Browse through our Interesting Nodes on the Middle East 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
Friday, 29 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, 99-07-01

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, July 1, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK FM COMMENTS ON TALKS WITH HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART
  • [02] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI
  • [03] EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS THESSALONIKI'S SELECTION
  • [04] UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS BEGIN TODAY
  • [05] SKIES ARE CLEAR, BUT OLYMPIC AIRWAYS FUTURE REMAINS UNCLEAR
  • [06] US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ARRIVES IN ATHENS ON JULY 13
  • [07] NIKOLAOU: THE PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING IS A FIRST STEP
  • [08] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING IN THESSALONIKI
  • [09] THE COMPOSITION TOPIC IN THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' EXAMS WAS HARD BUT INTERESTING
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [10] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONTINUES VISIT TO LITHUANIA
  • [11] GREEK FM MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON IN NEW YORK
  • [12] FINLAND TAKES OVER EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENCY TODAY
  • [13] MORE THAN TWENTY KILLED IN ACCIDENT AT FRENCH ALPS
  • [14] DEMIREL TO VISIT ISRAEL IN JULY, WEIZMAN TO RECIPROCATE LATER
  • [15] FINAL CHERNOBYL REACTOR SHUTS DOWN FOR REPAIRS
  • [16] OPPOSITION LEADER: MILOSEVIC'S RESIGNATION WOULD BRING CHAOS
  • [17] KOSTIS STEPHANOPOULOS CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO LITHUANIA
  • [18] YELTSIN WILL RECALL CHERNOMYRDIN FROM YUGOSLAVIA
  • [19] MONTENEGRO WANTS EQUAL STATUS WITH SERBIA
  • [20] 85% OF THE FORESTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN HAVE BEEN DESTROYED - 32 VALUABLE GREEK FORESTS ARE UNPROTECTED
  • [21] CLINTON GAVE ORDERS TO THE CIA TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN FOR MILOSEVIC'S REMOVAL
  • [22] THE CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH OF SERBIA REJECTS THE IDEA OF A GREATER SERBIA

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK FM COMMENTS ON TALKS WITH HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART

    Following talks held in New York yesterday with his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem, Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated that there is room for bilateral cooperation between Greece and Turkey.

    According to Mr. Papandreou, a series of meetings will take place between high-ranking officials from the ministries of both countries and, once the potential for cooperation is ascertained, the countries will proceed further.

    When asked if this includes the sector of terrorism, Mr. Papandreou responded that all issues are subject to discussion, adding that Greece approaches the specific issue within the framework of its multifaceted cooperation and within the realm of its responsibilities towards the Council of Europe concerning human rights and democratic processes.

    [02] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI

    The president of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, is to address the European Democratic Union conference, to be held in Thessaloniki today in cooperation with the European Popular Party and other conservative parties in Europe.

    The two-day conference will feature discussions on: The Undertaking of Initiatives for Democratization in the Western Balkans. The Present Situation in the Balkans. Common European Foreign and Security Policies. Cooperation with Russia on Matters Concerning Foreign and Security Policies. The Prospects of Cooperation between the European Democratic Union and the European Popular Party and the common action plan.

    The conference will feature the participation of party and institute representatives from United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania, Slovakia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and FYROM.

    The event is taking place under the initiative of Mr. Karamanlis, who is also the vice-president of the European Popular Party and the European Democratic Union.

    [03] EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS THESSALONIKI'S SELECTION

    The selection of Thessaloniki as the headquarters of the Balkan reconstruction program is a governmental success, according to the Northern Greece Exporters' Association (SEVE) which, aside from the kudos, also urges that infrastructure projects need to be accelerated in order to enable the city to reap the benefits of this development.

    The establishment of the European Union's regional "headquarters" in Thessaloniki confirms the city's position and role in the wider region SEVE asserts in an announcement, adding that it will result in great gains for the local community as all EU human resources, capital, products and services will be diverted to the Balkan countries via northern Greece. Moreover, the establishment of the EU's headquarters for the Balkan reconstruction program in Thessaloniki will provide local firms with first-hand access to the developments in the region to be constructed

    Nevertheless, SEVE stresses that in order to allow for the operation and realization of this ambitious prospect, the area will need to see an accelerated development in the infrastructure projects presently under construction.

    [04] UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS BEGIN TODAY

    High school graduates are bracing for perhaps their most trying academic experience so far, as university and vocational college entrance examinations are getting underway today.

    They will be tested on essay writing, whose topic will be the same at all examination sites. The Secretary General of the Education Ministry stated that the candidates amount to 173,193 students, all vying for one seat out of the 70,964 allocated for the upcoming year's freshmen. Last year's freshman class numbered 61,739 students.

