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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-08-31Macedonian 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 31, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT FLORINA PREFECTUREAthens, August 31 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is to conduct a two-day visit to the prefecture of Florina on September 5-6. According to the announcement issued by the President’s office, Mr. Stephanopoulos will visit the cities of Amynteo, Florina, the guardhouses of Niki, Koula and Agia Paraskevi, as well as the Prespes lake.[02] FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAYAthens, August 31 (MPA)French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is to arrive in Athens today where he will meet with his Greek counterpart Kostas Simitis in order to discuss the recent financial crisis and ways the European Union can deal with it. The two leaders will also speak this evening on "Democratic Socialism, prospects for the Left and the role of the 'society of citizens' in the Europe of 2000" The discussion will be held at the Grande Bretagne Hotel and begins at 7.30 p.m.[03] GREEK F.M. ANNOUNCES FREE MOVEMENT ZONE BETWEEN GREECE- ALBANIAKorce, August 31 (MPA)Greece’s Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos inaugurated the new general consulate at the Albanian city of Korce yesterday where, within the framework of his visit, he also announced that a free movement border zone on the Greek-Albanian frontier will be introduced next year. Greeks and Albanians living within the zone will be allowed free movement on either side of the border inside the zone, and will have a special, common identification card, Mr. Pangalos explained. This would enable residents inside the zone to live in one country and work across the border in the other country within the designated zone. Mr. Pangalos, who met with his Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo, also inaugurated the Greek library of the city’s university and met with local authorities and leaders of the Greek minority.[04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER COMMENTS ON STATE OF ECONOMYThessaloniki, August 31 (MPA)Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that the developments in the Athens Stock Market constitute a sign of the strength of the country’s economy with the only thing left being the proof, adding that “we will pay in order to learn, but this is neither a catastrophe nor an end to an effort.”In an interview with the local daily “Thessaloniki”, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos criticized the government for its economic policy and pointed out that “we spent valuable time during the past twenty years in order to convince the Greeks that we need to handle our economy prudently, that we need to reduce the deficit and foreign debt and to lower inflation. But, we failed to substantially talk about the manner in which we will strengthen the economy.” Moreover, he said that the country needs an economic policy that will be competitive, based on the expansion of the production base, with improvement in the service sector and a modern approach to expanding the market participation and its needs.” [05] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TSOCHATZOPOULOS TO VISIT TUNISIA ON TUESDAYAthens, August 31 (MPA)Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to depart for an official visit to Tunisia on Tuesday, the first conducted by a Greek defense Minister to that country.Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is to meet with his Tunisian counterpart Ben Yiahan, with who he will sign a defense agreement that foresees not only joint military exercises by the co-production of armaments, thus giving a boost to the Greek armament manufacturers. Moreover, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will be received by the President of Tunisia Ben Ali, the President of the Tunisian parliament and the Tunisian Foreign Minister. During his talks, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is expected to develop the Greek positions regarding the Cyprus issue, the Greek-Turkish relations, as well as Greece’s positions on regional security issues in the Mediterranean. [06] DEPUTY F.M. KRANIDIOTIS ADDRESSES EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY CONFERENCEThessaloniki, August 31 (MPA)Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis stressed the need of an international initiative to defuse tension, restart intercommunal dialogue and reduce armaments on the island of Cyprus, addressing the European Socialist Party (ESP) ''Summer University'' held in Halkidiki. Mr. Kranidiotis stated that the European Union and the United Nations must work toward a solution of this international problem, which stems from the continued occupation of one third of the island republic.[07] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS TODAYAnkara, August 31 (MPA)Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is to pay a visit to the occupied north part of Cyprus today. A Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement in Ankara said that during his one-day visit to the north, Cem will hold talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and other 'officials'. Cem's unscheduled visit will follow the talks last week in Athens between President Glafkos Clerides and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, which focused primarily on the question of deployment of the controversial S-300 missile system on the island.[08] RESULTS OF UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMS ARE OUT, NAMES HAVE BEEN POSTEDAthens, August 31 (MPA)The results of the university entrance exams were released this morning by the Education Ministry, thus putting an end to the agony of thousands of high-school graduates vying for a chance at higher education.Approximately 60,000 students will enter the country’s universities and colleges, while this year’s averages have been lowered significantly when compared to previous years. [09] NATO’S MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE EXPECTED TO BE ASSIGNED IN KOSSOVOWashington, August 31 (MPA)A State Department official has stated that the United States will participate in the organization and assignment of a peacekeeping force in Kossovo, while the commander of NATO forces in Europe Wesley Clark has already requested the participation of the allied nations in sending troops.While NATO officials have not revealed in numbers the size of the American participation, they did stress that the exercises to be conducted in FYROM during September are to feature the participation of 11 NATO members. Moreover, they added that no decision has been made for the use of a multinational force in Kossovo. [10] TURKISH-ISRAELI MILITARY EXERCISE TO TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 13- 18Ankara, August 31 (MPA)Turkey and Israel are preparing a new military exercise to take place between September 13-18. This will be the second joint military exercise to take place after the signing of a military accord between the two countries in 1996. Six Turkish air force F-16 jets will fly towards Israel on September 12 in order to join the Israeli F-16s in maneuvers. This exercise will be different from the tri-partite US-Israel- Turkey exercise "Reliant Mermaid" held last January since it will feature the air forces of both countries,. A second "Reliant Mermaid" is planned for November, featuring the participation of Jordan.[11] EU CONCERNED OVER BELGRADE’S BEHAVIOR TOWARDS FOREIGN JOURNALISTSBrussels, August 31 (MPA)Austria, presently holding the European Union’s rotating presidency, has criticized Belgrade for forbidding entrance to journalists at Kossovo, while it also has expressed the concern over the expulsion of German journalists from Belgrade.In its statement, the Austrian government reminded Serb President Slobodan Milosevic that the freedom of expression constitutes a fundamental human right and called on the Yugoslav government to contribute to the improvement of the foreign correspondents’ working conditions. [12] ALBANIA: MAIN OPPOSITION TO DEFY STATE’S ORDER NOT TO HOLD RALLYTirana, August 31 (MPA)The Albanian Ministry of Public Order is in a state of readiness after the decision drawn by the main opposition Democratic Party to defy the ministry’s relevant order and hold a protest rally in the capital city’s central square.Public Order Minster Perikli Teta, speaking to the state- owned television station, issued an appeal to all of Tirana’s residents to refrain from taking part in the rally. “We have reports that there will be armed individuals in the rally who might create episodes,” Mr. Teta said, revealing that two days ago a group of terrorists entered a military camp and removed large quantities of ammunition. Meanwhile, Democratic Party deputy Azem Haidari reiterated his party’s determination to proceed with protest rallies that aim at overthrowing, even with violent means, the Nano-led government. [13] WESTERN MACEDONIA CHAMBERS MEET TO DISCUSS PRESENCE ABROADKozani, August 31 (MPA)The various chambers of western Macedonia are to meet on Wednesday at the city of Kozani in order to discuss the opportunities for a combined penetration in the Balkan market.The western Macedonia chambers’ representatives are to meet with the general director of the Inter-Balkan and Black Sea Business Center Charalambos Tsarouhas, as well as with the chairman of the Inter-Balkan cooperation center Kostas Delides. The participants will discuss the various ways of coordinating their efforts which would render their presence in the Balkan countries more productive. 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 |