MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (23/07/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 23, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO DECIDE THURSDAY ON MEAT EXPORTS BAN

The European Union's Standard Agricultural Committee will convene again on Thursday in order to decide whether to extend a temporary ban on Greece's exports of live animals, meat, as well as non-pasteurized dairy products.

The Commitee is convening in Brussels and is examining the reports submitted by the EU veterinarians who examined the animals stricken by the foot and mouth disease outbreak in northeastern Greece.

Minister of Agriculture Stavors Joumakas has stated that the measures drawn by Greece were the appropriate ones, and there is no need to extend the ban.

Moreover, the discovery on the foot and mouth disease outbreaks in Belgrade's region support the Greek positions that the EU must compensate the stockbreeders, since the disease can be easily transmitted, even through the air.

The Committee will examine the dangers of the disease's transmission, as well as the current status, following the preventive measures drawn by the Greek Agriculture Ministry. On July 12, the Committee had enforced upon Greece an eight-day ban on all meat exports as well as on unpausterized dairy products.

[02] ALBRIGHT GAVE US NO PROPOSALS ON CYPRUS, SAYS REPPAS

Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas stated today that the Greek government has not received any proposal by the United States Permanent Representative to the UN Madleine Albright to abolish the Joint Defense Doctrine.

Referring to Ms. Albright's announcement of a meeting between turkish and greek-cupriot military forces during July, Mr. Reppas clarified that the initial positon was that the head of the National Guard meet with the leader of the turkish occupation forces. According to Mr. Reppas, turk-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has reacted to this position since he "wanted to politically participate either himself, or through a representative."

Mr. Reppas also added that the President of Cypriot Glafkos Clerides has dismissed any such meeting with Mr. Denktash.

[03] THESSALONIKI'S GOODYEAR PLANT CLOSES, SURPRISED WORKERS MOBILIZE

Goodyear Tires closed the doors of its factory in Thessaloniki today without any advance notice, provoking the reactions of its 370 employees who suddenly found themselves without a job.

The workers have already mobilized and are gathering in front of the plant where they are obstructing the passage of any products or machinery.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) condemned the company's decision to close the plant and through an issued statement it warned that "there will be a direct and substantial response."

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, the secretary- general of the employees board Dimitris Tselepis stated that the closing is not justified as it currently enjoyed higher production levels than ever.

"Last month the company's profits reached 185 million GRD," he stated.

However, the company's European vice-president Sylvian Valensi stated that "the greek factory was among the smallest in the European region and, independently of production costs, the application of new technological developments is economically unsound."

[04] OPPOSITION PARTIES REACT TO GOODYEAR'S PLANT CLOSURE

Greece's main opposition party New Democracy, and the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), have denounced the decision to close the Goodyear tire manufacturing plant in Thessloniki.

According to an issued statement, New Democracy states that this sudden development comes at a time when Thessaloniki is the country's capital of unemployment with a jobless rate of 14%, and adds that the government's surprise to the company's decision illustrates that the government has lost touch with the economic environment.

Synaspismos also pointed out that "instead of the government promoting another pointless amendment in Parliament, for the fight against unemployment, it ought to act quickly in order to avert the closure of the plant and to support the workers."

The General Confederation of Greek Workers issued a statement drawing attention to the dangers for the country's manufacturing base emanating from the activities of multinational companies, and called for the immediate intervention of the government in order to safeguard the interests of the national economy and production.

[05] „UROPEAN COMMISSION TO DECIDE TODAY ON MEAT EXPORTS BAN

The European Union's Standard Agricultural Committee is expected to decide today on whether to extend a temporary ban on Greece's exports of live animals, meat, as well as non- pasteurized dairy products.

The Commitee is convening in Brussels and is examining the reports submitted by the EU veterinarians who examined the animals stricken by the foot and mouth disease outbreak in northeastern Greece.

Minister of Agriculture Stavors Joumakas has stated that the measures drawn by Greece were the appropriate ones, and there is no need to extend the ban.