    [05] SKIES ARE CLEAR, BUT OLYMPIC AIRWAYS FUTURE REMAINS UNCLEAR

    The state-owned carrier Olympic Airways canceled more than half of its flights scheduled for today, a result of the 24-hour strike held by its union members who are protesting the airline's management-takeover by British Airways subsidiary, Speedwing.

    Forty-six out of 77 flights will remain grounded today, while Olympic Air Navigation will conduct only 18 flights.

    Meanwhile, the O.A.'s new manager Rod Lintz will appear before the Parliamentary committee today.

    [06] US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ARRIVES IN ATHENS ON JULY 13

    United States Secretary of Defense William Cohen is to conduct a working visit to Athens on July 13-14.

    Mr. Cohen will have a series of meetings with Greek government officials concerning Greece-US relations and the latest developments in Kosovo.

    [07] NIKOLAOU: THE PAPANDREOU-CEM MEETING IS A FIRST STEP

    The first step for the cooperation between Greece and Turkey has been made and history will be the judge of this effort, stated acting Greek government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou commenting on the meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries in New York.

    On the issue of terrorism, he stated that a simple reference was made but there was no detailed discussion on the matter. Responding to a question by a reporter, Mr. Nikolaou said that he is not aware if minutes were kept during the Papandreou-Cem meeting.

    [08] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

    The situation in western Balkans and the undertaking of initiatives for the region's democratization will be under discussion in the meeting of European Democratic Union political party representatives that will start in Thessaloniki this afternoon at the initiative of right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis, who is also the vice- president of the EDU.

    In the formal dinner that will be given at 9pm this evening, the Greek main opposition party leader will address the participants, while the meeting's proceedings will be completed tomorrow.

    [09] THE COMPOSITION TOPIC IN THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' EXAMS WAS HARD BUT INTERESTING

    The topic of the composition on which the high school students were tested today, within the framework of the examinations for their admittance into higher education institutions, was difficult but interesting.

    The elaboration on parts of the book by Giorgos Grammatikakis under the title "Kosmografimata", demanded open-minded thought and critical abilities on behalf of the students.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [10] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONTINUES VISIT TO LITHUANIA

    The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, presently on an official, three-day visit to Lithuania, is to meet with his Lithuanian counterpart Valdas Adamkus this morning, with whom he is expected to proceed to the signing of a bilateral cooperation accord.

    President Stephanopoulos' talks with his Lithuanian counterpart are expected to focus on bilateral relations, particularly in the commercial, investment and cultural sectors, as well as on Lithuania's desire to join Euro-Atlantic organizations, a proposal Greece supports.

    Following the meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, the President will address the Lithuanian parliament and, later today, will meet with leading members of the Greek-Lithuanian community in Vilnius.

    The President is accompanied by undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Niotis and a delegation of Greek businessmen who will explore the ample investment opportunities.

    Diplomatic ties between Vilnius and Athens (which never acknowledged Lithuania's annexation to the then-Soviet Union) were restored in 1991. As of 1997, a Lithuanian Embassy is in operation in Athens.

    The state of Lithuania's economy is optimistic. It grew by 4.4 percent during 1998, according to the country's Statistics Department, continuing its strong upward trend for several years in a row (4.7 percent - 1996; 6.1 percent - 1997).

    Economic growth is accompanied by strict monetary policy which pushed inflation well below the Lithuanian government's target of 6 percent for 1998.

    At the end of 1998, annual inflation stood at 2.4 percent, while Lithuania's foreign trade has continued to grow strongly. During 1998, the EU member-states accounted for 47.2 percent of Lithuania's imports and 38 percent of Lithuania's exports, having risen by 9.4 percent and 12.2 percent respectively.

    [11] GREEK FM MEETS WITH ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON IN NEW YORK

    Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou was received by Archbishop Spyridon, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, in New York yesterday, where they discussed the developments in Kosovo and the Cyprus issue.

    Following the talks, Mr. Papandreou stated that they had the opportunity to exchange views on a variety of important issues.

    "I had the opportunity to brief His Eminence on the recent discussion held with at the United Nations concerning Kosovo and the talks held with my Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem, explaining that it is a first step which we hope that it will bear fruit in the future," Mr. Papandreou stated.

    The Archbishop commented on the report from the Commission on Greek Language and Hellenic Culture commonly referred to as the "Rassias Report" and titled "The Future of the Greek Language and Culture in the United States: Survival in The Diaspora."

    Mr. Papandreou, who has formerly served as the Education Minister, stated his satisfaction with the report and said it appears promising and meaningful.

    Furthermore, the Archbishop conveyed Archdiocese's full support for the Greek Government's extensive efforts in the Balkans. His Eminence also informed the Foreign Minister of the significant financial contributions of the Archdiocese for the Orthodox Church of Serbia. To date, the Archdiocese of America has donated $135,000 for the Serbian Orthodox Church in Yugoslavia.

