Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-11-22

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, November 22, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PREMIER RIPOSTES TO CLAIMS MADE BY MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis characterized as "dangerous talk" the reports claiming that Greece's financing from the Cohesion Fund will be suspended.

The Premier was responding to a relevant question posed by the leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Mitliades Evert, who stated that Greece is left at the will of foreign decision-making centers.

Mr. Evert criticised the Government for its economic policy and referred to the European Commission's recent report that documents Greece's economic problems.

Mr. Simitis pointed out to Mr. Evert that the said report referred to isolated issues faced by Greece's economy and which can be addressed.

[02] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS TO TOUR EVROS, KAVALA TOMORROW

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will embark on a two-day visit tomorrow in the perfectures of Evros and Kavala in Northern Greece, where he will be pronounced an honorary resident.

Starting with the city of Alexandroupolis, where is expected to arrive tomorrow evening at 7, the President will participate at a conference of the Evros Perfectural Council which will tackle issues concerning the region's development.

[03] LABOR AND PUBLIC SERVANTS UNIONS PROTEST STATE'S ECONOMIC POLICY

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Association of Public Servants (ADEDY) held a joint conference today wherein their aired their protests stemming from the 1997 budget.

The union members are protesting what they deem to be unfair taxation, given that 55.2% of state revenue will burden the incomes of public servants, workers, and pensioners.

The President of GSEE Christos Polyzogopoulos strated that the situation can no longer continue as it is, and has demanded that the Government index the income tax brackets to inflation, raise tax exemptions to GRD 2 million and tax state securities to finance social policies.

[04] PASOK GOV'NT COMMITTEE, EXECUTIVE BUREAU'S POLITICAL SECRETARIAT TO MEET

A joint session will be held today between the Governmental Committee and the PASOK Executive Bureau's political secretariat, officiated by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Dominating the session will be discussions on the efforts to gain popular acceptance of the upcoming year's budget and the government's economic policies, in order to appease any potential social outcries.

Moreover, the session will address the plans of country-wide tours conducted by party members, as well as advertising the Government's economic policy for public promotion.

[05] NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTRY DETERMINED TO CLEAN-UP STOCK EXCHANGE

The National Economy Ministry is determined to "get to the core" in reforming the Athens Stock Exchange, stated the Ministry's Secretary-General Apostolos Fotiades to the Macedonian Press Agency.

According to Mr. Fotiades, the reform process is currently on a good path.

"The noise has subsided," Mr. Fotiades stated, "but the reform process is in essense now beginning."

According to the Ministry official, terms have been imposed to improve the uneasiness of the situation, along with a firm desicion to purge any brokerage firm from the ASE if it owes even a single, previous-day share to the Titles Depository.

Mr. Fotiades clarified that this decison is not to be construed as a penalty.

"This constitutes a 'by-the-book' application of the rules of the game. The penalty will follow the expulsion," he added.

Regarding the 2.6 billion-drachma deficit created by the Delta Securities brokerage firm, Mr. Fotiades explained that it will be met by the brokerage firms' Joint Guarantor Capital, not by the state or the investors.

[06] CUTTING PUBLIC DEFICIT TO 7,6% BY THE END OF THE YEAR IS A FEASIBLE OBJECTIVE, STATED THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated responding to a question by main opposition party New Democracy leader Miltadis Evert on the economic measures announced by the government, that cutting the public deficit to 7,6% by the end of the year is a feasible objective.

The Prime Minister appeared optimistic over the course of the country's economy and stated that according to the greek government, the European Commission's assessments, based on which the greek public deficit will be by 0,3% higher than the announced convergence programme, are not accurate adding that this will be proven at the end of the year.

[07] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS READY TO BRING TO PARLIAMENT FOR RATIFICATION THE AGREEMENT CONCERNING PENSION ISSUES OF POLITICAL REFUGEES FROM ROMANIA

The greek government is ready to present to Parliament for ratification the agreement signed this year with the romanian government which regulates pension issues concerning political refugees from Romania, stated greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis responding to a question made by Secretary of the Communist party's Central Committee ms.Aleka Papariga.

The agreement provides that Romania must pay 15 million dollars and its ratification was delayed due to the elections held in this country.

