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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-22

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, March 22, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] SIMITIS RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF PASOK, MEETS WITH SKANDALIDES
  • [02] PREMIER: OUR TARGET IS A STRONG GREECE
  • [03] TSOCHATZOPOULOS IS LEADER IN PASOK NEW CENTRAL COMMITTEE
  • [04] PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF JAPAN IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
  • [05] BODIES OF MT. OLYMPUS CLIMBERS RETRIEVED TODAY
  • [06] PRESIDENT OF PANAMA TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTH
  • [07] ASE ON A STEADILY UPWARD COURSE
  • [08] PASOK'S NEW CENTRAL COMMITTEE SECRETARY WILL BE ELECTED NEXT MONDAY
  • [09] REPPAS: THE PRIME MINISTER IS ABSOLUTELY SATISFIED WITH THE PASOK PARTY CONGRESS
  • [10] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT AWARE OF A PLAN FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
  • [11] SIMITIS LEAVES FOR BERLIN TOMORROW
  • [12] THE BERLIN SUMMIT MEETING IS A HISTORIC EVENT FOR THE FUTURE OF GREECE
  • [13] KOSTAS SKANDALIDIS: PASOK'S PARTY CONGRESS WAS ONE STEP FORWARD
  • [14] THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ON THE ELECTION OF SIMITIS
  • [15] PASOK'S PARTY CONGRESS WAS DEEPLY DIVIDED
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [16] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS TO CONVENE IN BRUSSELS TODAY
  • [17] US SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION ON GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY
  • [18] RICHARD HOLBROOKE ARRIVES IN BELGRADE THIS EVENING
  • [19] KOSOVO: NATO FORCES READY AND POISED FOR ATTACK
  • [20] IRAQ-TURKEY OIL PIPELINE SHUT DOWN AFTER EXPLOSION
  • [21] "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE" VOTED BEST PICTURE AT OSCARS
  • [22] PAPANDREOU-SOLANA MEETING IN BRUSSELS
  • [23] HALBROOKE ISSUED A WARNING TO MILOSEVIC

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] SIMITIS RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF PASOK, MEETS WITH SKANDALIDES

    Greece's ruling PASOK party president Kostas Simitis has been re-elected to the three-year post, as he stood unchallenged during yesterday's elections at the party's fifth congress, amassing a 65.7% of the votes. Out of 5,666 ballots, the Premier received 3,723 votes, while 1,708 delegates cast blank votes and another 235 of the ballots were void.

    In his triumphant salutation, Mr. Simitis stressed that the ruling party will lead into a stronger Greece. Today, he will meet with Kostas Skandalides.

    [02] PREMIER: OUR TARGET IS A STRONG GREECE

    Following his triumphant re-election to the post of ruling PASOK party president yesterday, Ruling Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stressed the need for a strong and proud Greece which will create the necessary base for social solidarity and justice.

    In his closing address to the party's fifth congress, Mr. Simitis stressed that unity was achieved despite predictions to the contrary.

    [03] TSOCHATZOPOULOS IS LEADER IN PASOK NEW CENTRAL COMMITTEE

    The ballot counting process for the appointment of the ruling PASOK party's new Central committee has been completed, with the Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos having gathered the majority votes, 3,230 ballots.

    Foreign Minister George Papandreou is next with 2,843, followed by Evangelos Venizelos, 2,830; Kostas Laliotis, 2,667; Theodoros Pangalos, 2657; Paraskevas Avgerinos, 2,482; Alekos Papadopoulos, 2,422; Apostolos Kaklamanis, 2,415 and Vasso Papandreou, 2,408.

    Among the remaining elected members are: Ioannis Charalabopoulos, Yiannis Souladakis, Haris Kastanides, Gerasimos Arsenis, Christos Papoutsis, Pantelis Ikonomou, Stephanos Manikas, Yiannos Papantoniou, Dimitris Reppas, Karolos Papoulias, Anna Diamantopoulou and Thomas Tsouras.

