Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-11-27

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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 THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, November 27, 1998

TITLES

[01] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES TO MEET WITH PREMIER SIMITIS TODAY

[02] GREECE IS FYROM’S NUMBER ONE INVESTOR, VOLUME ABOVE $250 MILLION

[03] OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ALBANIANS SAYS YES TO CONSTITUTION

[04] PREMIER SPEAKS BEFORE FOREIGN PRESS CORRESPONDENTS

[05] GREEK PM COMMENTS ON KURDISH ISSUE DURING FOREIGN PRESS INTERVIEW

[06] GREEK PM: CONTINENTAL SHELF IS THE ONLY REAL GREEK- TURKISH DIFFERENCE

[07] DEFENSE MINISTER: GREEK SOLDIERS TO TAKE PART IN NATO’S FORCE AT FYROM

[08] RUSSIA: FORMER PM KIRIYENKO TO FORM NEW PARTY

[09] CZECH COMMISSION TO RETURN JEWISH PROPERTY

[10] GREECE’S AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CHARTER HAILS PINOCHET DEVELOPMENT

[11] GREECE, EGYPT EMBARK ON JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND

[12] BALKAN AUTHORS MEET IN THESSALONIKI TODAY FOR LITERARY EVENTS

[13] ITALY’S FM TELLS CORRIERE DELLA SERA: OCALAN’S ASYLUM NOT A GOOD IDEA

[14] THESSALONIKI HOSTS CONFERENCE ON GREEKS OF MINOR ASIA

[15] LABOR ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE GRD7 BILLION FOR JOBLESS COLLEGE GRADS

[16] ATHENS-THESSALONIKI RAIL REPAIRED, BUT WORKERS WILL GO ON STRIKE

[17] BALKAN CONFERENCE OF CARTOGRAPHY CONCLUDES IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES TO MEET WITH PREMIER SIMITIS TODAY

Athens, November 27 (MPA)

During yesterday’s press conference, Mr. Simitis referred to the S-300 missiles in Cyprus and whether or not they will be installed there, by stating that “Cyprus must have an effective defense and all means leading to this aim fall within this framework system.” Moreover, he stated that “the missile system is not an end in itself” and stressed that he will discuss with the Cypriot President what will be the necessary step to be taken this time.

[02] GREECE IS FYROM’S NUMBER ONE INVESTOR, VOLUME ABOVE $250 MILLION

Skopje, November 26 (MPA)

Mr. Mallias spoke at a press conference on the occasion of the imminent Second Exhibition of Greek Ventures, to be held at Skopje from December 2 to 5.

The exhibition will feature the participation of more than 80 Greek businesses.

[03] OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ALBANIANS SAYS YES TO CONSTITUTION

Tirana, November 27 (MPA)

Voter turnout amounted to 50.7% of those eligible to cast their ballot.

Meanwhile, opposition parties, led by Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party, refuse to acknowledge the referendum’s results, accusing the government of rigging.

[04] PREMIER SPEAKS BEFORE FOREIGN PRESS CORRESPONDENTS

Athens, November 27 (MPA)

Referring to his meeting today with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, Mr. Simitis said that the meeting had been scheduled for quite some time and had not been arranged especially to discuss Nicosia's plans to install Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus.

"The Greek government will be briefed on developments in two major issues raised by President Clerides, namely the Cyprus problem in its political context and the de-escalation of tension in the island republic," he stated, adding "it would be premature for me to express any opinion before meeting with Mr. Clerides. "

Regarding Greece’s accession to the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), the Premier stressed that the country will achieve its targets with its capabilities, not through political negotiation.

[05] GREEK PM COMMENTS ON KURDISH ISSUE DURING FOREIGN PRESS INTERVIEW

Athens, November 27 (MPA)

"Greece is in favor of political asylum being given to Mr. Ocalan," Mr. Simitis said, adding: "Italy has handled the matter properly.

"Greece is in favor of a resolution of the problem with political dialogue and peaceful means. Force can not lead to results. This is why the international community must move towards finding a resolution with political means," he said.

Stressing that Greece was a democratic country in which everyone had the right to express themselves freely on all matters, the Premier observed that national legislation in effect did not allow the country to be used as a "base" for the use of force against third countries.

"This is a position of principle which applies to all problems, whether it be the Kurdish problem, Chechnya or any other issue," Mr. Simitis said.

Replying to criticism that Greece had distanced itself from the Kurdish problem, he said the country had been making its position clear for quite some time.

"Certain people should be very careful because they are doing a disservice firstly to the Kurdish people and also to those who are struggling for their rights by making the Kurdish problem a Greek-Turkish issue. This is precisely what Ankara wants in order to divert attention from the essence of the problem and present it as a problem of bilateral relations," Mr. Simitis said.

[06] GREEK PM: CONTINENTAL SHELF IS THE ONLY REAL GREEK- TURKISH DIFFERENCE

Athens, November 27 (MPA)

Mr. Simitis stated that any disputes or differences which do exist between Greece and Turkey should be resolved on the basis of international law, the implementation of treaties and the International Court at The Hague. Asked whether he would be able to talk with Bulent Ecevit in the event that the later became prime minister of Turkey, Mr. Simitis replied that he could talk with any Turkish leader, since the issues for discussion were not personal but political.

Concerning the adoption of confidence-building measures (CBMs) in the Aegean, Mr. Simitis said relevant talks were being held at NATO headquarters in Brussels and there had been certain "positive conclusions". Athens differed from Ankara in this respect, he said, since the Greek side believed that each time a positive result is attained, it should be announced and subsequently implemented, whereas Turkey wanted a "package" arrangement.

