MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (02/08/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 2, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] EU VETERINARIAN COMMITTEE TO EXTEND QUARANTNE ON GREEK MEAT EXPORTS

The European Union Standard Veterinarian Committee has decided to extend its limiting measures enforced on Greek exports of meat, meat by-products and non-pasteurized dairy products, due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease noted in Northern Greece's Evros region, near the turkish border.

The extension of the quarantine will last at least until the Committee's following meeting which will take place towards the end of August. In the meantime, a group of EU specialists will visit the Evros region in order to assess the situation.

The greek veterinarian delegation has expressed its displeasure over this decision. In a released announcement, it expressed its chagrin over the fact that its suggestion to limit the quarantine only to the Evros region was not accepted.

[02] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER: COUNTRY IS ON ACCELERATION PATH

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantojniou warned today that the Greek economy will not avail itself to menacing talk and personal attacks, in a direct reference to the statements made by the Coalition of Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Konstantopoulos who spoke of a "slow rhythm of absorption of the community funds."

"The Greek economy has entered a stable path of development," noted Mr. Papantoniou and added that the "absorption of the community funds in 1996 is marking an impressive acceleration thanks to a series of actions taken by the government."

Referring to the aims of the country's economic policy, Mr. Papantoniou emphasized the economic and monetary union with the EU, the upgrade in lifestyles enjoyed by Greeks and the completion of large projects throughout the country.

[03] FYROM NAME ISSUE IS NOT MOVING FORWARD,SAYS EX-PREMIER

Former Prime Minister and currently main opposition party New Democracy's honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated today that the FYROM name issue is at a "complete stalemate."

Mr. Mitsotakis spoke of the greek government's inability which he addressed as "to say, afterall, the truth to the Greek people and to act accordingly."

[04] GREEK JAVELIN ATHLETE FIRST IN OLYMPIC FINAL WITH PANHELLENIC RECORD

Greece's javelin thrower Kostas Gatsioudes earned a spot in Olympic Games preliminary competition today, when he achieved the score of 87.12, breaking the panhellenic record.

Today's competition in the Atlanta-held Olympic Games track events are of great interest to Greece since entering the competition will be Voula Patoulidou, the country's gold medalist in 1992's Barcelona-held Olympic Games, and Niki Xanthou another reknowned athlete in track.

In the 4x100 relay races the greek team did not manage to take a shot at earning a spot in the semifinals, while Greec's national basketball team will play a formidable game with Brazil, in its last game in the Centennial Olympic Games.

The winner will get the fifth place in the tournament while the loser will be sixth but anyway the greek tam is third in Europe after Yugoslavia and Lithuania while in the last european tournament it had got the fourth place losing the third to Croatia.

[05] GRECOALBANIAN BORDER STATION GETS FACE LIFT

Works that will expand and modernize the Kakavia station, at the grecoalbanian border which is Albania's second largest, were inaugurated today.

The project will cost $1.8 million, a large part of which will be funded by the European Union's PHARE program.

When the project is completed, the customs facilities will be improved and will correspond to european standards.

Present at the inauguration was a delegation of the Greek Customs Services led by the Argyrokastro Prefect Socrates Kalyvopoulos.

[06] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT WILL PUBLISH PERICLES' "EPITAPH" IN FOUR LANGUAGES

The Greek Parliament is promoting a special edition of Pericles' "Epitaph" in four languages: modern greek, english, french and german which will be distributed to state Parliaments and foreign personalities.

This edition, which is expected to be ready by the end of the year, constitutes a hymn to the glory of the Athenian Democracy and will circulate in 54.000 copies that will include the original text written in ancient greek and its translation.

[07] GREEKS LIVING ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL MEET IN THESSALONIKI ON AUGUST 7TH

Greeks living all over the world will meet in Thessaloniki during the annual event organized in their honour by the 3rd Program of the state ERT, Macedonia Radio Station. The event will be held at the Government House on August 7th under the auspices of Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Philippos Petsalnikos.

The meeting, which is organized in Thessaloniki for a third year, had great success in the past stated to MPA, mr.Karamaounas, spokesman of the ERT Radio Station, stressing that in the first year attended the events about 700 people while similar success was achieved and last year.

[08] THE HEART OF THRACE WILL BEAT IN THE CITY OF KOMOTINI ON AUGUST 15-19 WHERE THE 3RD WORLD CONFERENCE OF THRACIANS WILL BE HELD

The heart of Thrace will be beating in the city of Komotini for 5 days in mid August, during the 3rd World Conference of Thracians.

During the 5-day Conference that will be held on August 15-19 will be discussed issues concerning the Thracian hellenism living abroad, the investment potential in the region, relations with the Balkan and Black Sea countries, trade and industry, agriculture, infrastructure networks, and the large projects on tourism and culture.

Within the framework of the events that will be held parallel to the conference will be a one-day information conference for german investors who are interested in doing business in Thrace. Also, there will be a number of cultural events and tours in archeological sites.

[09] MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE VISITS EVROS SPEAKS TO PREFECT

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos stated that the foot and moutn disease that has stricken cattle and sheep in the Evros region is "imported from Turkey."

The Minister visited the region yesterday and attended the opening of the "Cultural Akritia '96" an event held under the auspices of the program "Thrace-Aegean-Cyprus-United Area- Path to 2000".

In a meeting held with the Evros Prefect Goerge Dolios and the director of the Veterinary Services Angelos Boglou, Mr. Petsalnikos realized that all the necessary measures have been taken for addressing the disease.