    [04] PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF JAPAN IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

    Prince and Princess Hitachi of Japan are presently in Thessaloniki, as part of their official visit to Greece, the first ever Japanese imperial visit to the country.

    Upon their arrival at 5:30 p.m. yesterday evening, the Japanese Prince and Princess visited the Monastery of Lazariston, and inaugurated its Japanese poster exhibition and, afterwards the Minster of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannos Magriotis hosted a dinner in their honor.

    This morning, the Crown Prince Hitachi and the Princess visited the archaeological site of Vergina.

    Prince Hitachi expressed his admiration at the royal tombs of Vergina and for the Museum tour.

    "You are very fortunate to have discovered such significant findings," the Crown Prince stated, while he also expressed interest for the region's vegetation. Prior to his departure from Vergina, the mayor Mr. Meliopoulos bestowed the imperial couple with a bust of Philip as well as a replica of the Macedonian King's golden urn.

    Prince Hitachi and the Princess also toured the Boutari Winery in Naoussa where they were greeted by a folkloric dance group and were given a tour of the winery.

    The Honorary Consul of Japan Dimitris Bakatselos will host a luncheon in their honor this afternoon in Thessaloniki and they will also visit Thessaloniki's St. Dimitrius Church and tour the city as well.

    Their visit is in light of the 100th anniversary of the 1899 Greek-Japanese friendship and trade agreement.

    [05] BODIES OF MT. OLYMPUS CLIMBERS RETRIEVED TODAY

    The bodies of the three mountain climbers who were killed on the slopes of Mt. Olympus in northern Greece a week ago were retrieved today by Army alpinists.

    Rescue efforts were delayed due to the adverse weather conditions . The bodies were transferred to Thessaloniki's AHEPA Hospital for autopsy.

    The three mountaineers, aged 19, 21 and 37, were part of a group from the Thessaloniki Mountaineering Club. Rescuers believe one fell down the 800-metre ravine, dragging the other two with him, as they were attempting to scale the mountain.

    [06] PRESIDENT OF PANAMA TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTH

    The President of Panama Ernesto Perez Balladares is to conduct an official visit to Greece from March 31 to April 2, the office of the presidency has announced .

    Mr. Balladares is visiting Greece at the invitation of the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

    [07] ASE ON A STEADILY UPWARD COURSE

    The General Price Index of the Athens Stock Exchange marked an upward course today, steadily rising above 3,8000 points, thus resulting in high profits for the banking institutions.

    The transactions volume has also risen, escalating to 51 billion drachmas.

    [08] PASOK'S NEW CENTRAL COMMITTEE SECRETARY WILL BE ELECTED NEXT MONDAY

    The new central committee of the socialist governing party of PASOK will convene on Monday, March 29 to elect its new secretary and the members of the executive bureau.

    Outgoing central committee secretary Kostas Skandalidis, who met with prime minister Kostas Simitis today, responded to the question on whether he will be again the central committee secretary by saying that the party president will recommend the candidate, adding that he will offer his services to the party regardless of the post he will have.

    [09] REPPAS: THE PRIME MINISTER IS ABSOLUTELY SATISFIED WITH THE PASOK PARTY CONGRESS

    The prime minister is absolutely satisfied with the outcome of PASOK's fifth party congress, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, adding that Mr. Simitis was strengthened by the results and that the initiatives he will undertake will have a positive effect.

    To the question on the likelihood of a government reshuffle, he responded that there is no such an issue.

    [10] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT AWARE OF A PLAN FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that no plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem has come to the knowledge of the Greek government.

    Mr. Reppas said that a US initiative is expected but the United States will wait for the elections in Turkey to be held first. In any case, he said, there are the UN resolutions that define the framework for a solution and the Greek government will not allow this framework to be broken.

    [11] SIMITIS LEAVES FOR BERLIN TOMORROW

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis leaves for Berlin tomorrow to attend the EU summit meeting that will be held on March 24-25.

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the EU summit will be decisive for the course and the future of the country and that the government is prepared to defend the Greek national interests.