Moreover, the discovery on the foot and mouth disease outbreaks in Belgrade's region support the Greek positions that the EU must compensate the stockbreeders, since the disease can be essily transmitted, even through the air.

The Committee will examine the dangers of the disease's transmission, as well as the current status, following the preventive measures drawn by the Greek Agriculture Ministry.

On July 12, the Committee had enforced upon Greece an eight- day ban on all meat exports as well as on unpausterized dairy products.

[06] GREEK ATHLETE WINS SILVER MEDAL IN WEIGHLIFTING, GREECE'S SECOND

Greek weightlifter Valerios Leonidis won Greece's second silver medal in the 64-kilo category yesterday, during the Atlanta- held 26th Olympic Games.

An exuberant Leonides, stated that "It's o.k. the next time I'll win the gold. You saw that I did what I could. I'm second in the Olympic Games and I am happy."

Greece's first silver medal was won on Sunday by 24-year-old weightlifter Leonidas Sarbanis who picked up a total of 305 kilos, tying previous world records.

The silver medalist competed in the 59-kilos category and came second to Chinese gold medalist Tang Ving Seng who picked up 307,5 kilos, thereby instituting a new world record.

Today, the Greek waterpolo team is set to play against Italy in a crucial match, while three Greek swimmers are set to compete in the finals for men 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke and in the women's 100m butterfly.

[07] GREEK MOVIE STAR ALIKI VOUYOUKLAKI DIED THIS MORNING

Aliki Vouyouklaki, one of Greece's most popular actresses, died this morning after a prolonged illness.

Ms. Vouyouklaki, who rose to stardom through a series of mass appeal films in the Greek cinema and starred in the Greek modern theater, had been hospitalized for over two months at the Athens Medical Center. She was 63 years old. Ms. Vouyouklaki is survived by her son Yiannis, mother Amy and two siblings.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] RUMORS ABOUND ON EXPLOSION, BUT MOST CAN BE REPUDIATED, SAYS US

The US State Department dismissed today the rumors that bring a Lebanese individual to be a suspect of last week's TWA flight 800 explosion in New York.

According to State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns, the specific individual had nothing to do with the explosion as he arrived at the Athens airport on July 17th, two hours after the Athens-New York flight departed, and did not aproach the terminal where the jet was boarding.

It should be reminded that various stories have arisen linking the Athens Hellenikon airport with the explosion, as the same jet had arrived in New York from Athens four hours prior to its take-off for Paris.

Moreover, the State Department spokesman also repudiated the various media reports that claim foreign involvement in the explosion.

"The fact is that the FBI and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) have not established the cause of the crash and they have not drawn any links between the crash and any foreign governments and foreign groups," Mr. Burns said, while at the same time not ruling out any possibility.

[09] TWA'S BOEING 747 FUSELAGE WRECKAGE DISCOVERED IN THE SEA

Investigations in discovering the cause of the explosion of TWA's Boeing 747 jumbo jet are proceeding, as yesterday a large part of the fallen plane's fuselage was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean near Long Island.

The plane's wrecked part contained six bodies and, according to United States media, traces of a chemical substance were also found, which may have resulted from an explosive device.

However, the jet's two black boxes, which will shed light into the explosion mystery, have not been discovered yet.

Meanwhile, reports indicating the lax security measures at US airports are becoming increasingly numerous as yesterday an explosive device at Chicago's O'Hare Airport was discovered after an anonymous phone call.

Yesterday, Greek Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas, referring to US media reports implicating Athens' Hellenikon airport in the jet's fall, stated that Greece will enact its rights as foreseen under international accords.

The catastrophic New York-Paris flight had flown into New York's Kennedy international Airport from Athens more than five hours prior to its take-off, and, while in Athens, had undergone stringent security checks.

"We have not surrendered our rights and it is up to us as to the when, how, and if we will use them," Mr. Reppas stated.

According to the Press Minister, the Greek government is following the developments very closely and stated that if any organization considers that its rights have been harmed then it will have its final say.

