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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-03-12Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 22:29 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] EUROPE[D] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] ATHENS COURT TO HEAR PARENTS LAWSUIT AGAINST TEACHERS STRIKEWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Athens, March 12 (MPA)An Athens court is to hear a lawsuit today filed by four parents of high school students whose teachers have been on a two-month long strike.In their action, the parents ask the court to declare the teachers' strike as extortionate and illegal. At the same time, the teachers will conduct a march outside the courts while on Friday they are to decide whether or not they'll continue their strike for a ninth week. A.F. [02] MILITARY MEASURES ALONG THE GREEK-ALBANIAN BORDERS BECOME TIGHTERWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Athens 12 March (MPA)The military measures along the Greek-Albanian borders are being increased in response to the risk of attacks by armed groups who act uncontrolled in the region.Police helicopters patrol the region since this morning and according to information, armed groups from Argirokastro have arrived at the abandoned Albanian customs offices, while the insurgents have installed armed guards there with the task to control the region and protect the people. In the past 24 hours, only six Albanians attempted to cross the borders to Greece illegally and they were deported by the Greek authorities. [03] ATHENS COURT DECIDES TOMORROW ON PARENTS CLAIM OVER TEACHERS STRIKEWeb Posted: 22:29 GMT+2Athens, March 12 (MPA)An Athens Court is to issue its ruling tomorrow on the lawsuit filed by four parents of high-school students whose teachers have been on a two- month long strike.In their claim, the parents ask the court to declare the teachers' strike as extortionate and illegal. Government spokesperson Dimtiris Reppas has called on the teachers to reconsider their stance and return to the classrooms. A.F. [B] BALKANS[04] ALBANIA'S NEW PREMIER HOPES FOR HELP FROM GREECEWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Tirana, March 12 (MPA)Albania's new Premier, the Socialist Bascim Fino, has expressed his hope that Greece and Italy will help his country overcome its economic turmoil.The 34-year-old Premier, who is considered to be a moderate politician, has expressed his wish to conduct all-scale dialogues with the political forces in his country, including President Sali Berisha and the rioting civilians from southern Albania. While characterizing the current situation in Albania as difficult, Mr. Fino emphasized that his foremost priority will be to create conditions of prosperity for the Albanian people, as well as promote mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. Meanwhile, a committee of national salvation has been formed in Argyrocastro by the rioting civilians who ask that they be included in the negotiations that are currently taking place for the formation of a government of national reconciliation. They also insist that President Berisha resign from his post. The committee issued an announcement today wherein it proposes that the Presidency be held by the country's various political parties on a rotating basis. They do clarify that the rioters have no intent of advancing towards Tirana. A.F. [05] GREECE SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO AGII SARANTAWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Athens, March 12 (MPA)An official from Greece's Foreign Ministry is to travel to Tirana today in order to assist in alleviating the crisis in Albania. Today Greece is to also embark on a humanitarian aid mission to Albania.The Greek government is to officially ask Albania for the release of Socialist leader Fatos Nano from jail. The European Parliament will convene today its plenary session in order to discuss the Albanian crisis, while representatives from the Albanian opposition parties will also participate in the session. A.F. [06] GREEK ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER GUARDED ON ALBANIAN CRISIS OUTCOMEWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Athens, March 12 (MPA)Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou is guarded on expressing hopes on the likelihood of the Albanian crisis being alleviated.Mr. Papandreou stated that "we hope that there will be a smooth development, but we can't be sure since a big part of Albania is occupied by the rioters and it is questionable if an agreement will be reached with the new government." Meanwhile, a parliamentarian from Greece's main opposition party New Democracy's George Souflias has asked the Greek government to fortify the guarding of the Greek-Albanian borders since, as he said, thousands of arms are being handled by Albanian civilians and the resulting danger is quite high. A.F. [07] MEMORANDUM OF INDIGNATION FILED IN CYPRUS BY FAMILIES OF MISSINGWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Nicosia, March 12 (MPA)The families of those missing since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus have filed a memorandum with the embassies of the five countries that are permanent members of the UN Security Council, through which they express their bitterness and indignation.According to the memorandum, the lack of enforcement of the United Nations' resolutions for the missing and the absence of progress regarding the Investigative Committee's work constitutes a sign of tolerance on behalf of some and is indicative of the Turkish stance towards the matter. The relatives emphasize that they await from Russia, China, Britain, France and the United States to undertake all the necessary measures to resolve the issue, thereby rightfully claiming their fame as pioneers of human rights. Similar memoranda have been filed with the European Union's embassy and with the UN's Secretary General's alternate special envoy to Cyprus Gustav Feischel. The President of the Pan-Cypriot Committee of Relatives of the Missing stated that the group will await for the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to respond to a relevant letter sent to him by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and in turn will ask that the National Council convene in order to discuss the matter. A.F. [08] ILLICIT BANKING SCANDAL ROCKS FYROM, OPPOSITION ACCUSES GOVERNMENTWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Skopje, March 12 (MPA)A financial scandal that was recently discovered in FYROM's largest private banking insitution "TAT" has rocked the country, as high-ranking government