Visit the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) Archive Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-11-02

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 2, 1998

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PREMIER STANDS BY GOVERNMENT POLICY DURING PARLIAMENT DEBATE
  • [02] PARLIAMENT CONTINUES TALKS FOR CONFIDENCE VOTE IN GOVERNMENT
  • [03] GREEK TELECOM ORGANIZATION LISTED ON WALL STREET AS OF TODAY
  • [04] OTE SHARE TWICE OVERSUBSCRIBED, ORDERS POURED IN AT LAST MINUTE
  • [05] THESSALONIKI HOSTS ASSEMBLY OF ORTHODOXY MEETING
  • [06] OPPOSITION PARTIES BLAST GOVERNMENT AND ITS POLICIES DURING DEBATE
  • [07] PREMIER TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC TODAY
  • [08] PASOK'S VIEWS ON ESP'S MANIFESTO FORWARDED TO COOK
  • [09] FIRST MUSEUM OF MT. ATHOS AT MONASTERY OF XENOPHON
  • [10] PHILOXENIA '98 STARTS THURSDAY, S.E. EUROPE'S BIGGEST TOURISM FAIR
  • [11] 120 DEPUTIES WILL ADDRESS THE PARLIAMENT TODAY
  • [12] BIG GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
  • [13] RIME MINISTER OF ALBANIA WILL VISIT GREECE ON NOVEMBER 12
  • [14] PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES FROM 5 COUNTRIES VISITED THE MAYOR OF THESSALONIKI
  • [15] CONFERENCE ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE FROM IMVROS TO HELLENISM
  • [16] ALEXANDER THE GREAT MONUMENT IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
  • [17] BOOKS FROM ALEXANDROUPOLIS TO GJIROKASTRA UNIVERSITY LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [18] FYROM: VMRO-DPMNE & DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION WIN ELECTIONS
  • [19] ISRAELI PRESIDENT EMBARKS ON THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUS
  • [20] CHRVENKOFSKI ACCEPTED DEFEAT IN THE FYROM ELECTIONS
  • [21] EZER WEISMAN: A SOLUTION SHOULD BE FOUND FOR CYPRUS SOON
  • [22] THE "TRAIN OF CULTURE AND PEACE" ARRIVES IN SKOPJE TODAY

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] PREMIER STANDS BY GOVERNMENT POLICY DURING PARLIAMENT DEBATE

    The Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, who opened last night's parliamentary debate on granting the government a confidence vote, vowed to press on with his already-carved policy and stressed that no hesitation or experimentation will be tolerated.

    Mr. Simitis asked for a confidence vote last Thursday after having conducted a minor cabinet reshuffle. He justified his request for a confidence vote as follows:

    "First to give an answer to all those who dispute the government's political legitimacy, that is, vested interests, certain unionist groups and the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party; secondly, to give a reply to populism and thirdly, to confirm with the confidence vote PASOK's conceptions for the country's prospects".

    Confident over the country's entry to the European Economic Monetary Union (EMU) by the year 2000, the Premier said that the government "is not going to toy, not even for a moment, with the interests of the people and the country and is not willing to waste the sacrifices and efforts of the Greek people, so as to become pleasant and benefit PASOK".

    He stated that EMU accession is not a goal in itself, instead, he said, "the government's goal is the Greek citizens' ever-increasing prosperity."

    The Premier also said that the government has achieved the safeguarding of social expenditure, unlike other European countries, thereby proving that its social concern is real and not theoretical.

    [02] PARLIAMENT CONTINUES TALKS FOR CONFIDENCE VOTE IN GOVERNMENT

    The Hellenic Parliament will continue discussions this evening, concerning granting a confidence vote to the government.

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, who sought the confidence vote immediately after the government reshuffle on Thursday, opened the discussion last night analyzing the government policy in all sectors. The discussion will continue until midnight on Tuesday when the parliamentarians will vote in an open ballot. The government is resolved to seek a Parliamentary absolute majority of at least 151 votes in the confidence vote on Tuesday night. The leader of the main opposition party Kostas Karamanlis accused the Premier of trying to resolve inner-party problems at the expense of parliament. The secretary-general of the Communist Party of Greece Aleka Paparega stated that the government's EMU accession target is leading the country on a course to bankruptcy.

