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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-08-11Macedonian 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 THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, August 11, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] IMF ISSUES REPORT ON GREEK ECONOMYAthens, August 11 (MPA)An International Monetary Fund report commends Greece on its economic recovery and states that the inflation rate is not to fall below 5 percent this year and 3.5 percent in 1999, these figures being higher than government targets of 4.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. According to the annual report, if Greece is to meet the Maastricht criteria by next year it has to adopt tighter policies to qualify for membership of the single currency by 2001.In addition to a more aggressive rate of privatizations, the IMF calls for the abolition of redundancy ceilings, cuts in severance pay and lower minimum wages, especially for youth and unskilled workers. [02] SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES OVER KOSSOVO’S FERMENTING CRISISPrishtina, August 11 (MPA)The United Nations Security Council is to convene today in order to review the situation at hand at the strife-torn region of Kossovo.According to up-to-date reports, the SC is not expected to arrive at a decision for sending troops to the region. Meanwhile, reports abound concerning clashes between Serb troops and KLA guerrillas. [03] MORE CYPRIOTS TO SEEK LEGAL RECOURSE AGAINST TURKEYNicosia, August 11 (MPA)More Greek-Cypriots are to seek legal recourse against Turkey, following the path led by Titina Loizidou who was recently awarded compensation of $600,000 by the European Human Rights Court which found that Turkey deprived her of her right to peacefully enjoy her property. Residents from Leukoniko, currently residing in Great Britain, are to file suits against Turkey for the illegal airport at Leukoniko. The lawyers estimate that it will take three or four years to hear these cases.[04] GOVERNMENT PRESENTS PACKAGE OF AID MEASURES FOR FIRE VICTIMSAthens, August 11 (MPA)The government has presented a package of measures for damages caused by recent devastating forest fires throughout Greece.According to the Minister of the Interior Alekos Papadopoulos, the measures are worth about 20 billion drachmas and include a payment of 200,000 drachmas to each burned residence's owner, as well as compensation of up to two million drachmas for damages to household goods as well as 15-year, interest-free loans for home purchasing. Moreover, the various relevant ministries are to cooperate in order to ensure compensation for those farmers whose cultivated land was destroyed. Greece is to request from the European Union that olive oil subsidies be continued. [05] UN SECRETARY GENERAL EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER KOSSOVO CRISISNew York, August 11 (MPAThe situation in Kossovo continues to deteriorate, raising alarm about the implications for regional security, according to a new report by Secretary- General Kofi Annan which was released yesterday. The Secretary-General reports that heavy fighting has increased between the security forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kossovo Liberation Army (KLA). "The numbers of civilian and military casualties are at their highest point since the outbreak of the fighting," he observes, adding, "The attitudes of the two sides appear to be hardening with every day of fighting." The Secretary-General expresses concern about the continuing infiltration of weapons and fighting men from outside the borders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "The sharp escalation of violence and the reported use of excessive force by security forces against civilians as part of the government operations against the KLA are cause for both distress and alarm." The situation is aggravated by the failure of the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Albanian Kossovars to enter into serious negotiations on the future status of Kossovo, the Secretary- General states. He warns that the conflict has dangerous implications for the stability of the region. "Given the responsibilities of the United Nations in the wider region and the ethnic makeup in neighboring countries, I cannot but express my alarm at this prospect." According to the report, the unrelenting violence has led to a dramatic increase in internally displaced persons in Kossovo and Montenegro, with more than 100,000 people driven from their homes. The Secretary-General warns that as local food production has come to a standstill, food shortages could worsen sharply. "With the increasing number of displaced persons and the approaching winter, Kossovo has the potential of becoming a humanitarian disaster." The Secretary-General reports that United Nations agencies are working to forestall a crisis, but donors have only pledged a small portion of the funds needed for the effort. [06] JULY WAS HOTTEST MONTH ON RECORD THROUGHOUT THE WORLDWashington, August 11 (MPA)July was the hottest month ever throughout the world, a trend attributed to global warming according to the United States National Climatic Data Center in North Carolina. The Earth's average temperature for July was 61.7 degrees Fahrenheit, 1.26 degrees hotter than typical, according to the figures compiled by the Center.[07] TURKEY’S HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS CONDEMNED AT RELATED CONFERENCENicosia, August 11 (MPA)Turkey's gross violation of human rights in Cyprus as well as within the country itself were pointed out, during the 50th Session of the "Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities". The Turkish Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, claimed "the Cyprus question is a complicated one whose human rights aspect is directly connected to its more intricate political dimension". Describing his claim as a "shocking pronouncement", his Cypriot counterpart, Petros Eftychiou, pointed out that "human rights are not a favor to be conceded on the basis of one's whims and political expediencies." He stressed that "political differences can and should be negotiated no matter how intricate they may be, but human rights should never be a bargaining chip for negotiations."[08] PHILIPPINES EDUCATION MINISTER DEFENDS GREEK DICTIONARYManila, August 11 (MPA)The Education Minister of Philippines Andrew Gonzales has defended the definition of "Filipino" in a Greek dictionary as "housemaid," by stating that “regardless of how much this may hurt us, it is linguistically correct and reflects a social reality.” Philippine Ambassador to Athens Norberto Basilio, filed a formal protest on behalf of his country with the Greek government last Wednesday, stating that the description was "an affront to the dignity" of Philippine women and demanded a correction. The Philippines has more than four million nationals working overseas, including Greece, many of them as domestic help. Manila has called them its "modern day heroes" for helping prop up the economy with their dollar remittances, worth more than $7 billion in 1997.[09] PREFECTS EMBARK ON FIRE DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS BEFORE PAYOUTSAthens, August 11 (MPA)The prefectural agencies of the country are to embark on assessments of the damages caused by the recent fires that devastated the country, in order to begin granting payments to those who suffered losses from the blazes. The total cost of the measures is estimated at 20 billion drachmas, an amount which the opposition parties claim is insufficient.[10] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH FRENCH COUNTERPART TODAY IN ANTIPAROSAthens, August 11 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to meet with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin today, who is currently touring the Cyclades islands with his wife. Mr. Simitis will fly to Antiparos by helicopter where he will welcome the visiting premier and his wife before joining them on Sifnos. Mr. Jospin will then continue his vacation. The two leaders are to hold official talks on August 31.[11] ALBANIAN FM: DON’T IMPLICATE ALBANIA IN US EMBASSIES TERRORIST ATTACKSTirana, August 11 (MPA)Albania’s Foreign Minister Paskal Milo categorically refuted rumors concerning Albanian involvement in the recent terrorist attacks against the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.According to Mr. Milo, these accusations aim at convincing the public opinion that Albania is supposedly an action base for Islamic terrorists. He further added that in spite of the efforts to harm US -Albania relations, the two countries enjoy harmonious ties which will continue. [12] CALVIN KLEIN TO GIVE FASHION SHOW AT HERODION, GOVERNMENT SAYS OKAthens, August 11 (MPA)The Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos has reversed a decision drawn by the Central Archaeological Council, thus allowing US fashion designer Calvin Klein to present his clothing line at Athens’ ancient Herod Atticus theater in the fall. In its decision, the Council had said that the fashion show was an inappropriate event to take place at the ancient theater which is mostly used for ancient drama performances and musical concerts. However, Mr. Venizelos stated that "the nature and purpose of the event does not pose a problem for the venue". Revenues from the Calvin Klein event are to be funneled into the construction of the new Acropolis museum.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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