officials are implicated in illicit money-making operations.According to press reports, the scandal was exposed after an audit performed by the National Bank showed a DM40 million deficit in TAT's books. An investigation also revealed that while the financial insitution presented its current accounts as being 3,600, in reality they surpassed 23, 000. Public opinion in FYROM is quite alarmed, where people are fearing an economic collapse similar to the one felt by Albania. A.F. [09] THE INSURGENTS IN ALBANIA CONTINUE THEIR ADVANCE ON TIRANAWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Tirana 12 March (MPA)The insurgents in Albania continue their advance on Tirana and already control one fourth of the Albanian territory.Meanwhile, the newly appointed Albanian Prime Minister Baskim Fino, who comes from the south of the country, is expected to announce the members of the new government. The insurgents still demand President Berisha's resignation as a pre-condition in order to hand in their weapons, while a Popular Salvation National Committee has been formed and wants participation on equal terms in the Tirana talks between Sali Brrisha and the opposition leaders. The new Prime Minister welcomed the forming of the Committee stressing the need for a dialogue with the political parties and the people. In northern Albania the lootings continue, while the civilians in the cities of Episkopi, Bayram Tsuri and Kukesh are being armed. According to information, Berisha's forces have abandoned the region of Koritsa and armed civilians have attacked the army amunition dumps and have removed a large number of guns. In the city of Agii Saranta, many people participated in a rally protesting against yesterday's attempted looting of a clinic. [10] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE SITUATION IN ALBANIAWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Athens 12 March (MPA)The Greek government speculates that Albania has the political forces needed to solve the problems and prevend the crisis from spreading to Kosovo, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas who also gave the informaion that the Greek minority Human Rights Party will be represented in the new government and will be given a ministry and possibly an undersecretariat.The Greek government spokesman also announced that a Greek ship with humanitarian aid is on its way to the city of Agii Saranta, while commenting on Italian press reports that implicate the Greek minority in the Albanian crisis, mr.Reppas stated that they are unfounded and undocumented. [11] NEW TRADE ROUTES TO TURKEY ARE BEING OPENED BY GREEK BUSINESSMENWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki 12 March (MPA)The Greek Association of Businessmen is opening important trade routes to Turkey as it expects that its contacts with Turkish businessmen, within the framework of the informal Greek-Turkish Business Council, will be fruitful by the end of the year. Also, the Greek businessmen are preparing the ground for the establishment of similar Councils in Serbia, Egypt and Israel.The Association's Board of Directors member mr.Simeon Tsomokos stated to MPA that already has been created a climate of trust at a personal level as a result of the bilateral contacts that began in 1996 and added that if the political situation in Turkey is favourable the outcome will be significant, mainly in the sector of exports. [12] THE STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF SKOPJE CONTINUE THEIR HUNGER STRIKE FOR A NINTH DAYWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Skopje 12 March (MPA)Three of the 20 Education Department students, who are on a hunger strike in the University of Skopje, presented health problems as they continue their demonstration for a ninth day in a show of protest against the law which allows the teaching of the Albanian language in higher education.The hunger strikers, as well as the Slav Students Association in the Education Department of the University of Skopje, stated that they will be firm in their position until they are vindicated. The issue of the students' mobilizations will be discussed in an extraordinary session of FYROM's Parliament, while the country's Constitutional Court will rule on the law's constitutionality after an appeal made by the Democratic Party, the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE, the Students Association and two private individuals. [13] FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC DELEGATIONS IN FYROM EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUING STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONSWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Skopje 12 March (MPA)Strong concern over the developments in FYROM was expressed by the head of the Greek Liaison office in Skopje Alexandros Mallias and by the British and French Ambassadors who, as representatives of EU member-states, met with FYROM's Prime Minister Branko Tservenkofski.The three diplomats delivered a document to the Prime Minister with which the EU condemns the continuing student demonstrations in Skopje and Tetovo, held in protest to the law allowing the use of the Albanian language in higher education. In the document is reminded, among others, that all political forces in the country have an obligation to protect the rights of the ethnic minorities which is necessary for the country's stability and for the wider region's stability as well. [14] THE NUMBER OF UNPREDEP'S OUTPOSTS AT THE FYROM-ALBANIAN BORDERS WILL NOT BE REDUCEDWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Skopje 12 March (MPA)The peace-keeping force in FYROM, the UNPREDEP, reexamined its decision to cut the number of outposts along the borders of FYROM with Albania after the suggestion made by the Skopjan Foreign Ministry according to which, the withdrawal of the peace-keepers is not recommended at this time due to the existing situation in Albania.Meanwhile, according to the government newspaper "Nova Makedonia", the UNPREDEP's command in Skopje decided to reexamine the distribution of outposts along the borders of FRY with Albania. According to a statement made to the newspaper by an UNPREDEP spokesman, their number must be reduced, as by the end of April the peace-keeping force will be smaller by 300 men. [15] CILLER PROMISES THAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN TURKEY WILL BE IMPROVEDWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Ankara 12 March (MPA)While Turkish Foreign Minister Tansou Ciller promises improvement of the human rights situation in the country, the Human Rights Association gave to publicity a report on human rights