    [03] GREEK TELECOM ORGANIZATION LISTED ON WALL STREET AS OF TODAY

    Greece's Telecommunications Organization (OTE) is ready for its listing on the New York Stock Exchange today, as the general counsel of OTE George Chrysolouris will be the first Greek to declare the opening of trading on the NYSE.

    ΟΤΕ is Greece's largest company with a market capitalization of $11 billion, equal to roughly 10 percent of Greece's GDP.

    [04] OTE SHARE TWICE OVERSUBSCRIBED, ORDERS POURED IN AT LAST MINUTE

    Public subscriptions for shares in Greece's Telecommunications Organization (OTE) were twice oversubscribed, surpassing even the most optimistic forecasts.

    According to news reports, a heavy load of orders came in from international institutions at the last minute.

    The third flotation of OTE shares will bring the government approximately 302 billion drachmas, according to the National Bank of Greece, one of the offer's main underwriters, along with Credit Suisse First Boston and Salomon Smith Barney. The share's price has been listed at GRD6.100.

    The subscription title allocation, conducted during the weekend, paved the road for today's listing on the New York Stock Exchange where the general counsel of OTE George Chrysolouris will be the first Greek to declare the opening of trading on the NYSE.

    [05] THESSALONIKI HOSTS ASSEMBLY OF ORTHODOXY MEETING

    A two-day meeting of the International Secretariat of the European Inter-parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy is beginning in Thessaloniki today.

    The meeting will plan the celebration of the completion of two thousand years of Christianity and will examine ways to further improve the operation of the Assembly.

    The participants will also discuss the formation of a committee of legal specialists from its member-states who will contribute towards regulating the presence of new sects in Europe.

    [06] OPPOSITION PARTIES BLAST GOVERNMENT AND ITS POLICIES DURING DEBATE

    The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, slammed the government during last night debate concerning the granting of a confidence vote to the ruling PASOK party.

    Mr. Karamanlis stated that the government and the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis were "weaker than ever" and that the country is undergoing a "dissolution of the state."

    "The government is weaker than ever and more so the prime minister is weaker than ever and with spasmodic moves he is asking for a confidence vote under pressure from his party's internal opposition," Mr. Karamanlis said.

    He further referred to a "dissolution of the state", of a state "which instead of being a friend to the citizen has become its enemy".

    He also accused the government of not accelerating the privatization course and of not curbing public expenditure.

    In regards to the government's foreign policy, Mr. Karamanlis stated that it has led to "Turkey's audacity and increased provocation".

    The secretary-general of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Paparega said that the premier called for a confidence vote "in order to reassure the Greek and European plutocracy that the popular protest, which was expressed clearly by the (recent) municipal and prefectural elections, will not lead the government to evasions, which might relax the rhythms of the wild neo-liberal policy, which it follows with consistency."

    She further added that the people are not willing to make more sacrifices for the European Union and the " fake aim of the EMU."

    The Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Konstantopoulos said that the Premier, "instead of studying the messages of the municipal elections, is requesting by blackmail, of its deputies to ignore the message of the popular decision and grant a cover with their vote to his incomprehensible persistence on the same policy."

    Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said that the Premier called for the confidence vote in order to "settle inter-party (PASOK) disputes."

    [07] PREMIER TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC TODAY

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to be received by the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos today.

    The Premier will brief the President on the course of the state's internal and foreign policies.

    [08] PASOK'S VIEWS ON ESP'S MANIFESTO FORWARDED TO COOK

    A memorandum with the views of the Greek ruling PASOK party regarding the Socialist Manifesto for the European Parliament elections has been forwarded by Greece's Deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis to the British foreign secretary Robin Cook, chairman of the governing Committee of the European Socialist Party.

    The memorandum is based on positions set out in a document presented by the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis on "The political and social future of Europe" during the recent informal EU summit in Portschach, Austria.

    The Greek ruling party, PASOK, stresses the need for accelerating the process for political unification in the EU, securing political control of Economic and Monetary Union, and strengthening the "society of citizens" and the democratic character of European institutions. It supports the strengthening of the European Parliament's roles and powers and notes that the time has come to adopt more decisive measures to combat unemployment.

    The committee will first convene over the "Manifesto" on November 12 and 13 in Brussels, and PASOK will be represented by Mr. Kranidiotis and Nikos Themelis.