In turn, Mr. Dolios expressed his optimism that the greek proposal to the European Union that it provide funding for measures that will wipe out the disease in Turkey will be accepted.

The Evros Prefect pointed out that at the same time, Turkey must accept the application measures that will be exercised by the European Union's Veterinary Committee, and added that Greece should participate in this Committee as a directly involved region.

Meanwhile, the European Union's Standard Veterinary Committee is expected to announce its decision today on whether or not it will extend the ban enforced on the exports of greek meat and its by-products and non-pasteurized dairy products.

Diplomatic sources have stated that in case an extension of the quarantine is decided, the greek side will seek to limit the embargo only to the Evros region.

[10] FRENCH AND US PRESS GIVE POSITIVE VIEWS ON GREECE'S ECONOMY

The annual report published by the Organization of Economic Cooperatiopn and Development (OECD) which optimistically foresees an upward trend in Greece's economy has been seconded by numerous French newspapers, such as Le Figaro, Le Monde and Les Echos.

While the articles point out the need to reduce inflation and to bring about public sector reforms in Greece, in all they emphasize the country's current accelerated rhythms of development in contrast with the beginning of the decade.

Also, the United-States based newspaper Wall Street Journal features a lengthy front-page article dedicated tio Greece's economy, in which it illustrates the efforts exerted by the greek government to bring about economic recovery.

"Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos," the article points out, "enjoys a high level of appreciation among the EU circles for his efforts to contain the chronic problem of deficit. The reduction of this deficit constitutes a clear example that Greece is finally in a position to control its up to now uncontrollable expenses, which for a long time now, had earned the country the stigma of Europe's 'bad child.'

"Of course, Mr. Papadopoulos was able to reduce the budget deficit to 9.2 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) from the 14.2 percent it was in 1993," the article continues, adding that Greece has entered the path of economic discipline, a fact that will improve its position in the EU.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[11] TWO GREEKS ARRESTED IN PAPHOS, HELD IN NICOSIA BY TURK- CYPRIOTS

Two Greeks men who were arrested yesterday evening in the seaside region of Paphos are being held in Nicosia.

Athanasios Stalikas, 48 years old and Dimitris Gotsis, 35, both of whom are Paris residents, were sailing with their speed boat when they got lost and ended up in the Kokkina region, where they were arrested by the Turk-cypriots.

According to UNFICYP reports, one of the two greek men was carried by a stretcher on to a helicopter.

[12] DIPLOMATIC STEPS ARE BEING MADE BY THE CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT AND THE GREEK EMBASSY FOR THE RELEASE OF TWO GREEK NATIONALS

Both the cypriot government and the greek embassy in Nicosia are issuing demarches to the international peace-keeping forces for the release of two greek nationals, Athanasios Stalikas age 48 and Dimitris Gotsis age 35, who were captured by the turks yesterday in the sea region of Kokkinon in north-western Cyprus.

The above were stated by cypriot government spokesman, Yiannakis Kasoulidis who stressed that the demarches began as soon as the news of their arrest was made known. Mr.Kasoulidis stated that the two greek nationals, being unfamiliar with the region, approached the region of Kokkinon and were captured by the turkish occupation forces.

The cypriot government, stated mr.Kasoulidis, and the greek ambassador are in contact with the peace-keeping forces in an effort to achieve the immediate release of the two greeks.

It should be reminded, that 10 days ago the turkish- occupation forces had arrested two greek-cypriot fishermen.

[13] GERMAN EURO-DEPUTY, MS.ROTE STATED THAT THE CONTINUING PARTITION OF CYPRUS IS A DISGRACE

German Euro-deputy ms.Rote stated, that the continuing partition of Cyprus is a disgrace. The statement was made to the motorcyclists who had gathered at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, the starting-point of their protest march to Kerinia, in the turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

Ms.Rote underlined that this protest is being held in support of the human rights but at the same time, it sends the message that politicians should work harder for the end of the existing situation in Cyprus.

She also characterized as "unbelievable" the fact that the turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is trying to intimidate the motorcyclists and the politicians in Cyprus.

In the peaceful protest participate motorcyclists from Greece, Finland, Germany, England, France and Austria and efforts are being made in order to pass through Romania and Bulgaria instead of former Yugoslavia as it was originally planned.

In statements to journalists by Cypriot Federation of Motrocyclists President, Giorgos Hatzikostas this protest aims at making known all over the world that the human rights and the basic freedoms of the cypriots are being violated.

[14] THE US PRESIDENT GAVE ASSURANCES THAT CERTAIN MOVES CAN BE MADE FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

Us President Bill Clinton gave assurances that certain moves can be made for the solution of the Cyprus problem until the month of November, according to statements made to the Cypriot News Agency, CNA, by World Coordinating Committee for the Cypriot Struggle President, Philip Christopher who avoided to reveal what those moves will be.

President Clinton gave the assurances during last night's dinner organized for the backing of his pre-election campaign. The dinner attended leading members of the greek community in the United States and as it was made known, the sum of money collected was 600.000 US dollars.

In the dinner were present US Senator, Paul Sarbanis, New York State University honorary President, John Bradimas, and Democratic party Presidential candidate in the 1988 elections, Michael Dukakis.

Cypriot Government spokesman, Yiannakis Kasoulidis expressed the hope that the US influence will be decisive not only in case of small steps, like the military dialogue, but for the essential solution of the Cyprus problem with the withdrawal of the turkish- occupation forces from the island.

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