[08] POST-OPERATION CONDITION OF THESSALONIKI'S TRANSPLANT PATIENTS IS GOOD

Six persons have undergone organ transplant surgeries in Thessaloniki's hospitals this week, all performed with marked success.

A 15-year-old boy's kidneys were transplanted into two men, Eleftherios Doubas and Ioannis Iosafides, while the boy's liver was transplanted into Christos Kasoumis. The young donor was killed in a car accident this week.

These operations were performed at "Ippokration" hospital and the post-operation condition of the patients is reported as being without complications.

At the same hospital, two other kidney transplants have been performed on a man and a woman. The donor was from the city of Volos.

Also, surgeons at the "G. Papanikolaou" hospital have expressed their satisfaction over the condition of a 20-year-old heart-transplant recipient who suffered from dilated myocardium failure. He received the 15-year-old boy's heart.

[09] EVROS BANK TO BE INAUGURATED TOMORROW, FIRST TEN DAYS DID WELL

The newly-founded partnership Bank of Evros has completed its first ten days in operation and the results have surpassed every expectation, according to the bank's officials.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Evros Bank director Christos Tasioulis stated that the locals have warmly taken to the financing institution and cllientele is on the rise.

The Bank of Evros was founded under the initiative of the Evros Chamber. Included in its near-future targets is foreign currency transactions and the issuance of a credit card.

The Bank's formal inauguration will be held tomorrow evening, officiated by the National Economy Ministry's Secretary-General Apostolos Fotiades.

[10] FARMERS IN CENTRAL GREECE PREPARE FOR NEW PROTESTS

Farmers from the regions of Larisa, Karditsa, Volos and Trikala in central Greece, announced that on November 28 will block main highways demanding better prices for their products and the lifting of the relevant EU directives.

Already, this morning the farmers began warning blocades of villages in the above mentioned regions.

[11] LOCAL CHEFS MAKE GIGANTIC CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, WEIGHTS OVER A TON

Thessaloniki's insatiable lovers of chocolate couldn't believe their eyes today when a gigantic chocolate mousse, with mouth-watering filling, rich cream and thick cocoa, adorned the center of town, right in the middle of Aristotle Square.

Six hundred kilos of milk, another 600 kilos of sugar, chocolate and cream, with 5,800 pieces of filling, were mixed together today by students of a local homemaking school, who, aspiring to make the world's largest chocolate mousse, rolled up their sleeves for five hours today and donned their chef caps outdoors.

The accomplished feat, weighing one ton and 175 kilos, approximately 2,283 pounds, was an effort to win a place in the Guiness World Book of Records.

The admiring bystanders were served with a piece of the impressive desert, which amounted to 8,500 portions.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] ISSUES CONCERNING THE DEFENCE SHIELDING OF GREECE AND CYPRUS WERE DISCUSSED IN NICOSIA

Issues concerning the defence shielding of Greece and Cyprus were discussed in Nicosia this morning during the meeting of greek Minister of Defence Akis Tsohatzopoulos and cypriot Parliament President Spyros Kiprianou. Later, mr.Tsohatzopoulos attended the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence during which were discussed the developments in the Cyprus issue.

The greek Minister stated that the joint defence doctrine is a good basis on which can rely Greece and Cyprus, two equal and independent states, stressing that this is their political response to the expansionism and threat coming from the east.

The Cypriot Parliament President stressed the need for the strengthening of the defence capability, pointing out that with a strong defence the possibilities for more positive developments toward the solution of the Cyprus problem will be increased.

[13] THE KINGS OF SPAIN AND BELGIUM WILL VISIT GREECE

As it was announced by sources close to the greek President, the Kings of Spain and Belgium are to visit Greece and the date of their visits will be set through the diplomatic route.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas commenting on the information stated that the visits of the two Kings are within the authority of the greek President adding that the greek government has no objections.

[14] FIRST INTERBALKAN TRANSIT CONFERENCE BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI

The first Interbalkan Transit Conference was held in Thessaloniki today, inaugurated by the Greek Minister of Transport and Communications Haris Castanides.

Participating officials from FYROM, Bulgaria, Albania and Turkey brainstormed on ways to solve the problems that arise from the transit processes and examined opportunities for Balkan cohesion in transit and trasportation.

