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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-01-25

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, January 25, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] EDUCATION MINISTER TO MEET WITH HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TODAY
  • [02] FARMERS TO MEET WITH AGRICULTURE MINISTER TODAY
  • [03] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE SLASHES LOAN AND DEPOSIT RATES
  • [04] POLITICAL LEADERS POPULARITY DECLINING, ACCORDING TO POLL
  • [05] REPPAS: THE OLYMPIC IDEAL MUST REMAIN INTACT
  • [06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN IS OPTIMISTIC ON THE ARSENIS- TEACHERS' UNION MEETING
  • [07] THE MEETING BETWEEN THE EDUCATION MINISTER AND THE TEACHERS' UNION WILL TAKE PLACE THIS AFTERNOON
  • [08] REPPAS: THE PEOPLE WILL JUDGE THE GOVERNMENT BY ITS WORK IN THE YEAR 2000
  • [09] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS: THE ORTHODOX CHURCH REJECTS NATIONALISM
  • [10] 36 OTTOMAN FERMANS SHED LIGHT ON THE HISTORY OF KOZANI, NORTH- WESTERN GREECE
  • [11] THE 15TH AGROTICA WILL OPEN ITS DOORS ON WEDNESDAY
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [12] IOC MEMBERS FACE EXPULSION AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY
  • [13] US SENATE TO DECIDE ON FATE OF CLINTON'S TRIAL
  • [14] GREEK DEPUTIES ATTEND COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEETING TODAY
  • [15] EU FOREIGN MINSTERS DISCUSS KOSOVO ISSUE
  • [16] GREECE'S DEVELOPMENT MINISTER IN THE US PROMOTING TIES
  • [17] AUSTRALIAN FM DENOUNCES OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS
  • [18] UN INTICES ALBANIA WITH AID IN EXCHANGE TO WEAPONS
  • [19] ALBANIAN TEACHERS DECLARE INDEFINITE STRIKE
  • [20] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER SPEAKS ON TURKEY'S EUROPEAN VOCATION
  • [21] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE S-300 WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE GREEK SYSTEM OF DEFENSE
  • [22] NEW BOMBARDMENT OF IRAQ
  • [23] WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE AIR STRIKE IN VASORA
  • [24] THE EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET ON KOSOVO
  • [25] PEOPLE ARE NOT PLACED UNDER SURVEILLANCE IN GREECE BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] EDUCATION MINISTER TO MEET WITH HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TODAY

    The administrative council of the Secondary Education Teachers Federation (OLME) is to meet with the Minster of Education Gerasimos Arsenis today. The teachers are proposing changes in the academic reforms which could alleviate the present deadlock in the sector.

    Meanwhile, the teachers are conducting a 24-hour strike today, while the students' coordinating committees have decided to hold massive rallies on Thursday, January 28 and on February 5.

    [02] FARMERS TO MEET WITH AGRICULTURE MINISTER TODAY

    Central Greece's farmers committee members, who are planning a series of protests starting next week, are to meet with the Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis today who will try to secure a promise that they will not block the roads with their tractors.

    The meeting will determine whether or not they farmers will actually conduct the protests.

    [03] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE SLASHES LOAN AND DEPOSIT RATES

    The National Bank of Greece, the country's largest commercial bank slashed its loan and deposit rates today, a decision taken as a result of a sharp decline in interest rates "and National Bank's strategy of offering its customers competitive products, " according to the bank's governor Theodoros Karatzas .

    Among other rate declines, the savings deposit rate is dropping to 8.0 percent from 8.50 percent, the current account rate to 6.5 percent from 7.0 percent, and the business rate for operating capital to 12.50 percent from 13.75 percent.

    In addition, the bank will allow customers who have fixed rate housing loans to switch to a floating rate.

    Mr. Karatzas has also announced that two centers for financing small and medium- sized enterprises will open in Thessaloniki.

    [04] POLITICAL LEADERS POPULARITY DECLINING, ACCORDING TO POLL

    The popularity of the country's political leaders is on the decline, according to a poll conducted by the V. PRC company, and whose results are published today in an Athens daily.

    The present poll, conducted between January 18-22, compares its data with numbers gathered in a similar poll held in November of 1998.

    The leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress party (Synaspismos) Nikos Constantopoulos continues to hold first place (44.4%), albeit with a marked decline from last November's rate (51.4).