[10] TURKEY DEMANDS ABOLITION OF JOINT DEFENSE DOCTRINE WITH GREECE

Turkey demanded the abolition of the unified defence policy between Greece and Cyprus in return for the end of the cypriot air space violations by turkish fighter jets, according to the cypriot state radio and television.

As it was reported, Ankara has already demanded through the americans the suspension of the air and naval base construction in the city of Paphos, a project placed within the framework of the unified defence policy.

Both Greece and Cyprus have reacted strongly and rejected the provocative turkish demands.

[11] A SECOND INMATE DIED TODAY FROM HUNGER STRIKE IN A TURKISH PRISON

A second inmate died today from hunger strike in a turkish prison, as it was announced by the independent Human Rights Union.

Twenty-eight yearold, Altan Berdan Kerimgiller died in Constantinople's Bayrampasa Prison this morning.

Kerimgiller participated in the mass hunger strike of political prisoners which began 2 months ago in many turkish prisons, demanding the improvement of the detention conditions.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament External Affairs Committee approved a proposal tabled by greek Euro-deputy, Alekos Alavanos for intervention in the case concerning the mass hunger strike in the turkish prisons.

[12] UNFICYP TO ISSUE MEET INVITATION TO GREEK-CYPRIOT AND TURKISH FORCES

The military commander of the UN peace-keeping forces in Cyprus, UNFICYP, tomorrow will issue an invitation to the greek- cypriot and turkish forces for a meeting before the end of July, as it was announced by the US permanent representative in the United Nations, Madleen Albright in a press conference to greek and turkish reporters on her recent trip to Athens, Nicosia and Ankara.

Ms.Albright stated that the meeting will focus on technical issues concerning the neutral zone. She said that the participation of both parties in the meeting is necessary, pointing out that the turkish commander must participate without fail because as it is being heard, most of the problems in the neutral zone concern the responsibilities of the turkish-cypriot military commander.

According to ms.Albright, a discussion on the issues of demilitarization and security would be premature at this stage and those issues must be resolved within the framework of a comprehensive solution. She also added that the issue of the unified defence policy between Greece and Cyprus had been discussed in the contacts she had in Athens and Nicosia.

Ms.Albright said that during her tour to Athens, Nicosia and Ankara had also discussions on the possibility of taking practical measures for the easing of the tension created by the violations of the air space between Greece and Turkey. She clarified that the issue was discussed in Ankara based on the maps provided by greek Defence Minister, Gerasimos Arsenis and underlined the seriousness of the matter.

Regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem she reiterated that the United States can not resolve the problems that appear but can only help toward this direction, as it is up to the interested parties to seek a solution.

Commenting on her meeting with new turkish Prime Minister, Erbakan the US official stated that she had a very good discussion with the Prime Minister of an allied country dedicated to democracy, the free market system, the relations with NATO, the association with the European Union and the secular polical power.

According to ms.Albright, the turkish Prime Minister appeared trying to understand the elements of the american initiative and also appeared seeking the creation of a conciliatory climate.

[13] US ENCOURAGE ALL PARTIES INVOLVED TO SOLVE THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The United States continue to encourage all parties involved in the Cyprus problem to seize the unique opportunity presented in order to make the solution of the Cyprus problem a reality.

The above were mentioned by US President Bill Clinton in his letter accompanying his bimonthly report on Cyprus which covers the period from April 1st to May 31st, 1996.

President Clinton stresses that as he had mentioned in his previous report, has undertaken a number of meetings with the state leaders in the region which proves his interest in the promotion of a solution for the Cyprus problem.

The US President mentions that in his meeting with greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis on April 9th had informed him that assistant Secretary of State, Richard Kornblum would visit the region in order to examine the possibilities for progress in the Cyprus problem.

President Clinton said that mr.Kornblum's main message was that the United States can help toward a solution if all parties are sincerely interested in taking the necessary realistic measures for an agreement between the two communities in Cyprus.

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