    Subsequently, the Archbishop expressed his continued support for Cyprus and stated "now that the situation in Kosovo is being slowly resolved the Cyprus issue must once again become a priority for the international community.

    "After twenty-five years of illegal occupation in northern Cyprus by the Turkish army, the American interest must be exercised as President Clinton has repeatedly promised," he said.

    [12] FINLAND TAKES OVER EUROPEAN UNION PRESIDENCY TODAY

    Finland takes the European Union's rotating presidency today, having been handed the "scepter" by Germany.

    The 40-page program outlines the EU's strategy – its further development by admitting new members, the movement toward an economically strong Europe free from unemployment and toward a strong euro, the transformation of the European Union into a" global active and influential structure".

    Finnish Premier Paavo Lipponen stated that the European Union has the duty to achieve "stability, changes and restoration in Kosovo and in Yugoslavia as a whole".

    Finland, like other EU nations, recognizes that the European Union will have to pay for consequences of the recent military action and bombing of Yugoslavia.

    Over the course of its presidency, Finland will take part in organizing and conducting over a thousand of meetings and forums, which will culminate with the EU summit to be convened in Helsinki in December.

    [13] MORE THAN TWENTY KILLED IN ACCIDENT AT FRENCH ALPS

    Over twenty people have been killed as a result of an accident in an elevator in the French Alps today, the Grenoble police reported.

    According to an Itar-Tass wire, the tragedy occurred at a ski resort when a lift cabin full of people collapsed.

    According to preliminary reports, the victims killed are not only tourists on a sightseeing expedition, but workers of a local observatory as well.

    Rescue teams have been working on the site of the accident, while police have began an investigation into the causes of the accident.

    [14] DEMIREL TO VISIT ISRAEL IN JULY, WEIZMAN TO RECIPROCATE LATER

    Turkey's President Suleiman Demirel will visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority this month, likely becoming the first foreign leader to meet with incoming Prime Minister Ehud Barak, the Turkish embassy announced today.

    According to the French news agency AFP, which quotes Israeli officials, President Demirel's Israeli counterpart, Ezer Weizman, then plans to visit Turkey in September to attend ceremonies marking the 700th anniversary of Ottoman civilization.

    Israeli-Turkish relations have developed rapidly since the two countries signed a wide-ranging military cooperation agreement in 1996 and Mr. Demirel's visit was scheduled well before early Israeli elections were held in May, AFP reported.

    Mr. Demirel is scheduled to arrive in Israel on July 14 and will thus very likely be the first foreign leader to meet with Mr. Barak after the latter takes office.

    The Turkish president is scheduled to spend two days in Israel and then meet with Palestinian Authority chief Yasser Arafat on July 16 at his Gaza City headquarters or in the West Bank, the embassy said.

    [15] FINAL CHERNOBYL REACTOR SHUTS DOWN FOR REPAIRS

    The fourth and last reactor still operating at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was shut down just after midnight last night, in order to allow for a major four-month overhauling of the accident-prone station.

    According to the French news agency AFP, specialists began the process of lowering nuclear energy levels at the reactor at midnight, rounding up slightly more than an hour later to bring the entire works to a full stop at 1:06 am local time.

    Reactor number three, as it is called, will undergo a thorough check over the next four months, when tubes containing nuclear material will be reinforced and pipes carrying radioactive water to the reactor are to be welded.

    Several hundred cracks have been discovered in the reactor's pipes in the last two years.

    Reactor number four exploded on April 26, 1986, sending out clouds of radioactive material across large areas of northeastern Europe.

    Reactor number two was shut down in 1991 following a fire, while number one was put out of service in 1996 as part of an international agreement.

    Kiev signed a memorandum of understanding in 1995 with the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations to finally close down Chernobyl, which employs some 5,700 people, in return for a 3.1 million dollar investment in Ukraine's two other nuclear power plants at Rivne and Khmelnitsky in the west.

    The accord was recently challenged after the German government said it would prefer to finance gas-run power stations to make up for the shortfall in Ukraine's energy sector from closing Chernobyl.

    Kiev has dismissed the proposal and regularly threatens not to close Chernobyl in 2000 as agreed unless the promised aid is delivered.

    [16] OPPOSITION LEADER: MILOSEVIC'S RESIGNATION WOULD BRING CHAOS

    The resignation of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic would spark chaos, according to the leader of the country's ultra- nationalist Radical Party Vojislav Seselj, who remains the Serb vice-premier in spite of having quit.

    Speaking to the TV5 television channel at Nis, Mr. Seselj, said that if Mr. Milosevic's resignation promised real prosperity he would be the first to demand it.

