MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (04/09/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

‹ACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 4 (M.P.A.)

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

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[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PREMIER ANNOUNCES RELIEF MEASURES FOR FARMERS, MIDDLE-SIZED BUSINESSES AND PENSIONERS

Relief measures for the farmers, the middle-sized businesses and the pensioners, as well as, measures against unemployment, were announced by Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis during a press conference today.

Mr.Simitis characterized as positive the results of the economic policy followed by PASOK in the last years and stated that significant steps have been made in relation to the convergence programme.

Those measures, said mr.Simitis, are not off-hand pre- election promises but complete proposals which have already been studied by the responsible ministries. He said that PASOK's proposal is feasible and its resources are ensured.

Referring to the farmers economic support, mr.Simitis stressed that the government of PASOK will allocate the sum of about 1 trillion, 800 billion drachmas for the education and training of 60 thousand new farmers, strengthen the incentives for the improvement of the operation of the farm sector mechanisms, expand the farm leasing programme, reduce the taxes for the new farmers, promote new products and upgrade the Farmers' Security Organization.

Mr.Simitis referred to the measures concerning the medical care and the welfare system announcing that pensions will be increased based on the cost-of-living index and inflation.

On the measures against unemployment, mr.Simitis said that the unemployment benefits will be increased by 10% in 1997 in order to get closer to 70% of the minimum wage of an unskilled worker, while he promised the creation of 180 thousand new jobs in the next 3 years.

The Prime Minister also announced that in the next 4 years the objective criteria taxation system will be replaced by modern methods for the assessment of the taxpayers' income.

Finally, on the middle-sized businesses, mr.Simitis announced measures worth 370 billion drachmas.

[02] NEW DEMOCRACY SPOKESMAN RESPONDS TO PREMIER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Democracy party spokesman, Prokopis Pavlopoulos commenting on the announcements made by the Prime Minister stated that mr.Simitis attempted today to present economic and social policy measures based on a pre-election programme that has not been drawn up yet.

Mr.Pavlopoulos accused mr.Simitis of systematically avoiding to tell the people where he will find the resources to cover the cost of those measures, while he expressed the opposition's satisfaction because indirectly but clearly the Prime Minister acknowledged the necessity and the advisability of the measures already announced by New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert.

New Democracy, said mr.Pavlopoulos, states clearly in its programme the extent of the public sector reduction and how it will be achieved, while it is also stressed that this will happen without a social cost through the increase of productivity and by means of the development process.

[03] PREMIER HAILS THESSALONIKI'S TRADE FAIR AS ECONOMY'S VALUABLE BAROMETER

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will hail Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair as the country's valuable economic barometer, during his salutation at the Trade's 61st anniversary on Saturday.

"The Fair was prosperous and successful at a time when Greece was opening new horizons towards developmemt and welfare," writes the Prime Minister and ruling party PASOK President in his salutation, adding that "yet, during the country's difficult times the Fair's parameters narrowed and limited its ability to attract dynamic achievements of international and national production.

"Yet, the Fair is not limited to playing the role of a mirror," according to the Premier, "as it farther gives the country the ability to display Greek products and to emphasize the important role Thessaloniki can play as a trade and industry network within the European Union and the Balkan region."

In turn, Mr. Simitis points to the path the country should follow in order to enter a new and long-term trajectory.

"The structural problems faced by the economy must be handled decisively and the country must adjust to the needs and demands created by the globalization of the economy," the Premier will emphasize, adding that the government's aim is not only to strenghten the economy but, concurrently, to secure a qualitative expansion of development and to promote social cohesion."

[04] PASOK LOCAL CHAPTER STORES MAGNIFICENT WELCOME FOR PREMIER'S ARRIVAL

The local chapter of the ruling PASOK party is preparing a magnificent welcome for the arrival of Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis when he reaches Thessaloniki for the formal inauguration of the 61st International Trade Fair on Friday evening at 8 p.m.

The Premier is scheduled to arrive at the "Macedonia" airport on Friday, 6:45 p.m. where he will be formally received by local dignitaries.