    On the selection of the new EU Commission members and its president, he stressed that it will be made after consultations, while on Christos Papoutsis he pointed out that he enjoys the confidence of the Greek government. On the charges launched against Mr. Papoutsis by Theodoros Pangalos he commented that every party official can have his own views.

    [12] THE BERLIN SUMMIT MEETING IS A HISTORIC EVENT FOR THE FUTURE OF GREECE

    The future of Greece's further development will be at stake in the informal EU summit meeting that will be held in Berlin on March 24 and 25.

    Greece is fighting to secure an aid of 22 billion Euro, about 7 trillion drachmas, from the structural funds and the cohesion fund, while it also wants the ratification of the agriculture ministers' agreement for the reform of the common farm policy which provides an additional 150 million Euro annually, about 53 billion drachmas, as extra resources for the Greek agriculture as well as ratio increases in the production of milk and the planting of new vineyards.

    The prime minister has stated repeatedly that Greece's development is based on the sums of money that the country will get from the "Santer package".

    The European Council meeting in Berlin constitutes a final effort on behalf of Greece in order to win the resources through which, according to the Greek government, the country will achieve the convergence with its EU partners.

    [13] KOSTAS SKANDALIDIS: PASOK'S PARTY CONGRESS WAS ONE STEP FORWARD

    PASOK's central committee will meet next Monday at noon to elect its secretary and the executive bureau members. The announcement was made today by Kostas Skandalidis after the meeting he had with prime minister Kostas Simitis.

    Mr. Skandalidis stated that he discussed with the prime minister the moves of the following days that will lead to the central committee meeting. He characterized the congress as a step forward and pointed out that the composition of the new central committee was the result of the free conscience and will of the party congress delegates.

    In a statement he made to an Athens newspaper, Mr. Simitis stressed that now that the party congress has ended there is a need to show greater determination in the materialization of the government policy. The prime minister said that the congress decisions offer the opportunity to move ahead in a more dynamic way and at the same time, take a test on unity in the political fights of the months that will follow.

    [14] THE OPPOSITION PARTIES ON THE ELECTION OF SIMITIS

    The parties of the opposition saw the fifth party congress of PASOK from their own perspective.

    Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis spoke of a PASOK "state-sustained leading caste". New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated that Mr. Simitis managed to be re-elected party president with a majority that does not meet its expectations and added that PASOK moves toward the Euro-elections which it will certainly lose.

    Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas underlined that all those who leave the governing socialist party of PASOK are welcomed to his own party, while Coalition of the Left press spokesman Dimitris Papadimoulis observed that in the party congress of PASOK the idea of center-left was mistreated.

    [15] PASOK'S PARTY CONGRESS WAS DEEPLY DIVIDED

    Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy local officials discussed the outcome of the contacts party leader Kostas Karamanlis had during his visit to the United States, PASOK's party congress and the developments in the European Commission.

    In statements he made afterwards, New Democracy press spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos stressed that the party congress of PASOK proved that the party is deeply divided both at ideological and political level. He also spoke of rhetoric without any content that can not be adjusted to the needs of the 21st century.

    He also said that the big inadequacy of the governing party became apparent, while the clash within the party was put off until after the European Parliament elections.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [16] EU FOREIGN MINISTERS TO CONVENE IN BRUSSELS TODAY

    The European Union Foreign Ministers Council, which convened in Brussels yesterday, is to discuss the Kosovo crisis and the Agenda 2000 topic, while attention is also to be given to the en masse resignation of the European Commission.

    The Foreign Ministers are expected to focus on overcoming the various procedural hurdles in electing the new body, which is expected to be formed by May.

    Meanwhile, Italy's former premier Romano Prodi is viewed as the surest contender for the leading post of the EC, a candidacy supported by Italy, Germany and Great Britain.

    Meanwhile, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and current EU President, appears willing to contain his ambition regarding the span of the community's fiscal reforms, following the latest compromises unveiled by Germany last night.