    He is followed by: the Democratic and Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas 36.4% (last November's rate was 45.8%); main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis with 34.4% as opposed to 39.1%;

    Prime Minster Kostas Simitis with 24,8% (as opposed to 32,4%) the secretary-general of the Communist Party of Greece Aleka Paparega with 17,2% (17,3%) and the leader of Political Spring Antonis Samaras with 12,7% (17,5%).

    According to the given responses, the positive assessments for the government present a small decline (13,8% as opposed to 14,2%), whereas the negative assessments have increased by 10 percentage points as 56.7% of those polled stated that they are "not at all satisfied" with the government.

    The highest degree of dissatisfaction emanates from the lower economic classes where the "absolutely negative" assessments amounted to 65% of those questioned, while only 10% gave positive answers.

    [05] REPPAS: THE OLYMPIC IDEAL MUST REMAIN INTACT

    The Olympic ideal should remain intact and it can not be hurt by the reprehensible acts of certain members of the International Olympic Committee.

    The above were stated by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas responding to a question by reporters on the corruption scandal involving members of the IOC.

    [06] THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN IS OPTIMISTIC ON THE ARSENIS- TEACHERS' UNION MEETING

    Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas appeared optimistic that today's meeting of education minister Gerasimos Arsenis with representatives of the teachers' union will lead to the normalising of the situation in the sector of education.

    The government spokesman accused the political parties of the opposition of irresponsibility and impressive absence of ideas.

    [07] THE MEETING BETWEEN THE EDUCATION MINISTER AND THE TEACHERS' UNION WILL TAKE PLACE THIS AFTERNOON

    The street blockades by students continued today, while the teachers of secondary and primary education are on a 24hour strike. The meeting of minister of education Gerasimos Arsenis with the presiding board of the main teachers' union will take place this afternoon.

    In Thessaloniki, the teachers held a protest march that ended up outside the ministry of Macedonia-Thrace building. On Thursday, the students will organise protest rallies in all the big cities across the country, while the coordinating bodies responsible for the school-building occupations also decided to hold a new rally.

    [08] REPPAS: THE PEOPLE WILL JUDGE THE GOVERNMENT BY ITS WORK IN THE YEAR 2000

    The government leaves others to be fascinated by the meaning of public opinion polls while it continues its work and it will have again the confidence of the people in the next elections, said government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, referring to the opinion poll published by the Athens newspaper "TA NEA" which shows a decline in the popularity rates of the government.

    Mr. Reppas said that public opinion polls are useful tools and their messages should not be underestimated adding however that the government is not in a difficult position. He said that the people will judge the government by the truthfulness of its work and not by the lies of the opposition parties.

    [09] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS: THE ORTHODOX CHURCH REJECTS NATIONALISM

    Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos in an interview with the newspaper "Exousia" distinguishes healthy patriotism from pathological nationalism.

    Responding to a question on the nationalist tendencies characterizing certain Orthodox Churches in south-eastern Europe, the Ecumenical Patriarch underlines that the Orthodox Church respects the national peculiarities of each people and describes patriotism as a duty, while it rejects as a sect nationalism and racism.

    On the relations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the Church of Greece the Ecumenical Patriarch notes that they continue to be good, while on the dialogue between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church he points out that is being held having as a goal the gradual solution of the problems. On the issue of the Orthodox Christians who refer to the Pope, he said that any initiative and responsibility for the interruption of the dialogue will belong from now on to the Roman-Catholic Church as the Christian Orthodox Church does not request anything more than the recognition of what was jointly agreed upon concerning this issue.

    [10] 36 OTTOMAN FERMANS SHED LIGHT ON THE HISTORY OF KOZANI, NORTH- WESTERN GREECE

    Thirty-six Ottoman fermans dating back from the 18th century to early 20th century, are being translated and will be published before the end of the year by Kozani's Institute of Book and Reading.

    Those translations will shed light on the history of Kozani during the period of the Ottoman rule as the specific fermans refer to the taxation system, trade issues, church organization, appointments of bishops and metropolites as well as the maintenance and construction of church and school buildings.

    The fermans, that are being kept in the Municipal Library of Kozani, offer significant information on the economic and social history of the Christians who lived in the Ottoman Empire.