    [09] FIRST MUSEUM OF MT. ATHOS AT MONASTERY OF XENOPHON

    Rare icons and mosaics presented during last year's Exhibition of the Treasures of Mt. Athos in Thessaloniki are to be exhibited on a permanent basis from now on at the monastic community's first museum which will operate at the Monastery of Xenophon.

    The museum was recently inaugurated by the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos during the celebration of the monastery's 1,000th anniversary.

    Among the items on display are 25 rare icons that date back to the 10th century while coins belonging to Byzantine Emperor Komninos, which were recently excavated, will also be on display in the future.

    [10] PHILOXENIA '98 STARTS THURSDAY, S.E. EUROPE'S BIGGEST TOURISM FAIR

    The Helexpo-founded PHILOXENIA '98, the biggest tourism exhibition in South-East Europe, is to start in Thessaloniki on Thursday, November 5, featuring 10,000 sq.m. of exhibition space and more than 350 exhibitors of the tourism industry from around the world.

    Among the sectors to be represented at the four-day fair are hotels, apartment and other accommodation forms, transportation, meeting, conference and incentive travel, tour operators, nature and adventure trips, data communications and publications.

    PHILOXENIA reached its peak last year with 369 exhibitors. More analytically, 311 of these were from Greece while 58 from abroad. The exhibitors presented their products to 10,000 visitors of which 4,000 visitors with trade interest.

    This year's event is jointly organized by Thessaloniki's HELEXPO and Great Britain's REED EXHIBITIONS, a marketing company which organizes 336 exhibitors worldwide, nine of which are for the tourism sector .

    The collaboration agreement, which is expected to be finalized by the end of August, is expected to contribute decisively to the improvement of services offered in the area of international marketing. The two companies will sign a ten year agreement commencing in1999.

    [11] 120 DEPUTIES WILL ADDRESS THE PARLIAMENT TODAY

    The interest in today's parliament session, the second plenary session of the parliament held at the request of prime minister Kostas Simitis who called for a vote of confidence, will focus on the speeches of the governing socialist party of PASOK deputies who belong to the so-called "in-party opposition".

    The deputies registered to address the parliament today are 120 and among them are government ministers and representatives of the parties of the opposition. The discussion in parliament will be completed tomorrow at midnight with the speech of the prime minister followed by the vote of confidence.

    [12] BIG GAINS IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

    Big gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general price index closed at 5.86% higher due to the privatization of part of the Greek Telecommunications Company (OTE) and the interest rate cuts. The volume of transactions reached 362 billion drachmas.

    Strong upward trends prevailed in the international stock markets today. The international upward trend is being attributed to a number of factors with most important the new Bonn government persistence to cut the German interest rates.

    [13] RIME MINISTER OF ALBANIA WILL VISIT GREECE ON NOVEMBER 12

    Albania's new prime minister Pandeli Majko will visit Greece on November 12.

    The announcement was made today by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas pointing out that the Albanian leader will discuss with prime minister Kostas Simitis issues of bilateral interest.

    [14] PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES FROM 5 COUNTRIES VISITED THE MAYOR OF THESSALONIKI

    Parliament deputies from Russia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Yugoslavia and Armenia visited Thessaloniki's mayor Dimitris Dimitriadis today to discuss issues of cooperation.

    The deputies, who met with the city's mayor, are members of the International Secretariat of the European Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy and are in Thessaloniki within the framework of the Secretariat's regular assembly meeting which is organized by the Greek parliament.

    [15] CONFERENCE ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE FROM IMVROS TO HELLENISM

    The work and contribution to Hellenism of distinguished personalities from the north-eastern Aegean island of Imvros, which is part of Turkey, will be presented in a conference that will be held in Thessaloniki on November 7 and 8 organized by the Society for the Study of Imvros and Tenedos.

    University professors from Greece and abroad will speak about the historian of the fall of Constantinople Michail Kritovoulos, ecclesiastical books' proof-reader Vartholomeos Koutloumousianos, Metropolite Nikiforos Glikas and Aristotle University professor of linguistics Nikos Andriotis, while there will also be presentations on the contribution of Imvros to the Halki Theology School as well as, the 20th century spiritual identity of the people of Imvros living abroad.

    In addition there will be a presentation on the significance of Patriarch Vartholomeos' ecumenical role and the contribution of Archbishop Iakovos to the Hellenism in America as well as, on his ties with the Halki Theology School.

