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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-28

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, June 28, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT LITHUANIA
  • [02] SERIES OF TREMORS ARE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM, EXPERTS SAY
  • [03] CUTBACKS IN OVERSEAS FLIGHTS AND STAFF ADVISED FOR OLYMPIC
  • [04] FORMER GREEK DICTATOR PAPADOPOULOS BURIED TODAY IN ATHENS
  • [05] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH THE UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS
  • [06] THE EU WILL COMPENSATE THE ITALIAN FISHERMEN HIT BY THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA
  • [07] NIKOLAOU: THERE ARE NO PRESSURES NEITHER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO GREECE ON THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM
  • [08] CHRISOCHOIDIS: THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO DO NOT MEET THE PRECONDITIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRIES
  • [09] THE IMF SUGGESTS A STRICT FISCAL POLICY TO THE GOVERNMENT
  • [10] KARAMANLIS-BILT MEETING
  • [11] DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ANTHOPOULOS AND TEACHERS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [12] GREEK PREMIER IN RIO DE JANEIRO FOR EU-LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT
  • [13] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN TODAY
  • [14] HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS RETURN TO PRISHTINA
  • [15] UN CHIEF: KOSOVO ADMINISTRATOR TO BE APPOINTED THIS WEEK
  • [16] SAE ORGANIZES HUMAN CHAIN AROUND CAPITOL OVER CYPRUS ISSUE
  • [17] GREECE RETURNS WITH 31 MEDALS FROM BALKAN GAMES
  • [18] COLOMBIAN NOBELIST MARQUEZ HOSPITALIZED FOR EXHAUSTION
  • [19] US AMBASSADOR TO TIRANA: DEVELOP TIES WITH GREECE, ITALY
  • [20] THE MAYOR OF ATHENS WILL VISIT SKOPJE TOMORROW

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT LITHUANIA

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is to conduct an official, three-day visit to Lithuania from June 30-July 2.

    During his stay in the capital city of Vilnius, President Stephanopoulos will meet with his Lithuanian counterpart -with whom he will sign a bilateral cooperation accord-, the Lithuanian Premier, the Speaker of the House and members of the Greek community. He will also address a business forum.

    [02] SERIES OF TREMORS ARE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM, EXPERTS SAY

    The repeated seismic activity felt in Thessaloniki yesterday, where five tremors succeeded one another in a period of 15 hours and measured from 3.1 to 3.6 on the Richter scale, is not a cause for concern, according to the local earthquake experts.

    Seismologists at the Aristotle University's geo-physics laboratory stated that no aftershocks followed the last tremor to occur yesterday at 3 p.m.

    Eight weak tremors occurred between last Monday and yesterday evening, varying between 3.1-3.6 on the Richter scale, The epicenter was located in the regions of Asvestochori and Panorama. No damages have been reported.

    [03] CUTBACKS IN OVERSEAS FLIGHTS AND STAFF ADVISED FOR OLYMPIC

    A study conducted by independent consultants Avmark SA, advises cutbacks in overseas flights, cancellation of new aircraft purchases and trimming staff sizes, all for the sake of saving the national airline Olympic Airways.

    As a result, the airline's powerful employees union, OSPA, is preparing a series of mobilizations, while its representatives are expected to meet with the Ministers of National Economy and Transportation, Yiannos Papantoniou and Tasos Mantelis, respectively, tomorrow. They will also conduct a 24-hour strike on Thursday.

    [04] FORMER GREEK DICTATOR PAPADOPOULOS BURIED TODAY IN ATHENS

    Greece's former dictator George Papadopoulos, who led a military junta from 1967 to 1973, is to be buried in Athens today. He died yesterday at the age of 80 after a long bout with cancer.

    Mr. Papadopoulos was an army colonel when he seized power in an April 1967 coup. After the restoration of democracy in 1974, he was tried under the new civilian administration and sentenced to death for high treason, but the government commuted the sentence to life imprisonment.

    He was jailed in a special wing of Athens's maximum security prison but spent most of the last three years of his life hospitalized.

    [05] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH THE UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BALKANS

    Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou stated after the meeting he had in Athens with UN special envoy to the Balkans and former prime minister of Sweden, Karl Bilt that the priority of the Greek government is to counter terrorism.

    Mr. Papandreou characterized as a positive step on behalf of Ankara the fact that the invitation he has issued for a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem in New York on Wednesday has been accepted. In the meeting will be discussed cultural and economic issues as well as issues concerning ways to deal with terrorism stressing, however, that he does not want to pre-judge the outcome.