    [11] THE 15TH AGROTICA WILL OPEN ITS DOORS ON WEDNESDAY

    The 15th exhibition of farm machinery and equipment "AGROTICA" will open its doors in Thessaloniki on Wednesday with the participation of 1.218 Greek and foreign exhibitors.

    The fair will cover a space of 37.000 square meters and it is expected to attract the interest of over 100.000 visitors compared to 84.000 last year. According to the organizers, in the exhibition will participate 128 companies members of the European Union ( a participation increased by 12% compared to last year) and they will cover a space of 9.400 square meters.

    The 15th AGROTICA is radically different compared to all the previous ones as the sector of cattle raising is not included this time. A separate cattle-raising sector fair under the name "Zootechnia" is scheduled to be held in September with the participation of 400 exhibitors.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [12] IOC MEMBERS FACE EXPULSION AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY

    Six members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have the threat of expulsion hanging over their heads, after an inquiry into allegations of corruption surrounding Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 winter games.

    IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said he was "profoundly saddened" at the conduct of the individuals concerned and apologized to followers of the Games. He said the members in question had violated their Olympic oath and "the trust that had been placed in them". They will be temporarily suspended until March, when the recommendation for their expulsion is put before a special meeting of the IOC general assembly.

    A seventh official implicated in the scandal announced yesterday that he is resigning from the IOC. The IOC members recommended for expulsion are: Agustin Arroyo of Ecuador, Jean- Claude Ganga of Republic of Congo, Zein El Abdin Ahmed Abdel Gadir of Sudan, Lamine Keita of Mali, Charles Mukora of Kenya and Sergio Santander of Chile.

    [13] US SENATE TO DECIDE ON FATE OF CLINTON'S TRIAL

    The impeachment trial of United States President Bill Clinton resumes today, And the senators' first order of business will be to complete their submission of written questions to prosecutors and the defense team before considering whether to dismiss the case or call witnesses.

    Over 100 written questions were submitted on Friday and Saturday and once the questions round is over, a motion will be tabled to dismiss the perjury and obstruction-of-justice charges against Mr. Clinton. A debate will follow and then the 100-member Senate, by a majority vote, could go into closed session to discuss the motion.

    Once those deliberations are completed the Senate could proceed to considering another motion, that is to authorize the House prosecutors to formally depose, or question, witnesses under oath, among them Monica Lewinsky.

    If the motion to dismiss is approved by a majority vote, then the impeachment trial will be over.

    [14] GREEK DEPUTIES ATTEND COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEETING TODAY

    Eleven Greek parliamentarians are presently in Strasbourg where they will participate in the first part of the 1999 Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

    The sessions of the meeting, which will begin today, will address a number of issues including commitments and obligations of Turkey as a CoE member-state, the creation of an enlarged Europe, religion and democracy, the crisis in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo, the situation in Federal Yugoslavia and internal security in Europe.

    [15] EU FOREIGN MINSTERS DISCUSS KOSOVO ISSUE

    The European Union's Foreign Ministers are to meet in Brussels today in order to discuss a new plan to resolve the Kosovo crisis. The said plan is being deliberated by the EU in cooperation with the Contact Group and NATO.

    Among others, it threatens the use of force in order to compel both sides to stop the conflict and to re-start negotiations.

    According to Serb press reports, which quote EU officials, the Foreign Ministers are to examine the European Commissions report, calling for intensifying the sanctions against Yugoslavia and asking Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw his police force and troops from Kosovo, confirming the ongoing operation of the OSCE verification mission and allowing the Criminal Court of Justice at the Hague to embark on an investigation concerning the Racak events.

    [16] GREECE'S DEVELOPMENT MINISTER IN THE US PROMOTING TIES

    Greece's Development Minister Vaso Papandreou is presently on an official visit to the United States where she is promoting closer Greek-US economic relations and the investment opportunities offered by Greece for American investors.

    Today Ms. Papandreou will address an event at the Harvard Club in New York, organized jointly by the Greek-American Chamber of Commerce and the American-Greek Trade Council.

    [17] AUSTRALIAN FM DENOUNCES OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS

    Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer denounced the "illegal" occupation of Cyprus by Turkey, during his address at the conference of the Federation of Australia's Cypriot Communities.

    Mr. Downer stated that an end must be put to the illegal occupation of part of Cyprus and assured the conference participants, among them Australian political figures, that his country remained staunchly supportive to Cyprus' territorial integrity and to finding a solution to the Cyprus issue, based on United Nations resolutions.

