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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-03-23Macedonian 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, March 23, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS STAFF EMBARK ON STRIKES, PROTEST REVITALIZATIONAthens, March 23 (MPA)The government’s plans to subject the national air carrier, Olympic Airways, to a revitalization process in an effort to reduce the company’s annual operational costs by 50 billion drachmas, through a reduction on overtime, a freeze on new hires, a more flexible working schedule, an increase in working hours and an end to free tickets for the staff, is being met with stiff resistance by the O.A. staff who are to conduct a three-hour work stoppage today between noon and 3 p.m.The President of the Federation of Civil Aviation Association, Michalis Peros announced today that the workers not only do not accept the cutback measures, but are not even open to discussing them. However, he stressed, they will attend Tuesday’s talks in order to submit their proposals. [02] YUGOSLAV DEFENSE MINISTER IN ATHENS ON OFFICIAL VISITAthens, March 23 (MPA)The Defense Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Pavle Bulatovic has embarked on a three-day official visit to Athens, following the invitation of his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos.The two ministers are expected to continue the talks embarked on last May in Belgrade regarding the development of military, economic, scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries in the sector of defense. Also, the two are to focus on matters related to security in the region and strengthening g cooperation and trust between the two countries and their peoples. Mr. Bulatovic is to be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and the Speaker of the House Apostolos Kaklamanis. Tomorrow he will visit Thessaloniki and will also travel to Mount Athos. [03] GREECE’S PRESIDENCY AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEBrussels, March 23 (MPA)The secretary general of the Council of Europe Daniel Tarcshys has stated that Greece is to undertake the presidency of Cof E, in May, during the most significant period of developments in the European arena.Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, in light of his visit to Athens on Wednesday, Mr. Tarschys stated that the CofE’s interest being focused in the Balkan region now more than ever, since the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has submitted an accession request to the European organization, while at the same time, the Parliamentary assembly has decided to embark on Bosnia’s accession process. As such, the Greek-held presidium is to tackle these two issues which are to reform the policy of CofE. The Greek positions and its targets are to be announced on May 5, the day when the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis while present an address before the Foreign mister of the 40 countries-members of the CofE. Moreover, the secretary general saluted the Macedonian Press Agency’s initiative program “Diavlos” which foresees the association and cooperation of the national news agencies of the Balkan region and southeast Europe. Mr.Taschys stated that this is an innovative and pioneering idea and stressed that the council of Europe is in support of such initiatives. Mr. Tarcshys is to be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, the Premier Kostas Simitis, the Speaker of the House Apostolos Kaklamanis and the alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou. [04] ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT GREECE ON MARCH 28Tirana, March 23 (MPA)Albania’s Defense Minister Sabit Brokaj is scheduled to visit the northwestern city of Ioannina on March 28 for talks with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos, according to press reports.The two officials are to discuss the creation of a Balkan peace force, which is being promoted by Greece and Bulgaria. [05] INT’NL POLICY ON EU POLICY IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN TO BE HELD IN ATHENSThessaloniki, March 23 (MPA)Greece’s Foreign Ministry is to host a roundtable conference on "EU policy in the eastern Mediterranean - Is the Barcelona Process working?" in Athens between April 2-3.The European Union's economic and strategic role in the Eastern Mediterranean basin as a major player in its development and political stability will be debated at the conference which is organized jointly by the Lambrakis Research Foundation, the Hellenic Foundation for Europe and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) and the Philip Morris Institute. [06] UN’s CORDOVEZ: RESTARTING TALKS ON CYPRUS IS IMPOSSIBLEAthens, March 23 (MPA)The special envoy of the United Nations secretary-general Diego Cordovez has stated that restarting talks for resolving the Cyprus issue is not possible, following a meeting he had yesterday with the self-called leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash, who insists that his enclave be recognized as a “state” before restarting talks between the two communities.Mr. Cordovez stated that following his talks with the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and Mr. Rauf Denktash, the issue is now up to the Security Council. The UN official is expected to arrive in Athens today where he will be received by Greek’s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis before he departs for Ankara. [07] IBRAHIM RUGOVA REELECTED AS “PRESIDENT” OF KOSSOVO’S ALBANIANSBelgrade, March 23 (MPA)Ibrahim Rugova, the leader of Kossovo’s ethnic Albanians, has been re-elected as “President” during yesterday’s unofficial elections where he was the only candidate.According to the first unofficial results, Mr. Rugova’s party, the “Democratic alliance of Kossovo” gathered the majopr9ity of parliament seats, 130 in all. These elections are not recognized by the Yugoslav government or nay other government in the world. [08] ELECTIONS HELD IN KOSSOVO YESTERDAY WITHOUT EPISODESPrishtina, March 23 (MPA)Presidential and parliamentary elections were held yesterday in Kossovo by the region’s ethnic Albanians, without episodes and fanfare, although they are not recognized by the Yugoslav government.According to the central electorate committee, 85% of the Albanian-speaking voters turned up at the election centers. Meanwhile the “contact group” is to convene today in order to review the developments in the region. The participants are expected to proceed to decisions concerning the imposition of sanctions on the Yugoslav government. [09] SIX AMERICAN PEACE WORKERS ARE JAILED IN KOSSOVOPristina, March 23 (MPA)Six American nationals, members of the non-government organization “Peace workers, remain incarcerated after having been arrested on Saturday and sentenced to a 10-day jail term on the grounds of not having informed the Pristina authorities of their stay in Kossovo.A US embassy spokesperson in Belgrade, who visited the six on Sunday, stated that the US administration will set forth the matter before the contact group’s imminent meeting, to be held on Wednesday in Bonn. Meanwhile, a 15-member delegation of United States officials, headed by three congressmen, was denied access to Kossovo where the members were to meet with Albanian leaders and overview yesterday’s unofficial elections in the region. According to press reports, the Serb authorities refused to grant them a visa. [10] BORIS YELTSIN FIRES HIS CABINET, THE PREMIER INCLUDEDMoscow, March 23 (MPA)Russian President Boris Yeltsin has decided to fire all of his cabinet members, the Prime Minister Victor Cernomirdin included, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. Mr. Yeltsin is said to have asked the ministers to continue with their ministerial tasks until a new cabinet is formed, and also announced that, in the interim, he himself will act as Premier.The sudden news brought on a sharp decline in the country’s stock market and the vice president of Russia Boris Nemfcov stated that it was Mr. Yeltsin’s personal decision to fire everyone. 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 |