violations that took place in Istanbul in February.According to the report, last month were arrested 412 people, 45 were jailed, 5 disappeared, 3 women died as a result of violence used on them and 26 people were attacked for political reasons. Also, 22 journalists were arrested 4 of whom were tortured, while the issues of 10 newspapers and magazines were confiscated, the publishing of a newspaper was banned based on a State Security Court ruling, books were seized and the Supreme Radio and Television Council banned the operation of 3 radio and television stations for a limited period. It should be noted that ms.Ciller had stated that it is a shame that when people talk about tortures think of Turkey, stressing that the chiefs of police and other officers will be responsible for the tortures made by their subordinates. [16] ARMED GROUPS IN ALBANIA HAVE BECOME DRUG TRAFFICKERS, ACCORDING TO A BRITISH NEWSPAPERWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2London 12 March (MPA)The British newspaper "Daily Express" points out in a correspondence from Tirana that armed groups in Albania have become drug traffickers increasing the fears that the country could easily become a "new Colombia" in the heart of Europe.The newspaper writes that those groups control thousands of hectars of land where marijuana is being cultivated while its distribution is the work of the mafia. The report mentions that after the fall of the communist regime, villagers living in mountainous regions turned to the cultivation of marijuana in order to face the extreme poverty. Their advisers were Italian, German and Greek drug dealers. Special ties were created with the mafia, while the Albanian authorities did nothing to stop the drug trafficking. The drugs are transported to the island of Corfu and to Italian ports and end up in the hands of the mafia. The newspaper concludes that the only serious effort by the Berisha regime to deal with the situation was made last year after strong pressures exerted by the West, and it was to increase the prison sentences imposed to drug farmers from 5 to 20 years. [C] EUROPE[17] POLAND'S PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT IS ON A THREE-DAY FORMAL VISIT TO GREECEWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Athens, March 12 (MPA)Poland's Parliament President Josef Zych, is to embark on a three-day formal visit to Greece today, after an invitation issued by Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.Mr. Zych will meet with the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos tomorrow, as well as with Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, leader of the main opposition party New Democracy's Miltiades Evert, the Communist Party of Greece's Secretary-General Aleka Paparega, the President of the Coalition of Left and Progress Nikos Konstantopoulos and the President of the Democratic Social Movement Dimitris Tsovolas. On Friday, Mr. Zych will visit the Acropolis and the Athens Archaeological Museum and will depart for Poland on Friday evening. A.F. [18] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENCE MET WITH HIS AUSTRIAN COUNTERPARTWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Athens 12 March (MPA)The developments in Albania dominated in the meeting Greek Minister of Defence Akis Tsochatzopoulos had today with his Austrian counterpart.Mr.Tsochatzopoulos stated after the meeting that they discussed the likelihood of a future initiative aimed at contributing to the stabilization of the Balkans through solutions that will safeguard the economic support. The Austrian Minister of Defence underlined that what is important for Albania's neighbouring countries is that the crisis will not spread outside the Albanian borders. [19] THE GREEK PRESIDENT MET WITH HIS GERMAN COUNTERPARTWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Athens 12 March (MPA)Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos met at the Presidential Office with his German counterpart Roman Hertzog and they discussed bilateral issues.In statements made after the meeting, mr.Stephanopoulos referred to the speech made by the German President yesterday when he became professor emeritus in the University of Athens. In the meeting were present the Ambassadors of Greece and Germany as well as presidency officials from both countries. [D] WORLD[20] US OFFICIAL TOURS EUROPE TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUEWeb Posted: 15:47 GMT+2Washington, March 12 (MPA)Carey Cavanaugh, the Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs at the U.S. State Department, has embarked on a tour throught he European capitals in order to discuss the Cyprus issue and other matters that concern the eastern Mediterranean region.Mr. Cavanaugh was in London and is to visit Brussels, Germany, the Hague and Paris where he is to meet with government officials to discuss Greek- Turkish differences. Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns, commending on the Clerides-Denktash talks, stated that the United States are supportive of any initiiative that would bring the island's two sides closer. Moreover, Mr. Burns stated that "it is time for Greece and Turkey, the Cypriot government and Rauf Denktash to sit down and talk, resolve some of the issues." The State Department spokesperson also stated that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discussed the Cyprus issue during her meeting with British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind. A.F [21] BETHLEEM'S MAYOR REQUESTED GREECE'S SUPPORT FOR THE CELEBRATIONS OF THE 2.000TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHRIST'S BIRTHWeb Posted: 18:57 GMT+2Bethleem 12 March (MPA)Bethleem's Christian mayor Elias Freig in statements he made to MPA called for the support of Greece and especially of its business companies in the preparations for the celebrations of the 2.000th anniversary of the birth of Christ.Mr.Freig stated that the economic situation in Bethleem is very bad and the amount of money needed for the organizing of the celebrations and the building of the necessary infrastructure is estimated at tens of millions of dollars, adding that nothing will be done without the support of other countries, including Greece. Bethleem's mayor said that relations with the Greeks living permanently in the city are excellent. He also said that Bethleem needs new hotels and if the Greek investors decide to be active in the region they will have every possible help from the local authorities. 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: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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