The International Trade Fair's gates will open to the public on Saturday at 10 a.m. while in the evening the Premier will customarily present his government's economic outlook, a speech awaited with heightened interest given the country's upcoming elections of September 22.

On Sunday morning, Mr. Simitis will meet with the administrators of HELEXPO, the organization in charge of the Fair, and will give a press conference at 1 p.m.

[05] PREMIER MEETS WITH DUKAKIS, FORMER US DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met today with Michael Dukakis, the United States former Democratic Party presidential nominee who is currently visiting Greece.

Mr. Dukakis, who is also former governor of Massachusetts and is a political science professor, was briefed by Mr. Simitis on Greece's national issues, and discussed the role U.S. President Bill Clinton could play in reaching a fair solution to the Cyprus issue.

[06] NEW DEMOCRACY ISSUES A STATEMENT ON THE COMMENTS OF ITS LEADER CONCERNING THE MUSLIM MINORITY

The conservative opposition party New Democracy issued a statement on the comments made by its leader, Miltiadis Evert concerning the muslim minority.

In the statement is stressed that in spite of the efforts made by the Foreign Ministry to present a different situation, there was absolutely no ambiguity created during mr.Evert's press conference regarding the members of the muslim minority.

According to the statement, during the press conference had been clarified with a special emphasis that the members of the muslim minority are greek citizens enjoying all the rights guaranteed by international law and greek legislation.

[07] 57,2% BELIEVES THAT PASOK WILL WIN THE ELECTIONS, ACCORDING TO A PUBLIC OPINION POLL

The belief that PASOK will be the winner of the September 22 elections was expressed by 57,2% of the people who responded to the second part of the opinion poll conducted by the polling company Metro-analysis on behalf of radio station "Flash 9.61".

According to the Gallup poll, 20,1% believes that New Democracy will win in the elections and 5,4% expressed the view that PASOK and New Democracy will get almost the same percentage of votes, while 16,1% did not respond.

The opinion poll was held from August 27 to September 1 and was based on a sample of 1.230 voters from Athens and Pireaus.

[08] IRAQ'S AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS CHARACTERIZED AS UNLAWFUL THE POLITICAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE UNITED STATES

The Iraqui ambassador to Athens in a press conference he gave this morning characterized the political behaviour of the United States as unlawful. He said that the US has arbitrarily imposed an economic blockade on his country for the past 6 years and added that Iraq is an independent state with its own culture and history that knows how to respect the ethnic groups on its territory.

Iraq is not threatening any country but on the contrary is being threatened by one, stated the iraqui ambassador, who also characterized as illegal action the recent announcement made by the US President on the expansion of the no-fly zone imposed on Iraq over areas included between the 32nd and the 33rd parallel, an action with which the United Nations also disagree.

Meanwhile, the iraqui military command announced that one person was killed and 7 were injured from the second cruise missile attack launched today by the United States against Iraq.

In the announcement is not clarified if the victims are soldiers or civilians.

[09] ALBANIANS BRUTALLY KILL 52-YEAR-OLD GREEK FARMER IN PELLA

A 52-year-old Greek farmer was murdered yesterday in the Arsenio village in Pella, most likely a victim of Albanian illegal immigrants.

According to police reports, Haralampos Kelesides was killed when unknown men waited for him in ambush, attacked him with stones and plunged a knife into his heart.

The police say that the victim had received numerous death threats recently from various Albanians with whom he had engaged in money-related deals.

[10] THESSALONIKI'S INMATES TO CAST VOTE IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS

The right to exercise their poltical volition will be granted to those inmates whose sentence has not been stripped them of the right to vote, according to a decision drawn by Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos.

Two makeshift voting booths will be set up at the Diavata Jail on election day, September 22. This is the first time that inmates can vote in Thessaloniki.

[11] THE EUROPEAN BANK OF INVESTMENTS IS CLOSE TO GIVING ITS APPROVAL TO THE FINANCING OF A HUGE RESTORATION PROJECT IN MT.ATHOS

The European Bank of Investments is expected to give its approval soon to the allocation of 4,935 billion drachmas for the financing of a huge restoration project in the monastic community of Mt.Athos within the framework of the EZES programme.

