Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-10-23

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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, October 23, 1997

TITLES

[01] STATE DEPARTMENT’S SPOKESMAN ADMITS TO BLUNDER

[02] US PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

[03] PM INAUGURATES STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANY’S HYDROELECTRIC STATION

[04] MOST OF GREECE’S WORKFORCE GOES ON STRIKE TODAY

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] STATE DEPARTMENT’S SPOKESMAN ADMITS TO BLUNDER

Washington, October 23 (MPA)

“I didn’t do my job well,” Mr. Rubin said, marking a complete turnaround from his previous stance. He added that the United States have recommended to Ankara that it avoid provocative actions.

Mr. Rubin’s original statement read that the Greek Air Force’s C-130 flight constituted a violation of the flights moratorium over Cyprus. This had stirred a stern reaction from the Greek government.

At that time, diplomatic circles in Washington had predicted that Mr. Rubin’s unprecedented statement was sure to provoke a reaction from the Greek government. Shortly thereafter, according to diplomatic sources, the State Department was pressured into modifying Mr. Rubin’s original statement by the US presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke.

According to these reports, the American diplomat told the State Department that this statement compromises not only his credibility as a mediator in the Greek-Turkish differences and the Cyprus issue, but his authority as well. A.F.

[02] US PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

Washington, October 23 (MPA)

His All Holiness and the American President discussed issues concerning the Patriarchate and the Theological School of Chalke. President Clinton expressed his support for the Patriarchate and re-opening of the school.

Also, Mr. Clinton and the Ecumenical Patriarchate discussed Greek-Turkish issues and emphasis was granted on the bridging role that his All Holiness plays between the two neighbors. The Ecumenical Patriarch is to meet with the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright today, while the U.S. vice-president Al Gore will host a luncheon in his honor. A.F.

[03] PM INAUGURATES STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANY’S HYDROELECTRIC STATION

Thessaloniki, October 23 ( MPA)

The station’s electricity-production capacity is estimated at 1,300 annual megawatts, while it is to produce at least 570,000 cubic meters of water for irrigation and provide jobs for 1,000 persons.

Mr. Simitis is accompanied by the Ministers of Development Vaso Papandreou, Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas and Macedonia- Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos. A.F.

[04] MOST OF GREECE’S WORKFORCE GOES ON STRIKE TODAY

Athens, October 23 (MPA)

Hospitals will only accept emergency cases as state doctors are also participating in the strike, while those who opted to travel with Olympic Airways today are in for a long wait as the OA’s staff will conduct a work stoppage this afternoon between 12 and three. Also, the country’s teachers and professors are to hold a work stoppage, two hours in the morning shift and two in the evening. Meanwhile, employees of the State Electricity company (DEH) are continuing their strike for a second day, which has led the DEH administration to appeal to consumers that they limit their electricity consumption.

The strikers’ most common and resounding demand is increase of incomes and changes in the taxing system, as well as improved working conditions and collective negotiations. 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/

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