MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (96/10/04)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, October 4, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] MILTIADES EVERT RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MAIN OPPOSITION NEW DEMOCRACY

Miltiades Evert, was re-elected President of Greece's main opposition party New Democracy this morning.

Mr. Evert garnered 103 votes, while his opponent George Souflias earned 84 votes. There were three blank ballots cast and one spoilt. The re-elected President had resigned after the party's defeat in the general elections of September 22. He submitted his candidacy one week later.

Mr. Evert is the sixth in line President of New Democracy, since the party's founding 22 years ago.

[02] BOTH THE WINNER AND THE LOSER IN THE ELECTIONS FOR THE ND PARTY LEADERSHIP UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTY UNITY

Immediately after the election result for the New Democracy leadership was made known, both the winner and the loser stressed the importance of party unity.

Mr.Evert was re-elected for a second time to the party leadership and stressed that this is a new page for New Democracy, which will give new force and prospect to the party in order to be able to enter the new century with a different attitude and a different approach. Mr.Evert stressed that there are no winners or losers in this confrontation, while he added that the dangers Greece will face in the national front will be great and pointed out that it is very important for the main opposition party to be strong, united, effective and determined.

The new ND President also said that the party forces must be re-arranged and that a new course must begin for the party which will lead to the party congress in the first half of 1997. He said that an open dialogue should begin without fears, prejudices and dogmatism in order for the party to have a democractic and open congress in which will participate the whole of society.

Giorgos Souflias, who was the other candidate for the party leadership, congratulated his opponent for his success and wished him good luck for the good of the party and the country. He also said that he respects the will of the majority and accepts the election result. Mr.Souflias stated that in the past few days he had expressed clearly his positions and his views and also had stated what the party must avoid. He said that in his opinion the party needs to regain true unity and be responsive to the expectations of the greek society in order to be the winner in the next general elections.

The election procedure lasted 3 hours and Mr.Evert was re- elected to the party leadership with 103 votes compared to mr.Souflias' 84 votes, while there were three blank ballots and one spoilt. According to information, Parliament deputy Andreas Karagounis elected in the district of Etoloakarnania, and Euro- deputy mr.Argyros did not vote, while one of the three blank ballots was cast by Viron Polidoras.

New Democracy vice-president, Ioannis Varvitsiotis met with mr.Evert and in a written statement mentioned that the exercise of effective opposition prevails, as well as, the respect of party unity, ND's reorganization and the unhindered course toward the party congress. He said that on the 22nd anniversary of the party's founding there is no room for a repeat of past mistakes, adding that everyone should remember that starting tomorrow the only opponent is PASOK and ND's exclusive aim is to safeguard the nation's and the greek people's interests.

New Democracy's honorary President, Konstantinos Mitsotakis commenting on the outcome of the in-party elections stated that the party's formal unity at the top ranks is in no danger, adding that New Democracy must understand that all political parties need supporters.

Stephanos Manos refused to make any statements and just said that "we will talk when the time comes". Ms.Dora Bakoyianni wished good luck to mr.Evert and stated that the body of electors has voted and has made its decision clear. Mr.Prokopis Pavlopoulos stated that the winner is New Democracy's unity and stressed that the transitional period for the party has ended.

[03] MAIN OPPOSITION'S NEWLY RE-ELECTED LEADER CONGRATULATED BY PASOK

PASOK Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas congratulated New Democracy's Miltiades Evert on his victory in today's presidential elections in the main opposition.

"We congratulate Mr. Evert and, since he is a member of the country's political leadership, we hope and wish that his political activity will be positive for our country and the Greek people," Mr. Reppas said.

Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos commented that the main task is for the opposition to find its balance, thereby securing the country's institutional balance. He congratulated Mr. Evert on his "inexplicable courage."

[04] NEW DEMOCRACY'S FORMER MINISTER ANDRIANOPOULOS TO FORM NEW PARTY

New Democracy's former minister Andreas Andrianopoulos will form a new party, aimed at political reform, as he announced this evening, hours after the party re-elected Miltiades Evert as president.

"It is an imperative need to hear a new voice that will express all the social strata which have the right to refuse the role of 'beast of burden' kept in store for them by today's parties," Mr. Andrianopoulos stated.

Commenting on Mr. Evert's re-election, Mr. Andianopoulos stated that New Democracy, by giving a total impression of decomposing feudalism, is now completely unable to bring the least of resistance to PASOK's invasion.

[05] THE PRIME MINISTER LEAVES THIS AFTERNOON FOR DUBLIN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXTRAORDINARY EU SUMMIT MEETING

Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis leaves this afternoon for Dublin to attend the extraordinary EU Summit meeting that will focus on the course of the Inter-Governmental Conference.

The greek delegation is made up of Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, Press Minister Dimitris Reppas, deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and head of the greek committee on the Inter-Governmental Conference, Yiannos Kranidiotis.

The issues on the agenda concern the joint foreign policy and the policy on security, unemployment, the cooperation on issues concerning justice and institutions and the EU enlargement.

