Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-07-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 13, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTRY OFFICIALS TO CONVENE TODAY
[02] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PILOTS TO MEET WITH AIRLINE'S ADMINISTRATORS
TODAY
[03] ROYAUMONT MEETING CONCLUDES IN THESSALONIKI WITH ACTION PLAN
[04] "VIRGIN" PROMOTES HOLIDAY-IN-GREECE PACKAGES IN BRITISH
MARKET
[05] ONLY 3% OF GREEK VENTURES PREPARE FOR EMU, ONLY 6% ARE
INFORMED
[06] GREEK PRODUCTS TO BE EXHIBITED IN MOSCOW AND BUDAPEST
[07] PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON RIO-ANTIRIO BRIDGE
[08] GOVERNMENT STILL SUFFERS FROM FLAGGING IMAGE, ACCORDING TO
POLL
[09] SIMITIS - SKANDALIDIS MEETING
[10] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS MANAGEMENT - PILOTS MEETING
[11] THE MILITARY EXERCISE "SARISSA ‘98" IS UNDERWAY IN NORTH-
CENTRAL GREECE
[12] THE FEDORA 6TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN
THESSALONIKI
[13] GARABEDIAN: THE THESSALONIKI - SOFIA FLIGHT WILL BE
PROFITABLE
[14] INTER-BALKAN YOUTH MEETING IN EVROS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] FRANCE WORLD CHAMPION, BEATS BRAZIL 3-0
[16] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH RUSSIAN COUNTERPART TODAY
[17] ALTERNATE FM GEORGE PAPANDREOU IN BRUSSELS TO ATTEND EU
MEETING
[18] CLERIDES, YELTSIN PLEDGE TO PUSH THROUGH MISSILE DEAL
[19] ISRAEL TRAINS TURKISH PILOTS IN DESTROYING S-300
[20] THE AGREEMENT ON THE S-300 MISSILES WILL MATERIALIZE
[21] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SATISFIED OVER HIS MEETING WITH YELTSIN
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTRY OFFICIALS TO CONVENE TODAY
A meeting is to be held today at the Ministry of National
Economy, headed by the Minister of National Economy and Finance
Yiannos Papantoniou, where the participants are to discuss the
adoption of measures to curb inflation.
Among those present will be the governor of the Bank of
Greece. Meanwhile, the government is to take the final measures
this week for the sale of Ionian Bank.
[02] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PILOTS TO MEET WITH AIRLINE'S ADMINISTRATORS
TODAY
In an effort to defuse the fermenting crisis, see flight
delays, cancellations and mergers, the pilots of the state-owned
Olympic Airways are to meet with the airline's administrators
today and they might proceed to schedule changes aimed at better
serving the public.
Meanwhile, only a limited number of trains are to run
tomorrow, after the 24-hour strike declared by the railway workers
throughout the country.
For more information on the schedule changes, travelers can
contact the local railway stations or their travel agencies.
[03] ROYAUMONT MEETING CONCLUDES IN THESSALONIKI WITH ACTION PLAN
A meeting held within the Royaumont initiative for SE Europe,
comprising non-governmental bodies' (NGOs) representatives from
Europe, the US, and the Balkans concluded in Thessaloniki
yesterday, where the participants approved a declaration of
principles and an action plan concerning southeastern Europe's
security and cooperation.
According to the initiative's coordinator, Panayiotis
Roumeliotis, 55 programs concerning countries in SE Europe have
been submitted and put into operation in the three years that
Royaumont has been launched.
[04] "VIRGIN" PROMOTES HOLIDAY-IN-GREECE PACKAGES IN BRITISH
MARKET
While he may not have been successful in building a hotel at
the island of Hydra, "Virgin"'s Richard Branson is touting Greece
as an ideal vacationing spot to the British by promoting a series
of attractive holiday packages.
The program, titled Virgin Sun Holidays, is to be
activated as of May 1, 1999 and will apply to the islands of
Crete, Corfu and Rhodes.
[05] ONLY 3% OF GREEK VENTURES PREPARE FOR EMU, ONLY 6% ARE
INFORMED
Only three percent of Greek businesses appear to be ready to
accept the challenge of the Economic and Monetary Union, while
only a mere six percent are actually informed on the changes that
are to take place at a pan-European level when the EMU becomes a
reality.
According to data provided by the European Federation of
Accountants, ventures in the remaining member-states of the
European Union are quite ahead in the game, as one-third of them
report prepared for the EMU.
[06] GREEK PRODUCTS TO BE EXHIBITED IN MOSCOW AND BUDAPEST
Greek products are to be exhibited in two separate
international trade events that will take place in Moscow and
Budapest, titled "CONSUMEXPO1999" and "FOODAPEST '98"
respectively.
Moscow's exhibition will be held between 18-23 of January
1999 and will feature various consumer goods, such as yarn
materials, clothing, furniture and electronic appliances.
FOODAPEST is to be held in Budapest in November 24-27, 1998,
with the participation of Greece.
The event, held every two years, is considered the largest in
the field for the central-eastern European region.
It should be noted that Greek food and beverages exports to
Hungary are steadily on the rise.