    He said his party was prepared to rejoin the governing coalition with Mr. Milosevic's Socialist Party and the Yugoslav Left of the president's wife, Mira Markovic.

    "We could perhaps work together if we revised our relations and calmly reviewed all the problems without asking who was to blame for this or that," he said.

    Commenting on Pondgorica's request for renewed Montenegro- Serbia ties, Mr. Seselj stressed that it constitutes an effort to transform the Yugoslav federation into a confederation "which will never be accepted by the Serb Radical Party."

    Serb President Milan Milutinovic has refused to accept Mr. Seselj's resignation and the walkout of 14 other ministers from his party in the Serb government.

    [17] KOSTIS STEPHANOPOULOS CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO LITHUANIA

    Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos, who is on a three-day formal visit to Lithuania since yesterday, has already met with his Lithuanian counterpart.

    In the joint press conference they gave they stressed that the issues they discussed were of bilateral interest, as well as issues concerning the overall economic situation, international relations, the situation in the Balkan region and the relations of Lithuania with its neighboring countries.

    The president of the Hellenic Republic in his contacts with Lithuanian state officials underlined the Greek stance that their country must be backed in its effort to become a member of the European Union and NATO.

    In his meetings in the capital city of Vilnius, Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed Greece's role in the Balkans, the initiatives it has undertaken in the Yugoslav crisis and Greece's wish for the region to become a place of stability, prosperity and cooperation.

    [18] YELTSIN WILL RECALL CHERNOMYRDIN FROM YUGOSLAVIA

    Russian president Boris Yeltsin stated today that Russian envoy to the Balkans, Victor Chernomyrdin can not combine the post of the Gazprom president with that of the presidential envoy to Yugoslavia.

    Mr. Yeltsin made known that he had no discussion yet on the issue with Mr. Chernomyrdin but stressed that they will hold a meeting as he can not hold both posts.

    [19] MONTENEGRO WANTS EQUAL STATUS WITH SERBIA

    Montenegro must have equal status with Serbia within the framework of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, stated Montenegran president Milo Juganovic.

    Mr. Juganovic stated that the two entities must either be totally equal as members of the federation or they must be autonomous, adding that in a bilateral union each member should represent 50% of the federation regardless of their population size.

    On the issue of the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, Mr. Juganovic stated that Montenegro will extradite any war crimes' suspect arrested on its territory.

    [20] 85% OF THE FORESTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN HAVE BEEN DESTROYED - 32 VALUABLE GREEK FORESTS ARE UNPROTECTED

    In the Mediterranean region 85% of the forests have been totally destroyed, while 32 Greek valuable forests for example, in mount Taigetos, Rodopi and Schinias are included in the list with the 200 most valuable forests in the Mediterranean which are unprotected. The above were announced in a press conference that was given in Rome by WWF. It should be noted that the forest of mount Taigetos, a big part of which had been destroyed by fire last summer, has been selected as one of the 10 most valuable Mediterranean forests that are in direct risk to be destroyed.

    The international ecological organization WWF pointed out that the protection of the Mediterranean forests is inadequate even though they are valuable eco-systems in terms of bio- diversity and significance.

    [21] CLINTON GAVE ORDERS TO THE CIA TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN FOR MILOSEVIC'S REMOVAL

    US president Bill Clinton gave orders to the CIA to launch a covert campaign aimed at removing Yugoslav president Milosevic from power, according to the US newspaper "Washington Times" report citing US administration officials.

    The US officials, who requested to remain anonymous, stated that the covert plan was drawn up in accordance with the conclusions reached by the US president, adding that it fulfills the US safety interests.

    Based on the plan, the US secret services will launch covert operations backing the rivals of the Yugoslav president and offer financial support to opposition politicians or political parties. Also, the CIA will use hackers to uncover and destroy Milosevic's bank accounts abroad.

    Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stated yesterday in the meeting of the "Friends of Kosovo" group that the United States have appointed 60 FBI officials to investigate crimes committed in Kosovo.

    [22] THE CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH OF SERBIA REJECTS THE IDEA OF A GREATER SERBIA

    Head of the Serb Christian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle stated in an interview with a Spanish television station that he refuses to belong to a Greater Serbia which will be built on crimes.

    In the interview he gave to the ABC television station, the Serb Patriarch, who has moved to the city of Pec in south-western Kosovo since mid June, condemned the arsons targeting the Serb houses and the plight of the few Serbs who are still in Kosovo or try to return to the Serb province.

    He also stated that the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, started out as a movement for the autonomy of the region and the Serb military and paramilitary forces exchanged evil with evil, stressing that now the KLA rebels are those who commit the crimes.

    The Serb Patriarch stated that the truth is that no Serbs have remained in Kosovo, stressing that there is a risk to create a Kosovo out of ethnic cleansing.


    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 Thursday, 1 July 1999 - 17:49:14 UTC