According to statements made to MPA by Undersecretary of National Economy, Christos Pachtas the financing of this huge project in Chalkidiki's Athos Peninsula will be approved by the end of October and the monastic community has expressed its satisfaction for the efforts that are being made toward this direction.

[12] TRADE TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN GREECE AND ROMANIA REACHED 170 MILLION US DOLLARS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1996

Based on data provided by the Romanian Consulate in Thessaloniki, the trade transactions between Greece and Romania in the first half of 1996 reached 170 million US dollars and therefore, Greece is among Romania's main trade partners in the Balkans and the European Union.

According to official data provided by Romania, in the country operate over 1.540 joint business ventures financed by greek capital and Greece occupies the 14th place on the list of investors with investments worth 52 million US dollars. The sectors of operation for those businesses are the food industry, textile, pharmaceutical industry, rendering of services and tourism.

Romania wants the expansion of the greek joint business ventures to new sectors such as infrastructure, transportations and telecommunications, while it seeks the operation of romanian businesses in the greek market specifically, in the sectors of rail-road modernization and in other infrastructure networks.

According to the romanian consulate authorities in Thessaloniki, the economic relations between the two countries can develop further, while at the same time, they are an example of understanding between two neighbouring countries and a significant factor of stability in the Balkans and the whole of Europe.

Meanwhile, romanian Undersecretary of Commerce, Michail Berinte will attend the formal opening of Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair and as it was announced, Romania will be represented in the exhibition by 22 businesses from the sectors of car manufacturing, textile, chemicals and others.

[13] THE HEAD OF THE GREEK LIAISON OFFICE IN FYROM MET WITH THE COUNTRY'S DEFENCE MINISTER

Joint activities concerning the holding of the military exercise that will be held in FYROM in October, were the main topic of discussion during the meeting between head of the greek Liaison Office in Skopje, Alexandros Mallias and the neighbouring country's Defence Minister.

According to the Skopjan radio station, during the meeting the greek diplomat was briefed on the activities of FYROM's government in view of the final discussion concerning NATO's enlargement which will be held in Brussels on October 17.

Mr.Mallias was also received and by FYROM's Minister of Development with whom he discussed the promotion of the economic transactions between the two countries and the possibility of participation of greek investors in FYROM's economic activities. Special emphasis was given to the materialization of the cross- border cooperation programme "PHARE '96".

[14] THE PRESIDENT OF WORLD HELLENISM COUNCIL (SAE) MET WITH THE ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER

President of World Hellenism Council (SAE), Andrew Athens met today with alternate Foreign Minister, Giorgos Romeos.

During the meeting the two men exchanged views on the imminent US Presidential elections and on the role of the greek- american community.

[15] PRESIDENT OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT MET WITH VISITING FOREIGN DIGNITARIES OF GREEK ORIGIN

Greek Parliament President, Apostolos Kaklamanis met with 30 foreign government Ministers, Senators and Parliament deputies of greek origin.

During the meeting mr.Kaklamanis referred to the turkish aggressiveness in the Aegean, the continuing turkish occupation of 37% of Cyprus and the violation of human rights on the island. Also, he emphasized FYROM's persistence in the issue of the name, while he criticized the indifferent stance adopted by the international community and especially, by NATO and the United States, toward Turkey's continuing violation of international law and the crimes committed by this country.

Mr.Kaklamanis said that the only response to the turkish provocativeness is a strong Greece on an economic, military and diplomatic level, while he urged the greek communities abroad to continue their efforts for the promotion of the greek positions.

The foreign dignitaries thanked mr.Kaklamanis for the briefing they had in Parliament which, as they stressed, is the heart of democracy.

Meanwhile, President of the Republic, Kostis Stephanopoulos will meet tomorrow with the visiting foreign dignitaries and the group will be accompanied to the Presidential Building by alternate Foreign Minister, Giorgos Romeos.