The products to be exhibited will represent all the food and
beverage sectors of Greece, as well as related machinery and
process materials.
[07] PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON RIO-ANTIRIO BRIDGE
The preliminary phase is underway on the bridge project that
will link Rio with Antirio, with six construction companies taking
part in a consortium headed by the Technical S. A. "Athina ATE".
The specific project has a time schedule of 18 months, with a
budget of 1.5 billion drachmas. This figure concerns only the
construction of a tank that will support the bridge's four 90-
meter gateways.
The overall remaining works on the project amount to 45
billion drachmas, 18 of which are solely allocated to the bridge.
[08] GOVERNMENT STILL SUFFERS FROM FLAGGING IMAGE, ACCORDING TO
POLL
The government and the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis are
still suffering from a flagging image, in spite of a slight
recovery, according to a recent poll conducted by the VPRC company
on behalf of the Athens daily "Ta Nea".
According to the results of the poll, published today, the
popularity of the PASOK government and PM Simitis presently
stands at 34.6%, as opposed to May's 31.2%.
While positive opinion for the government is currently at
16.2%, as opposed to May's 15%, the overall negative opinion
surpasses -for the first time- the 50 percent mark.
Meanwhile , the popularity of the main opposition
party, New Democracy, is also on a downward course, having fallen
to 11.2%, as opposed to last May's 15.4%. nevertheless, the main
opposition leader Kostas Karamanlis enjoys an increase in
popularity, specifically 44.2%, up from last May's 41.9%.
[09] SIMITIS - SKANDALIDIS MEETING
Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou
and the Governor of the Bank of Greece examined the course of
inflation and the interest rates policy in a meeting held in
Athens today.
Meanwhile, the measures for the better backing of the
structural changes in the economy were the main issue of
discussion in the meeting of prime minister Kostas Simitis with
governing socialist party of PASOK Central Committee secretary
Kostas Skandalidis.
[10] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS MANAGEMENT - PILOTS MEETING
The pilots of state-owned Olympic Airways meet today with the
management of the company in an effort to solve the problem of the
lengthy delays in scheduled flights.
Meanwhile, the state-owned Railway Organization will cover
only a small number of destinations due to the 24hour strike of
the railway employees.
[11] THE MILITARY EXERCISE "SARISSA ‘98" IS UNDERWAY IN NORTH-
CENTRAL GREECE
The military exercise "Sarissa ‘98" opened in north-central
Greece today with the participation of formations and units from
the 2nd Army Corps. The scenario of the exercise will be completed
on July 17 and provides for mechanized formations' operations in
combination with air borne operations.
The final phase of the exercise will take place on July 16
and will be watched by the political and military leadership of
the ministry of defense and other officials.
[12] THE FEDORA 6TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN
THESSALONIKI
The 6th European Conference of the employment group FEDORA,
which is made up of representatives of the 15 EU member-states,
will take place in Thessaloniki in the year 2001.
FEDORA is a European organization and its goal is to offer
advice to university students concerning their vocational
rehabilitation. The group was established in Belgium in 1988 and
is directed by an elected 15member board representing each of the
15 EU member-states. Today, the group numbers 500 members.
[13] GARABEDIAN: THE THESSALONIKI - SOFIA FLIGHT WILL BE
PROFITABLE
The hope that the Thessaloniki-Sofia passenger flight will be
economically profitable and will vindicate the Bulgarian "Balkan
Airlines" decision to undertake the venture, was expressed by
Bulgarian undersecretary of transportation Apik Garabedian.
In a press conference in Thessaloniki, Mr. Garabedian stated
that it is possible to decide to expand the service by using
Boeing 737-500 planes.
The Bulgarian undersecretary of transportation also stated
that the 6.000 Greek students studying in Bulgarian universities
and the regular business, economic and political meetings held
between Greeks and Bulgarians as well as, the great Bulgarian
interest for tourism in Greece are expected to contribute to the
success of the flight.
[14] INTER-BALKAN YOUTH MEETING IN EVROS
The cultural events within the framework of the "Youth
Meeting - Ardas 98", which is held for a 4th consecutive year,
will take place just one kilometer from the Greek-Turkish borders.
In the annual cultural meeting that will be held on July 22-26
participate young boys and girls from all the Balkan states.
The cultural events will take place at the banks of Ardas
River in the region of Evros in north-eastern Greece.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] FRANCE WORLD CHAMPION, BEATS BRAZIL 3-0
Frenchmen, and women, celebrated their national football
team's victory all through the night by spilling into the light-
filled streets of Champs Elysees, chanting and dancing in a sea of
red, blue and white flags.
The host country beat (a formidable opponent) Brazil 3-0 in
last night's final game of the France '98 World football Cup.
Brazilian coach Mario Zagalo stated that his team was unlucky and
added that the night belonged to France, since it was a better
team.
[16] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH RUSSIAN COUNTERPART TODAY
The President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides is currently in
Moscow, where he will meet his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin
today.
He is accompanied by Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis
Kasoulides and Under- Secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros.
President Clerides will have a meeting with President
Yeltsin, followed by a working lunch given by Russian Foreign
Minister Yevgeny Primakov.