Responding to another question regarding Greece’ claim that Bonn repay a wartime "loan" seized during WWII by Nazi forces, Mr. Simitis stated that he plans to raise the issue during his meeting with new German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, to be held on December 7.

[07] DEFENSE MINISTER: GREEK SOLDIERS TO TAKE PART IN NATO’S FORCE AT FYROM

Athens, November 27 (MPA)

Speaking before the Parliament yesterday evening, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said the NATO force under French command would comprise a total of 250 troops and had nothing to do with "NATO's supposed intervention in Kosovo" as borne out by the fact that it will be based at FYROM. "As a force for peace, security and stability in the region, Greece is assuming an active role within the framework of OSCE resolutions, because peace is an issue which is of primary concern to Greece and not only the countries directly involved," Mr. Tsochatzopoulos added.

[08] RUSSIA: FORMER PM KIRIYENKO TO FORM NEW PARTY

Moscow, November 27 (MPA)

Mr. Kiriyenko said he wanted to make Russia's nascent democratic institutions work for the people, and to end the "total lack of understanding between the government and the society."

"We have democratic institutions, but we are not using them, continuing to believe in a good czar," he said on a television program.

Mr. Kiriyenko was named prime minister this March. He was fired by President Boris Yeltsin after his government's August 17 decision to devalue the ruble and default on its treasury debt.

[09] CZECH COMMISSION TO RETURN JEWISH PROPERTY

Prague, November 27 (MPA)

The commission, which is to include members of the government and the Czech Federation of Jewish Communities, is to map out by March all property that has not been restituted.

The state has already returned about 80 percent of confiscated Jewish properties that it held. About 120,000 Jews lived on Czech territory before the Holocaust; now there are about 6,000.

The government plans to return to surviving Holocaust victims all remaining property confiscated by the Nazis during World War II. It will also create a fund for compensation where restitution is impossible.

[10] GREECE’S AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CHARTER HAILS PINOCHET DEVELOPMENT

Athens, November 27 (MPA)

The decision is "a landmark against impunity", said Amnesty International in a statement, adding:

"The next crucial step for Home Secretary Jack Straw is to issue an extradition warrant and to abstain from actions that would obstruct competent courts to rule on charges facing the former general."

[11] GREECE, EGYPT EMBARK ON JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND

Athens, November 27 (MPA)

The naval exercise, code-named "Alexandria '98", will be held off the coast of Alexanrdia and two frigates from each country will take part in the maneuver.

The exercise aims to boost relations between the two nations' naval forces and promote operational cooperation.

[12] BALKAN AUTHORS MEET IN THESSALONIKI TODAY FOR LITERARY EVENTS

Thessaloniki, November 27 (MPA)

The event is held within the framework of the city’s “Dimitria” festivities and is co-organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the InterBalkan Center of Books and Culture.

Among the speakers will be authors from Greece, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey.

Bulgaria’s ambassador to Greece Kyril Topalov will speak on the Greek-Bulgarian literary ties in the 18th- 19th century.

[13] ITALY’S FM TELLS CORRIERE DELLA SERA: OCALAN’S ASYLUM NOT A GOOD IDEA

Rome, November 27 (MPA)

"We are talking about terrorist acts committed voluntarily," Mr. Dini was quoted as saying, "we are not dealing with a victim."

Italian Premier Massimo D’Alema is to meet with Germany’s new Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today in order to discuss the Ocalan issue.

The Italian government has made clear it wants Bonn to take Ocalan off its hands as Germany has an arrest warrant out for him.

But Germany, fearing violence among its large Turkish and Kurdish communities, has so far said it will not ask for Mr. Ocalan’s extradition.

"By not asking for Ocalan's extradition, Germany risks damaging the international fight against terrorism," Mr. Dini said. He suggested putting Ocalan on trial in an arbitrarily chosen country.

[14] THESSALONIKI HOSTS CONFERENCE ON GREEKS OF MINOR ASIA

Thessaloniki, November 27 (MPA)

Present at the conference will be a number of authors whose books contain the first A number of authors will appear who have written books containing first person testimonies of the Asia Minor catastrophe.

[15] LABOR ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE GRD7 BILLION FOR JOBLESS COLLEGE GRADS

Thessaloniki, November 27 (MPA)

Eligibility for the program, whose funding amounts to seven billion drachmas, is met by those who have not surpassed the 35 years of age, have not been employed in a sector related to their studies and hold a university degree or a diploma from a technical university.

[16] ATHENS-THESSALONIKI RAIL REPAIRED, BUT WORKERS WILL GO ON STRIKE

Thessaloniki, November 27 (MPA)

Workers at the Greek Railways Organization, (OSE) are to conduct work stoppages Monday November 30 and Tuesday, December 1, to be followed by full-blown strikes, protesting a recent bill tabled in Parliament concerning their sector.

The only trains that will operate will be those serving social needs, one for each route.

[17] BALKAN CONFERENCE OF CARTOGRAPHY CONCLUDES IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

Thessaloniki, November 27 (MPA)

The three-day conference featured the participation of Greek map experts as well as cartographers from Turkey, Yugoslavia, Romania and Bulgaria.

The conference was held under the aegis of the Council of Europe and focused on mapping of urban centers.

The International Cartographic Association also held its regular meeting during the events, with the participation of scientists from as far as Japan and Australia.

The inaugural meeting of the members of the European Union program Cartotech for European cartographic heritage will also be held. The Thessaloniki-based National Center for maps and Cartographic Heritage - National Map Archive is the leader of the group.

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