Specifically, this extraordinary Summit will deal exclusively with the revision of the Maastricht Treaty and is aimed at finding common positions on all the issues in order to make the orientation of the Inter-Governmental Conference more specific. Also, among the issues for discussion will be Russia and the eastern and central European countries.

In the Dublin EU Summit will also be discussed the greek government's memorandums which are included in the Inter- Governmental Conference progress report and concern the economic development of the greek islands, the contribution of the EU to the preservation of the territorial integrity of its member-states and the protection of external borders, as well as, the enactment of a solidarity clause.

[06] GREECE IS VERY INTERESTED IN THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE EU EXTERNAL BORDERS, STATED THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

Greek Government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas in view of the extraordinary EU Summit meeting that will be held in Dublin tomorrow stated that Greece is very interested in the safeguarding of the EU external borders and in the progress of the community's institutional operations necessary for the european unification.

Mr.Reppas when asked to comment on whether Greece will block the accesion of Central and Eastern European countries into the European Union in case there is no progress in Cyprus' EU accesion procedure, he did not rule out this possibility pointing out that Greece has that option in case Cyprus' accesion into the European Union is undermined.

[07] THE MILITARY EXERCISE "NIKIFOROS 96" BEGAN IN CYPRUS THIS MORNING WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF GREEK FORCES

The cypriot National Guard military exercise "Nikiforos 96" began in Cyprus this morning within the framework of the joint defence doctrine with the participation of greek forces.

In the military exercise, in which live amunition will be used, participate 8.500 army reserves, National Guardsmen and greek land forces, Air Force and Navy.

On Sunday morning will begin in southern Aegean and over the Nicosia air space the greek Air Force and Navy exercise code-named "Toxotis 96".

Meanwhile, greek Minister of Defence, Akis Tsohatzopoulos met this morning with Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis and later had a formal meeting with US ambassador, Thomas Niles.

The meeting between mr.Simitis and mr.Tsohatzopoulos focused on planning the priorities and the activities that will be undertaken by the Ministry of Defence in view of the government's policy statements in Parliament. Mr.Tsohatzopoulos also briefed the Prime Minister on the outcome of his meeting yesterday with cypriot Minister of Defence, Kostas Eliadis during which they discussed the last details concerning the military exercises "Nikiforos" and "Toxotis".

Mr.Tsohatzopoulos characterized the joint defence doctrine between Greece and Cyprus as a strategic target of the greek government which safeguards the greatest possible readiness and protection.

[08] INFLATION IN SEPTEMBER REMAINED THE SAME WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH AT 8,5%

Inflation in September remained at the same level with the previous month, at 8,5%, according to data provided by the National Statistics Agency.

The consumer prices index this month showed an increase of 3%, the same increase observed in September of last year. The increase is attributed to price hikes on foodstuffs, house rents and fuel.

[09] THE MINISTER OF PRESS UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REGIONAL MASS MEDIA TO THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

Minister of Press and Mass Media, Dimitris Reppas in his message to the 2nd Conference on Regional Mass Media in Europe which began in Chania, Crete today, stressed the importance of the operation of the regional mass media to the economic, social, political and cultural life.

Mr.Reppas also stressed that the role played by regional mass media is self-evident in a period of increased advancement in the State, National and International Mass Media, printed and electronic, which are characterised by continuous expansion and influence.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] THE BASIC AXES OF THE POLICY THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY NEW ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA, SPYRIDON

Archbishop of America, Spyridon in an interview to greek- american mass media outlined the basic axes of the policy he will follow.

He said that his efforts will focus on the education of the younger generation, on the problem of mixed marriages, the teaching of the greek language and the preservation of the greek cultural heritage.

The Archbishop said that the first place in this hierarchy is occupied by the effort to pass on to younger generations the Christian Orthodox faith, as it is the only way out from the dead ends found in modern society which is characterized by individualism and consumerism.

He also said that the greek-americans and therefore the Archbishopric are preoccupied with the problems faced by the Cypriots, the greeks from Constantinople and the members of the greek minority in Albania.

The Archbishop of America announced that there will be changes in the administrative and the economic structure of the Archbishopric maintaining that this is the beginning of a new era.

[11] GREEK MINISTER OF INTERIOR REPRESENTS GREECE AT LUKANOV'S FUNERAL

The Greek Minister of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Alekos Papadopoulos attended the funeral of Bulgaria's former Premier Andrei Lukanov, held in Sofia today.

Mr. Lukanov was assassinated on October 2 outside his house in Sofia. He was a leading member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and had served twice as Prime Minister.

A large number of foreign dignitaries travelled to Bulgaria to pay their last respects to the assassinated Bulgarian leader whose obituary was read by the President of Bulgaria Zeliu Zelev.

According to bulgarian press, the government will undertake extraordinary measures for the fight against terrorist, as proposed by the Bulgarian Minister of the Interior Nikolai Dobrev, although these measures are not directly in response to the latest attack.

Meanwhile, political columnist Adrei Raicev who writes for the "Continent", revealed in his article today that Mr. Lukanov intented to bring to publicity incriminating reports of questionable activities at the highest echalons of authority. It is not known if the hit men got their hands on these reports.

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