According to the CNA, the Cyprus issue, an agreement between
Russia and Cyprus to avoid double taxation and other issues of
mutual interest, will be at the focus of President Clerides'
meetings.
[17] ALTERNATE FM GEORGE PAPANDREOU IN BRUSSELS TO ATTEND EU
MEETING
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou is currently in
Brussels where he will attend the European Union General Affairs
Council.
Among the issues to be discussed by the Council, which will
convene today and tomorrow, are the priorities of the Austrian EU
presidency, Agenda 2000 and the time schedule for its
implementation.
Ministers will also be discussing the situation in the
western Balkans, with emphasis on the crisis in
the Serbian province of Kosovo.
[18] CLERIDES, YELTSIN PLEDGE TO PUSH THROUGH MISSILE DEAL
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, currently on an official
visit to Russia, reassured Moscow today that Nicosia intends to
honor a contract to buy an advanced Russian ground-to-air missile
system, according to Russian news agencies.
President Clerides and Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin
discussed the controversial 420-million-dollar order by Nicosia of
Russian S-300 weaponry, and both leaders said they intended to
push through the deal.
Both leaders expressed their "readiness to carry out the
commitments they made earlier" on the delivery to Cyprus of the
missile system, ITAR-TASS news agency reported, citing Kremlin
spokesman Sergei Prikhodko.
Upon his departure from Nicosia, the Cypriot President said
he would cancel the contract if progress was made on
demilitarizing Cyprus.
"If talks restart and there is progress, then we will delay the
arrival of the missiles in order not to blow the whole situation
into the air," Mr. Clerides said.
Yesterday, President Clerides visited the Moscow City Hall.
Prior to the visit, the Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, as a host, took
the president on a sightseeing tour from the Ukraina hotel to the
Kolomenskoye museum along the Moskva river.
Mr. Luzhkov told Mr. Clerides about the present situation
in the city, including financial, social and religious issues.
The Cypriot president told the Russian mayor that in Cyprus,
which has no religious problems, there are disagreements over
national and territorial issues.
Mr. Clerides stressed that Moscow had achieved much since
the mayor took office. He signed in the Book of City's Honored
Guests and invited Mr. Luzhkov to make an official visit to
Cyprus.
[19] ISRAEL TRAINS TURKISH PILOTS IN DESTROYING S-300
Six F-16 fighter-bombers of the Turkish air forces have
conducted exercises at the Israeli training center Shdema designed
to destroy the S-300 air defense systems which Russia delivered to
Cyprus.
During the exercises, the newspaper Hurriyet reported today,
the task was to destroy the S-300 systems in conditions "of their
use by Greek Cypriots against Turkey."
[20] THE AGREEMENT ON THE S-300 MISSILES WILL MATERIALIZE
The presidents of Russia and Cyprus Boris Yeltsin and Glafkos
Clerides reconfirmed in their morning meeting in Moscow today
their decision to materialize their agreement on the S-300
missiles.
The statement was made by the Russian president assistant on
international issues Sergei Prihotko immediately after the end of
the talks held by the two presidents. Before the meeting, which
was held in a friendly atmosphere, Boris Yeltsin expressed the
view that the relations established between Russia and Cyprus are
strong and stable.
President Clerides had stated from Nicosia before his
departure for the Russian capital that he would cancel the deal on
the S-300 missiles only in case there is progress in the
demilitarization of the island, saying characteristically that if
the negotiations are underway and there is progress the arrival of
the missiles will be delayed.
[21] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SATISFIED OVER HIS MEETING WITH YELTSIN
Cypriot President, Glafkos Clerides, who is currently on a
visit to Moscow, and , described the meeting he had his Russian
counterpart, Boris Yeltsin today as "very successful".
Mr Clerides stressed that the talks he had with mr Yeltsin
were substanstive and added that the meeting proceeded so
successfully that no questions were left for consideration with
the Russian Foreign ministerYevgeni Primakov.
During the conversation, mr Yeltsin praised the well-
adjusted, cordial, good relations which were developed between
himself and mr Clerides.
After the meeting, mr Yeltsin's aide Sergei Prikhodko,
announced to the journalists that the talks between the two
presidents proved that there were no contradictions or
disagreements in Moscow-Nicosia relations but, only, the mutual
wish to strengthen their economic ties and expressed satisfaction
over the complete coincidence of the views of the Russian
Federation and the Cyprus Republic, concerning the prospects for
the settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Mr Clerides, also, thanked the Russian president for the
consistent russian policy aiming to secure a prompt settlement of
the Cyprus issue and for Russia's position at the UN Security
Council.
Mr Primakov noted that the Yeltsin-Clerides meeting was very
intensive as the two leaders examined the perspectives for the
development of bilateral relations and discussed in detail the
eventuality of the Cyprus problem solution. The Russian Foreign
minister added that the two countries have a wide field of
coinciding positions and thus there is no ground to think that
something would impede the development of their relations.
Earlier today, mr Prikhodko announced that the two
presidents, within the framework of their talks regarding the
Cyprus problem, confirmed their countries' willingness to proceed
with the implementation of the S-300 russian missiles delivery to
Cyprus.
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