    [06] THE EU WILL COMPENSATE THE ITALIAN FISHERMEN HIT BY THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA

    The European Union is ready to approve compensations for the Italian fishermen who were hit by the war in Yugoslavia, while there is no indication of a similar Greek claim in spite of the fact that serious damages were caused to the sector of tourism in northern Greece and the Ionian islands.

    The above are stated by Coalition of the Left Euro-deputy Mr. Alekos Alavanos, who called on the government to mention the requests it has made to the European Union asking for the compensation of the Greek interests in Yugoslavia such as, the Greek state Tele-communications Organization, OTE, which participates in the Yugoslav tele-communication organization with a 20% share.

    According to evidence provided by Mr. Alavanos, the EU compensation to the Italian fishermen will be 60 billion lire, while no reference is being made regarding their Greek colleagues, who are effectively fishing in the same areas and therefore, have suffered similar damages.

    [07] NIKOLAOU: THERE ARE NO PRESSURES NEITHER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO GREECE ON THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM

    There are no recommendations made or pressures exerted on the Greek government regarding the way it should counter terrorism, stated acting Greek government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou. He stated that Greece cooperates with European countries and the United States for the best possible way to counter terrorism and does not have to apologize for anything. Responding to the question on whether demands have been made to the Greek government by US officials asking for certain accommodations, he responded that there was no such demand or request made and that there is only cooperation between the two countries.

    On the letter Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou has sent to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, Mr. Nikolaou pointed out that the Greek government makes efforts at an international level and not at a bilateral level and that it expects Mr. Cem's response to the positions expressed by Mr. Papandreou.

    [08] CHRISOCHOIDIS: THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO DO NOT MEET THE PRECONDITIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRIES

    The illegal immigrants, who do not meet the legal pre- conditions, will be sent back to their countries reiterated from the city of Kastoria in north-western Greece today, minister of public order Michalis Chrisochoidis.

    He underlined that Greece wants good relations with the neighboring countries but at the same time, the goal is to safeguard the safety of the people in the country.

    [09] THE IMF SUGGESTS A STRICT FISCAL POLICY TO THE GOVERNMENT

    The International Monetary Fund suggests to the Greek government to follow a tough fiscal and revenue policy for the year 2000 in order to achieve the country's participation in the EMU.

    In a report issued by the international organization a special emphasis is given to the size of inflation on which it is stressed that the goal of 2-2.1% can be feasible in July but this percentage should be maintained until the end of the year. In the report it is pointed out that the government must move on to speedy privatizations, while it should free the market in the sectors of energy and tele-communications.

    [10] KARAMANLIS-BILT MEETING

    Kostas Karamanlis met in Athens with UN special envoy to Kosovo and former prime minister of Sweden Karl Bilt.

    The leader of the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy stated after the meeting that the ceasefire in Kosovo is not enough and the big challenge is the stability and reconstruction of the Balkans. The main opposition party leader also added that Greece is being left out of the initiatives that are underway, stressing they should have been based in Thessaloniki.

    [11] DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ANTHOPOULOS AND TEACHERS

    According to the Teachers' Unions Federation president, undersecretary of education Yiannis Anthopoulos appeared negative to the demand expressed by the Teachers' Unions Federation to adopt a special regulation bringing back the institution of the re- examination of the students who have failed in their exams.

    Mr. Tsoulias maintained after the meeting the teachers' representatives had with the undersecretary of education that a solution was not found neither to their demand to receive higher compensation for the grading of the students' written exams.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [12] GREEK PREMIER IN RIO DE JANEIRO FOR EU-LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT

    Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis is presently in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will host the two-day European Union-Latin America summit conference beginning today.

    According to reports, the Greek delegation is exerting efforts on the Summit's sidelines to establish the headquarters of the EU's Balkan reconstruction program in Thessaloniki.

    During yesterday's special session held among the EU's foreign ministers concerning the appointment of the European coordinator, Greece and Austria rejected the candidacy of the German chancellor's chief of staff.

    The Premier is expected to request additional EU funds for the reconstruction of the Balkan region.

    Following the completion of the Socialist International held in Buenos Aires, Mr. Simitis stressed that Greece's development course will continue to coincide with social justice, "with processes securing social cohesion and social solidarity."

    [13] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN TODAY

    Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is embarking on an official visit to Tehran today, the first to Iran by a European Union defense minister since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.

