cabrisas. A.F. [03] PRESIDENT OF NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENT ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROWAthens, June 24 (MPA)The President of the Norwegian Parliament Christi Grodahl is to embark on a four-day visit to Athens tomorrow, following an invitation issued by her Greek counterpart Apostolos Kaklamanis.Ms. Grodahl will be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos , while she will also meet with Mr. Kaklamanis, the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis and the members of the parliamentary group Greek- Scandinavian Friendship. Moreover, Ms. Grodahl will meet with the leader of the main oppposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis and the Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos. A.F. [04] PRESIDENT OF GREEK PARLIAMENT TO RECEIVE YUGOSLAV PREMIER TOMORROWAthens, June 24 (MPA)The President of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis is to receive the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia Radoye Kodic tomorrow morning.Later, Mr. Kaklamanis will meet with the President of the European Audit Department Mr. Friedman. A.F. [05] GREEK, SERB BUSINESSMEN TO COOPERATE IN TRADE AND JOINT VENTURESBanja Luca, June 24 (MPA)A series of significant opportunities for the economic trade between Greece and Serbia are emerging through the sectors of trade and joint ventures.The Serbian Vice-President Dragoljub Mirianic received the members of the Greek delegation from the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce in Banja Luca who briefed the Serb leader on the plans currently under way to promote cooperation between the regional chambers of commerce. Mr. Mirianic stressed that "we must not forget the aid given to us by the Greek people during the course of the recent war and during the sanctions period. "Now, at a time of peace, the Serbian political leadership encourages the Greek economy to find its niche in our country, more so because Greece has the economic system that we would like to establish." Similar contacts will continue in the upcoming fall, when a Serb business delegation will visit Greece in September. A.F. [06] SCHENGEN'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN LISBONLisbon, June 24 (MPA)The executive committee of the Schengen accord is currently in session in Lisbon, Spain, examining issues concerning the accord's application at a European level.The Greek side is represented by the Foreign Ministry's Secretary-General for European Affairs, Stelios Perakis. He is to request Holland's and France's immediate approval of Greece's inclusion to the accord. Greece will request that the Accord be enforced in Greece at the same time it will be activated in Austria, that is October 26, although a small waiting period may be enacted. A.F. [07] GREECE HAS A VERY LOW CRIME RATE, ACCORDING TO US STATE DEPARTMENTWasshington, June 24 (MPA)Greece is a country with a very low crime rate and a stable government, is how the State Department describes the coutnry within the framework of the travel advisories that it provides through the telephone to all those who wish to visit Greece.While reference is made in the travel advisory to the November 17 terrorist organization, it does point out that the group has never attacked tourists, as its targets are politicians of various nationalities. A similar report is given by the Los Angeles Times which writes that the tourist areas are quite safe, and also emphasizes the country's strong police presence. The L.A.Times article also mentions that in an effort to combat smog, the Greek government is reducing working hours and is taking measures to curb traffic in the center of town. A.F. [08] BRITAIN REJECTS TURKEY'S DEMARCHE REGARDING CYPRUS' ACCESSION TO THE EULondon, June 24 (MPA)The British government has rejected a demarche filed by Turkey to the Commission wherein the Turkish government links Cyprus' accession to the European Union with that of Turkey's.Ankara, referring to the 1960 accord which prohibits its union with any other country, claims that Cyprus cannot accede to the EU and warns that the imminent accession talks will bear negative effects on the resolution of the Cypriot issue. However, the Turkish undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oymen who signed the demarche, according to the BBC, states that the beginning of accession talks betwen Cyprus and the EU would be acceptable if the talks on Turkey's accession to the EU were to also start simultaneously. Britain's response to the Turkish government was that "Cyprus accession to the EU does not mean its union with another country but, rather, its participation to an international organization." A.F. [09] "OMONIA" LEADERS CALL ON COMPATRIOTS TO VOTE IN ALBANIA'S ELECTIONSThessaloniki, June 24 (MPA)In a gathering held in Thessaloniki yesterday evening, the President of the Albania-based organization "Omonia" which comprises Greeks from northern Epirus living in Albania, George Labovitiades, appealled to his compatriots that they vote in Albania's general eletions on June 29.Mr. Labovitiades stated that Omonia's dynamic presence in the Albanian parliament will provide the necessary prerequisites for addressing the rights of the Greek minority living in Albania. A.F. [10] GREECE EARNS GOLD IN TENNIS DURING MEDITERRANEAN GAMES HELD IN BARIBaria, June 24 (MPA)Greece has earned the gold medal in tennis during the Bari- held Mediterranean Games, where Christina Zachariadou and Christina Papadaki won in the women's doubles.In sailing, Greece's Andreas Kosmatopoulos and Kostas Trigonis earned the silver. A.F. [11] STATE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS START TOMORROWThessaloniki, June 24 (MPA)Greek high-school students have hit the books and are feverishly studying in light of the state university entrance examinations which are to start tomorrow.Passing the nation-wide exams is the prerequisite for entering the public university and technical schools. This year, 170,000 candidates will vie for a chance at a college degree. A.F. [12] MARLON BRANDO, HARD CORE ENVIRONMENTALIST, GIVES SPEECH IN ATHENSAthens, June 24 (MPA)The legendary actor Marlon Brando showed his tough stance towards industries and politicians whom he considers responsible for the pollution of the environment, during a speech he gave in Athens last night.Mr. Brando, who is currently on a private visit to Athens, stressed that the only way to save the environment is to keep hoping, while he also made extensive reference to the world's minority races for whom no one cares, especially for the American Indians. 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 |