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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-09-06Macedonian 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, September 6, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] PRIME MINISTER: GREEK ECONOMY SHOWS SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENTThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, in a press interview given on the sidelines of the 63rd International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki, stated that the guidelines of the government’s policy are the steadfast continuation of modernizing initiatives and the structural changes in the economy, as well as the systematic development of the new social state with the creation of a new social insurance system for those who are actually in need. Mr. Simitis also sent a message of confidence on the country's national issues, saying that we "are stepping firmly with our political arguments, with our alliances and with boosting our defenses", adding that "we have nothing to fear if we rally together and if we plan tomorrow and our strategy soberly, defending peace and stability."[02] GREEK PREMIER: WE WILL CONTINUE WITH SAME POLICY FOR NEXT TWO YEARSThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stressed the need for the government to continue with the same policy for the following two years in order to achieve Greece’s accession to the Economic and Monetary Union. Speaking at Thessaloniki’s 63rd International Trade Fair, the Premier also advised everyone, especially the business world, to exercise restrain in order to reduce inflation. In a thinly disguised reference to the opposition parties, Mr. Simitis said that there are no easy solutions.[03] NORTHERN GREECE IS A LOCOMOTIVE OF DEVELOPMENT, SAYS PREMIERThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis has stated that Northern Greece and Thessaloniki are steadily being transformed into a locomotive of development, radiance and cooperation with its neighbors and to levers for a new period of development, prosperity and peace for all the Balkans. During his address at the 63rd International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki, Mr. Simitis referred to the most important infrastructure works being carried out in northern Greece and assured the people of Thessaloniki that in the next few weeks the signing of an awarding contract will go ahead with the contractor company for the construction of the Metro, as well as the process for ratification by Parliament for necessary initial works to get underway immediately. In parallel, he said that the works for the city's water supply from the Aliakmonas River (budgeted at 30 billion drachmas) with the year 2000 being the horizon for completion, as well as for sewage treatment and drainage (budgeted at 25 billion drachmas) are going ahead. Commenting on major projects in northern Greece, Mr. Simitis referred to progress observed in the construction of the Egnatia motorway, saying that many more kilometers (422 km) were either under construction or at a tendering phase, adding that by the end of 1998 asphalting work will be completed over a distance of 66 km.[04] DEFENSE MINISTER: GREECE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A MORE FAVORABLE POSITIONThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)The Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, during his visit at the 63rd International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki, stressed that the country has never before been in a more favorable and stable position within her environment.Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that the process of reforms at a production level as an effort the country needs to undertake in order to achieve the Economic and Monetary Union by the year 2000 is the target to be followed by the private and public sectors. [05] MAIN OPPOSITION AND COMMUNIST PARTY COMMENT ON P.M.’S ADDRESSThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)The main opposition party New Democracy and the Communist Party of Greece have not responded favorably to the Premier’s address before the 63rd’s International trade Fair of Thessaloniki, wherein he outlined the state’s economy policy for the year 1999. New Democracy’s spokesperson Aris Spiliotopoulos said that the Prime Minister insists on following his failed policy and added that a time when the ruling PASOK party asks the people to be untied, the party itself appears deeply divided. The Communist Party of Greece stated that the Premier once more provokes the working class, the poor farmers, the small incomes and the pensioners, while at the same time allows for plutocracy to applaud him.[06] 63RD TIF ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AS OF YESTERDAYThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)Thousands of people from Greece and throughout the Balkan region are visiting Thessaloniki’s 63rd International Trade Fair as of yesterday. The Fair covers a space of 180,000 square meters, and its administration, HELEXPO, hopes to double the number of visitors this year, which naturally would lead to an increase in trade agreements. The Fair will come to a close on the night of September 4. This year's TIF honors the participation of the People's Republic of China, whose pavilion is one of the biggest and covers 500 square meters.[07] TIF TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM N/L ECONOMY MINISTRY TO MACEDONIA- THRACEThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)The Ministry overseeing the International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki will be Macedonia-Thrace, announced the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis during his meeting held today with the HELEXPO’s administration (the agency overseeing the ITF’s organization) and its chairman Antonis Kourtis. . Mr. Simitis stated that the ITF is being transferred from the Ministry of National Economy in order to facilitate the decision making process and make the Fair’s operation more productive.Mr. Kourtis expressed his surprise at the decision and said that he believes it will be a nice change for all. On other matters, Mr. Simitis saluted the Fair’s role in promoting Greece as a competitive member of the international economic arena. [08] MINISTER OF PRESS AND MEDIA INAUGURATES PAVILION AT 63RD ITFThessaloniki, September 6 (MPA)The Minister of Press and Media and government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas, presently in Thessaloniki for the 63rd International Trade fair, saluted the successful course of the Macedonian Press Agency, as well as the other mass media, during the inauguration of the Ministry’s pavilion.Mr. Reppas met with the MPA ‘s General Director Spyros Kouzinopoulos and was briefed on the Agency’s task, the role it carries in the sensitive area of information, especially for the Greeks living abroad, through the Internet. Mr. Kouzinopoulos informed the Minster that the MPA’s calls on the Internet increase on a daily basis, a fact that displays its credibility and recognition by millions of viewers throughout the world. Mr. Reppas, in his salutation, stated that the pavilion illustrates, in the best possible manner the true face of the Ministry of Press and Mass Media. “We live in an information society, a society which is characterized by competitiveness and quality, demands placed upon all. “We are trying to equip the sector , the Greek society and the citizens with the necessary tools that will allow us to enter the 21st century and acquire an admirable position in the information society,” Mr. Reppas stated. [09] RUSSIA’S DUMA TO VOTE TOMORROW OVER CERNOMYRDIN’S APPOINTMENTMoscow, September 6 (MPA)Russia's lower house of parliament (Duma) is to vote tomorrow on prime minister-designate Victor Cernomyrdin in the second of three possible votes, although it has made clear its overwhelming rejection of President Yeltsin's choice of premier. If Mr. Cernomyrdin is rejected by the Duma three times, President Yeltsin will have to dissolve the House and call an early parliamentary election. Mr. Chernomyrdin won the support of only 94 of the Duma's 450 members last Monday. In order to be elected, he needs at least 226 votes.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 |