    Mr. Tsochatzopoulos has been invited by his Iranian counterpart, Vice-Admiral Ali Shamkhani. During his four-day visit, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is expected to have talks with the leadership of Iran's armed forces.

    [14] HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS RETURN TO PRISHTINA

    Four hundred thousand Albanians have returned to Kosovo so far, while just about so many are still being housed in the refugee camps. Meanwhile, the international peacekeeping force has began enforcing the program for the Kosovar Serbs relocation to the villages.

    A phalanx of KFOR armored vehicles accompanied ten Serb cars during their return to a village south of Prishtina. Russian aircraft and troops are expected to arrive in Prishtina today.

    [15] UN CHIEF: KOSOVO ADMINISTRATOR TO BE APPOINTED THIS WEEK

    United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan stated today that the civilian administrator for Kosovo will be named by the end of this week.

    According to an article published in the United Kingdom's Financial Times , Mr. Annan stated that the post should go to a renowned politician from one of the European states. The final choice has not been made yet, and candidacies from ten European countries are under consideration.

    According to the UN chief, he wanted someone with "a political sense, a leader and manager who is also a good negotiator."

    The Russian news agency Itar-Tass has reported that the most likely candidacies will be the outgoing head of Britain's Liberal Democratic party, Paddy Ashdown, European Commission member Emma Bonino from Italy and French Health Minister Bernard Kouchner.

    [16] SAE ORGANIZES HUMAN CHAIN AROUND CAPITOL OVER CYPRUS ISSUE

    The Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) is to organize a human chain around the Capitol on July 20, marking the anniversary of Cyprus's invasion by Turkey.

    According to Chris Tomaras President of SAE of the Americas, the event is part of SAE's struggle to achieve freedom and justice for Cyprus, "an event that is bound to heighten awareness of our cause in the U.S. Congress and the (Clinton) administration."

    About 2,000 people will lock hands and surround the U.S. Capitol and participants include women's groups, human rights organizations, church groups and just plain folk.

    [17] GREECE RETURNS WITH 31 MEDALS FROM BALKAN GAMES

    The Greek national athletics team has returned with 31 medals from the men's and women's events at the Istanbul-held Balkans Games, which ended yesterday.

    Both men's and women's teams won nine gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals during the tournament.

    Gold medals were won for the Greek side by Panayiotis Sarris in the 200-meter race, a personal best, Panayiotis Stroumbakos in the 800- meter race, Alexis Papadimitriou in the hammer throw, Costas Papadopoulos in the decathlon and Christina Tambaki in the 100- meter hurdles.

    [18] COLOMBIAN NOBELIST MARQUEZ HOSPITALIZED FOR EXHAUSTION

    Colombia's Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez is presently hospitalized in Bogota where he is undergoing medical tests, according to a clinic spokesperson.

    Garcia Marquez, 71, won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982 and ten years later he underwent surgery to remove a lung tumor.

    His master work. "One Hundred Years of Solitude", which has been called one of the greatest novels in history, was written in 1967.

    Born on March 6, 1928, Garcia Marquez started his writing career as a newspaper reporter before concentrating on literature. His dark and sad short stories and novels were heavily influenced by Franz Kafka.

    Many of Garcia Marquez's stories take place in the fictional town of Macondo, located in Colombia. The author was inspired by his own village of Anacataca and by William Faulkner's Yoknaputawpha County.

    The stories of Garcia Marquez, each touched with deep melancholy, raise questions about reality: what it is, what it can become, and whether it is the same for all people.

    [19] US AMBASSADOR TO TIRANA: DEVELOP TIES WITH GREECE, ITALY

    The United States Ambassador assigned to Tirana has relayed to the Albanian government the Clinton Administration's will to provide its support, while he also advised that the country should grant special emphasis to ties with its neighbors, namely Greece and Italy.

    According to local press reports, the US diplomat advised the Majko-led government to develop bilateral relations with other western states as well, while emphasizing that ties with Greece and Italy should be given priority status.

    [20] THE MAYOR OF ATHENS WILL VISIT SKOPJE TOMORROW

    Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos will visit FYROM tomorrow to deliver humanitarian aid for the ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo that will be received by mayor of Skopje Risto Penov.

    The office of the mayor of Skopje has issued a statement according to which, Mr. Avramopoulos after meeting with Mr. Penov will be received by prime minister Ljubco Georgievski and deputy foreign minister Boris Trajkovski.

    The mayor of Athens will also visit the refugee camp of Stenkovic, north-west of Skopje.


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