    According to the proposal, Spain and the cohesion countries, Greece included, are to be spared the reduction of restructural funds.

    Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana today and brief him on Greek positions regarding the crisis in Kosovo.

    [17] US SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION ON GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

    The United States Senate has passed a resolution commemorating March 25 as Greek Independence Day - A National Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.

    The resolution, passed for the 14th consecutive year, was voted unanimously and co-sponsored by 51 senators.

    [18] RICHARD HOLBROOKE ARRIVES IN BELGRADE THIS EVENING

    United States envoy Richard Holbrooke is to arrive in Belgrade this evening, in a last-minute attempt at convincing Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to sign the peacekeeping accord on Kosovo.

    US Secretary of State Madleine Albright has stated that Mr. Holbrooke will give Mr. Milosevic two options: to end operations against the region's ethnic Albanians and accept the Accord, including the deployment of NATO troops in the region, or undertake full responsibility for the consequences to be borne from NATO's air raids.

    Prior to his arrival in Belgrade, Mr. Holbrooke is expected to make a stopover in Brussels where he will briefly meet with the French and English Foreign Ministers, Hubert Vedrine and Robin Cook, respectively, with whom he will discuss the message he is to relay to Mr. Milosevic.

    [19] KOSOVO: NATO FORCES READY AND POISED FOR ATTACK

    NATO forces are ready and poised for an attack against Yugoslavia, as soon as the "go ahead" is given.

    A high-ranking NATO official told the BBC radio that the Alliance is ready to embark on air and ground strikes in Kosovo as the forces are presently on short alert.

    He also stated that NATO secretary-general Javier Solana is awaiting the results of today's talks in Belgrade, prior to issuing commands for military intervention.

    [20] IRAQ-TURKEY OIL PIPELINE SHUT DOWN AFTER EXPLOSION

    The Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline has been shut down since Friday when a blast occurred on the Turkish grounds, according to the French news agency AFP.

    Pumping has stopped until the Turkish side repairs the damage, according to anonymous sources speaking to the AFP.

    The Turkish news agency Anadolu announced the explosion yesterday, reporting that a section of the pipeline in the Mardin province had been damaged and that there were no victims.

    The Turkish authorities believe that the blast could be the work of Kurdish rebels, as part of protests marking the Kurdish new year.

    [21] "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE" VOTED BEST PICTURE AT OSCARS

    "Shakespeare in Love" emerged as the big winner at this year's Oscars, not only winning the Best Picture award, but also earning its lead female actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the Best Actress award, in addition to Best Supporting Actress for Judi Dench, Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction and Best Costume.

    Italy's Roberto Benigni was voted Best Actor for his performance in "Life is Beautiful" which was also voted Best Foreign Film and Best Original Dramatic Score. Steven Spielberg was voted Best Director for his "Saving Private Ryan".

    [22] PAPANDREOU-SOLANA MEETING IN BRUSSELS

    Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met in Brussels earlier this morning with NATO secretary-general Javier Solana within the framework of the European Union foreign ministers' summit. Referring to the issue of Kosovo, Mr. Solana pointed out that the international community is ready to intervene militarily if no agreement is reached.

    Mr. Papandreou stated that every effort should be made for a peaceful settlement of the problem, while he was in favor of a complete European policy on the Balkans.

    When asked about the issue of the European Commission presidency, Mr. Solana stated that if a proposal is made to him he will probably accept to take over the post. On the issue of the Commissioners, it is possible that they will remain to their posts until the Euro-parliament elections.

    [23] HALBROOKE ISSUED A WARNING TO MILOSEVIC

    Belgrade 22 March (MPA)

    US envoy Richard Halbrooke warned Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic that he will face serious consequences if he does not react positively to the latest efforts made in order to accept the proposed peace plan on Kosovo. Mr.Halbrooke had talks in Brussels with NATO secretary-general Javier Solana and with the foreign ministers of France and Britain. Russian prime minister Gevgeni Primakov expressed his country's opposition to the likelihood of NATO air strikes against Yugoslav targets.


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