[16] BLACK SEA TRADE-DEVELOPMENT BANK TO LAY OUT LONG-TERM BUSINESS PLAN

The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank will convene the third session of its Interim Committee tomorrow wherein representatives of all participating countries will lay out the bank's business plan.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos will inaugurate the opening of the session which will also be attended by the Bank's President Mr.Volcan. The BSTD Bank is scheduled to open in January 1997.

[17] GREEK INTEREST FOR TRADE WITH EASTERN EUROPE IS HIGHEST IN THE CONTINENT

Greece is the country with the highest marked interest for hosting business managers from eastern European countries, through the European Union PHARE program, according to the number of requests filed with the program so far.

Fifteen Greek production and trade sector businesses have replied to the request for hosting the businessmen for 20 days in Greece, out of a total 100 replies that were forwarded from all of EU member-states. Participating in the program will be approximately 250 business leaders, mostly from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Albania, Lithuania, Esthonia and Lethonia, 20 of whom will be hosted in Greece.

The program aims at strengthening bilateral business and trade relations between the host-guest countries.

[18] GREEK RAILWAY ORGANIZATION TO ENTER THE INTERNET

Greek Railway Organization (OSE) will enter the Internet next Saturday, providing the network's users with the ability to get via computer statewide itinerary information, as well as ticket prices, specials, offers and trade transfer.

[19] PREMIER PRESENTED HIS POLICY'S BASIC AXES, OPPOSITION CONTINUES CAMPAIGN

Greek Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis presented the policies his party is to follow for farmers, small- to-medium sized businessmen, pensioners and unemployed, during a press conference held this afternoon at the Zappeion Mansion.

During his speech yesterday at the PASOK National Council, Mr. Simitis defined the basic axes of his policy, being the construction of a new welfare state, the creation of job opportunities, the revitalization of the country's rural areas and the reinstatement of credibility in government.

Also yesterday, main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Miltiades Evert enumerated the seven priorities he is to adopt if he were elected Premier at the September 22 elections and developed his proposal of a new convergence program.

Minor opposition party Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras, will give his first pre-election campaign speech this evening at Ioannina.

Harilaos Florakis, honorary President of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), is touring rural areas in Trikala, while President of the Coalition of the Left and Progress party Nikos Konstantopoulos is touring Komotini and Xanthi.

President of the Democratic and Social Movement Dimitris Tsovolas will speak at an open rally in the island of Lesvos this evening.

[20] BULGARIAN MINISTER OF TRADE TO VISIT THESSALONIKI'S INT'NAL TRADE FAIR

Bulgarian Trade Minister Atanas Paparizov will be in Thessaloniki this weekend where he will attend the formal inauguration of the city's 671st International Trade Fair.

Mr. Paparizov will also meet with Minister of Development Vasso Papandreou and Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos, with whom he will discuss issues of economic cooperation between Greece-Bulgaria.

Mr. Paparizov will be accompanied by a delegation from the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

[21] THESSALONIKI MAYOR WILL VISIT GERMANY TO PROMOTE CULTURAL CAPITAL '97

Thessaloniki Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos will present the program of "Thessaloniki: Cultural Capital of Europe 1997" during his visit to Germany in November 21-22.

A series of events, to be organized by the Foundation of Hellenic Culture, will take place on the sidelines of the program's presentation in Berlin and Cologne, while Greek-German organizations are expected to promote the festivities throughout the German media.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[22] UNITED STATES LAUNCH SECOND ATTACK ON IRAQ, 17 CRUISE MISSILES FIRED

The United States bombarded Iraq for a second consecutive day when they fired 17 cruise missiles late Tuesday night, 3 a.m. Greek time, targeting Iraqi air defense.

The cruise missiles were launched from three US warships and one submarine located in the Persian Gulf, against military targets in southern Iraq, following an order issued by the United States President Bill Clinton.

According to reports, the second attack was necessary since yesterday's raid did not have the desired level of demolition.

Meanwhile, questions were raised at the United Nations Security Council regarding the usefulness of the American attack against the Iraqi defense positions, mainly by France, Russia and China, although a decision was drawn to extend the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq. According to UN reports, the decision to further impose these sanctions was not a result of the Iraqi attacks against the Kurds in northern Iraq but rather because Iraqi President Saddam Hussein does not fully comply with the terms that have been imposed regarding the area's no-flight zones.