    [18] UN INTICES ALBANIA WITH AID IN EXCHANGE TO WEAPONS

    The United Nations is launching a program this month designed to encourage Albanians to hand over the weapons seized from military depots at the 1997 insurrection.

    According to the French news agency AFP, the UN's bait is an improved standard of living and jobs.

    The man in charge of the program, Philip Pierce stated that "we aim to encourage them to surrender their arms while enabling them to obtain better conditions, telecommunications, an efficient road system and work."

    According to Albanian officials, more than one million guns were taken from military depots during the unrest which broke out after the collapse of speculative savings schemes.

    [19] ALBANIAN TEACHERS DECLARE INDEFINITE STRIKE

    Albania's primary and secondary education teachers declare a strike of indefinite duration today, following the government's refusal to meet their economic demands, among them salary increases of 20%.

    Following marathon talks on Saturday, the government counterproposed a salary increase of 10% which was flatly rejected by the teachers.

    [20] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER SPEAKS ON TURKEY'S EUROPEAN VOCATION

    The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, participated in the Istanbul-held joint meeting of the presidium and directing committee of the European Democratic Union (EDU), of which he is vice-chairman.

    In an interview with the Ankara daily "Hurriyet", Mr. Karamanlis expressed support for Turkey's European prospects, saying "we support a Turkey which will meet and fulfill all European prospects and will be a more compatible neighbor for Greece."

    Mr. Karamanlis said this meant that Turkey will also honor absolutely and fulfill obligations and terms set by the European Union concerning the need for the country's complete democratization, respect for human rights and minorities, the denunciation of force or the threat of the use of force, show absolute respect for international law and treaties and resolve to find a solution for the Kurdish issue.

    The main opposition leader stated that the said issue should be resolved through political means and denied Turkey's claims that Greece harbors support to the PKK.

    [21] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE S-300 WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE GREEK SYSTEM OF DEFENSE

    Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, in an interview with the German-speaking Greek newspaper "Athener Zeitung" parts of which were republished by the Romanian newspaper "Romania Libera", underlined that the Russian-made S-300 anti- aircraft missiles that were not installed in Cyprus will be incorporated into the Greek system of defense.

    According to the report, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, responding to a question on the installation of the missiles in Crete, stated that it is nothing unusual because Greece already has US-made long- range Patriot missiles which are powerful.

    The minister of defense pointed out, according to the newspaper interview, that with the incorporation of those missiles into the Greek system of defense Greece will be in the position to deal with any attack or threat in the Aegean, while he expressed satisfaction over the Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides' decision to abandon the installation of the S-300 missiles in Cyprus.

    [22] NEW BOMBARDMENT OF IRAQ

    The allied aircraft bombed Iraq at noon today. According to the Iraqi news agency, there are dead and wounded as a result of the bombing.

    The US Pentagon spokesman stated that air-strikes were held in south Iraq after the provocation targeting US aircraft. Britain stated that none of its planes was involved in the bombing.

    [23] WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE AIR STRIKE IN VASORA

    Tens of people, mainly women and children, were injured in today's air strike launched by the US and British air forces against a suburb of the city of Vasora in southern Iraq, according to the state-run Iraqi news agency.

    Based on the Iraqi news agency, which cites the testimonies of eye-witnesses, the missiles that hit the city come from south- west insinuating that they were possibly launched from Saudi Arabian territory.

    [24] THE EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET ON KOSOVO

    The foreign ministers of the European Union will discuss in Brussels today the new plan for the solution of the crisis in Kosovo hammered out by the community in cooperation with the Contact Group and NATO.

    The plan provides for the threat for the use of force in order to persuade the Yugoslav and the Albanian side to end the clashes and start new negotiations.

    [25] PEOPLE ARE NOT PLACED UNDER SURVEILLANCE IN GREECE BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

    The Greek government stated, on the occasion of the Jehovah's witnesses case that was brought before the European Court of Justice, that people in Greece are not under surveillance because of their religious beliefs and they will never be in the future.

    The European Court of Justice judges ruled unanimously that the deal reached between the plaintiff and the Greek government, which agreed to pay the sum of 1.5 million drachmas to cover the court expenses and make the statement mentioned above, shows respect for human rights based on the European Treaty on Human Rights.


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