    [16] ALEXANDER THE GREAT MONUMENT IN ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

    An Alexander the Great monument will be in place at the entrance of the new library in Alexandria, Egypt at the year 2000.

    This monument will put an end to an "absence" of centuries, given the fact that until now there was no statue of Alexander the Great in the city which was named after him.

    The decision for the construction of the monument was made recently on the occasion of the 5th annual conference on the Greek- Egyptian relations which was held in Alexandria at the end of October. The local authorities in Egypt accepted with great enthusiasm the Greek proposals for the construction of the monument giving the "green light" to the creation of his statue.

    [17] BOOKS FROM ALEXANDROUPOLIS TO GJIROKASTRA UNIVERSITY LITERATURE DEPARTMENT

    History, literature and Greek language books were offered to the University of Gjirokastra Greek language and literature department by the Dimokrition University of Thrace Education Department as well as by private individuals and institutions from the city of Alexandroupolis in north-eastern Greece.

    The books were delivered during a special event organized in the Albanian city of Gjirokastra by the Greek Students' Union in the city University.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [18] FYROM: VMRO-DPMNE & DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION WIN ELECTIONS

    The conservative coalition VMRO-DPMNE and Democratic Alternative Solution has emerged as the winner in the second round of parliamentary elections held yesterday in FYROM, having gathered 59 seats in both rounds, with the Social-democratic Union coming second.

    The main opposition victory has also been acknowledged by the outgoing Social-Democrats cabinet.

    [19] ISRAELI PRESIDENT EMBARKS ON THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUS

    The President of Israel Ezer Weizman is embarking on a three- day official visit to Cyprus today, the first such visit by an Israeli head of state.

    President Weizman will be greeted at the Larnaca airport by the President o the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides with whom he will hold talks later in the day.

    Also today, the Israeli president will meet with the Archbishop Chrysostomos and will attend a dinner given in his honor by President Clerides.

    During his stay in Cyprus, Mr. Weizman will meet by the President of the Parliament of Cyprus Spyros Kyprianou and with leaders of the opposition parties.

    [20] CHRVENKOFSKI ACCEPTED DEFEAT IN THE FYROM ELECTIONS

    The outcome of the parliamentary elections in FYROM is a strong blow to president Kiro Gligorov Social-democrats as according to unofficial results, the VMRO-DMNE and Democratic Alternative Party center-right coalition is the winner of the second round of the parliamentary elections held on Sunday.

    FYROM's prime minister Branko Chrvenkofski accepted the defeat of the Social-democratic party but president Gligorov made it clear that he is not willing to resign.

    [21] EZER WEISMAN: A SOLUTION SHOULD BE FOUND FOR CYPRUS SOON

    Israeli president Ezer Weisman expressed the wish for a quick solution to the Cyprus problem upon his arrival at the airport of Larnaca. The Israeli president arrived in Cyprus for a three-day formal visit.

    Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides, who welcomed his Israeli counterpart at the airport, expressed the certainty that his visit will be constructive while he underlined that Mr. Weisman's arrival marks the start of a new bright chapter in the relations of the two countries.

    The Israeli president stated that he is satisfied with the development of cooperation between the two countries in the sectors of economy, trade, medicine and agriculture, while he underlined that Cyprus and Israel both are countries suffering from conflicts and seeking peace.

    Mr. Weisman was welcomed at the airport by parliament president Spyros Kiprianou, government ministers, the government spokesman, political party leaders and the chief of the National Guard.

    [22] THE "TRAIN OF CULTURE AND PEACE" ARRIVES IN SKOPJE TODAY

    The "Train of Culture and Peace" arrives in Skopje today within the framework of its tour that was organized to take place in 12 European countries by the Greek ministry of culture in cooperation with European organizations and with the support of the European Union.

    The train's six cars host different exhibitions on democracy, theater, trade, industry, technology, the Olympic Spirit and human rights. The train will stay in Skopje for two days.

    In a statement issued by FYROM's ministry of culture it is underlined that the goal of the "Train of Culture and Peace" is to present to different peoples the contribution of culture to the development of mankind and to the safeguarding of peace and development in the Balkans and Europe.


    Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpegr2html v1.01a run on Monday, 2 November 1998 - 21:25:15 UTC