Given France's opposition to the air attacks, US Secretary of State Warren Christopher plans to visit Paris and Moscow, as France and Russia have been reluctant to condemn Iraq's incursion into Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.

White House spokesperson Mike McKerry stated that the second operation, dubbed "Quicktime", aimed at destroying a range of missiles of the Iraqi anti-aircraft forces which had been left unharmed during the first attack. Pentagon officials stated that the new raid was launched in order to protect U.S. pilots who plan to conduct reconnaissance flights in the expanded zones establihed by the U.S. They added that the U.S. are determined to continue the raids even without the support of their allies, if necessary.

Following the second attack, Hussein urged his air force pilots to hit back at any U.S. and allied planes that violate Iraq's air space and warned that he is not about to recognize any sanctions imposed by the UN.

U.S. republican presidential nominee Bob Dole has criticized President Clinton for indecisiveness and has emphasized that, if elected, he will "work for the aversion of Saddam Hussein."

Among european countries only Great Britain has declared her whole support to the operation, while Japan, who is the biggest importer of Iraqi oil, has issued an appeal to Hussein to withdraw from the Kurdish areas in the north. International crude oil prices rose sharply while oil prices rose by half a dollar after the second attack.

Oil prices in Greece have not been affected by the Persian Gulf episodes, according to government officials.

[23] TURKEY: PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION JAILED FOR VISITING IRAQ

The President of the Human Rights Association Akin Birdal has been ordered to incarceration by the Turkish State Security Court in Ankara, because of his recent visit to northern Iraq, according to turkish press reports.

Mr. Birdal, along with the vice president of the Union of Torture Victims Ichsan Arslan, had recently traveled to northern Iraq in order to negotiate with PKK the freeing of Turkish soldiers who were held hostage.

Officials from the Greek-Cypriot union organizations SEK, PEO and PASYDY, are in continuous contact with the European Union and the International Association of European Unions which have undertaken the initiative for the Forum and its funding.

[24] IRAQ CONDEMNS TURKEY'S DOUBLE STANDARDS ON KURDISH ISSUE

An open letter to Ankara has been publsihed in the Iraqi newspaper "Al Jum Hurria" wherein Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller is criticised for her statements asking for the immediate withdrawal of Iraqi military units from northern Iraq.

The Iraqui publication accuses Turkey of employing double standards on the Kurdish issue and states "while you use violence against the Kurds who live in Turkey, claiming security reasons, you do not recognize our right to carry on with our anti-terrorist struggle."

[25] THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT WILL ASK THE ACCELERATION OF THE PROCESS FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM DURING THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

Cypriot Republic President, Glafkos Kliridis in his speech in front of the UN General Assembly will stress the need both for the acceleration of the process for the solution of the Cyprus problem and for the respect of human rights on the island. Mr.Kliridis will also emphasize the recent bloody events in Derynia and the killing of the two greek-cypriots by the turks.

The above were stated by cypriot Foreign Minister, Alekos Michailidis who also added that the government will not bring its case before the UN Security Council demanding the condemnation of Turkey for the recent events, because as he stressed, Cyprus' voice will be better heard in the international organization's General Assembly.

[26] MUSLIM MOSQUES ARE THE TARGETS OF TURKISH THUGS

The muslim mosques are the main target of turkish thugs who seek with their actions to create upheaval in an effort to prove that the turkish-cypriots can not co-exist with the greek- cypriots.

The greek-cypriot police has recorded two arson attempts against mosques and took strong security measures for their protection, while it watches closely the situation created after the threats against turkish-cypriots working in the free part of Cyprus.

According to the greek-cypriot authorities, the Denktash regime has prohibited the turkish-cypriots from entering the free territories on the pretext that their lives are in danger.

[27] CYPRUS PAN-UNION FORUM TO BE HELD IN BRUSELLS

The Cyprus Pan-Union Forum is expected to be held in Brusells, after the thrice-attempted meeting that has so far been averted by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

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