According to Mr. Kastanides, Greece supports its neighbors' plans to develop their trasportation structures and, overall, their preparations tofor accession to the European Union.

Touted as Greece's initiatives to promote such inter-balkan cooperation, as well as the horizontal link with Turkey, are the completion of the Egnatia Road works, the establishment of a railway route between Florina-Pogradec, the creation of the Adriatic axis Egumenitsa-Dumbrovnik and an Adriatic avenue to link Greece's and Italy's combined transfers, within the framework of inter-european networks.

[15] EXHIBITION OF GREEK PRODUCTS HELD IN BELGRADE

A five-day exhibition of Greek products titled "Together in Economic Cooperation" began yesterday in the Former Yugoslav Republic's capital Belgrade.

The exhibition, where approximately 100 Greek businessmen - mostly from Thessaloniki- are participating, features a variety of goods from the sectors of outerwear, footwear, chemicals, stationery, raw materials for furniture, heating equipment and others.

During a press conference, the representatives of the event's organizers, greek company "Dekos Lan", emphasized that the exhibition is expected to promote the development of economic cooperation betwen the two coutnries.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Greece's Ambassador to F.R.Y. Panayiotis Vlassopoulos who stated that "the presentation of greek products to Yugoslavia, after the lift of sanctions, constitutes an example of the new economic bilateral ties and their future development."

A spokesman from Yugoslavia's Economic Chamber told the Macedonian Press Agency that the exhibit is a top notch opportunity to develop economic ties and to sign agreements between Greek and Yugoslav businessmen.

He added that "the Yugoslav side would like to see joint ventures between the two countries and a mutual participation in the Balkan and European markets."

Greece is F.R.Y's fifth largest foreign trade ally. The trade volume between the two countries rose to 170 million drachmas during the first nine months of 1996.

[16] INTERNATIONAL WARRANTS FOR THE ARREST OF SIX SUSPECTS IN THE KILLING OF GREEK-CYPRIOT TASOS ISAAK WERE ISSUED BY THE GREEK- CYPRIOT POLICE

International warrants for the arrest of six suspects, two turkish-cypriots and 4 turkish settlers, were issued last night by the greek-cypriot police. The six are accused of taking part in the killing of greek-cypriot, Tasos Isaak on August 11 during the bloody incidents in Derinia.

Prosecutor General, Alekos Markidis stated in a press conference today that all the suspects have been identified in photographs. Responding to the remark that based on the available material the number of people who took part in the killing were more than six, mr.Markidis said that warrants were issued for the arrest of the individuals who were possible to be identified based on reliable information. He also added that police efforts for the location of the rest of the suspects continues.

Arrest warrants have been issued for the following individuals: Hasim Yilmaz, turkish settler who was member of the turkish Secret Services and now owns a coffee-shop in the occupied Kerinia; Neifel Mustafa Ergun, turkish settler, about 28 yearsold, who is a so-called "policeman" in the pseudo-state and came to Cyprus when he was very young after the turkish invasion of the island; Polat Fikret Koreli, turkish-cypriot, about 17, who lives in the occupied Famagusta; Fikret Veli Koreli, turkish-cypriot, father of Polat, originally from Paphos who now lives in the occupied Famagusta and owns a motorcycles' repair shop; Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, turkish settler, about 41, leader of the extremist organization "Grey Wolves" in the turkish occupied territories who lives in the occupied part of Nicosia and Erhan Arikli, turkish settler about 40 yearsold, from the former Soviet Union who came to live in the turkish occupied part of Cyprus 10 to 11 years ago.

[17] GREEK EURO-DEPUTY ALAVANOS REACTED STRONGLY TO EU COMMISSIONER HANS VAN DEN BROEK'S RESPONSE ON THE 700 GREEK- CYPRIOTS STILL LIVING IN THE TURKISH OCCUPIED KARPASIA

EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek's response to the question made by greek Euro-deputy Alekos Alavanos, on the measures that need to be taken by the EU for the 700 greek-cypriots living in squalid conditions in the turkish occupied Karpasia, is an unprecedented provocation.

Mr.Van Den Broek responded that the Commission has no information on the issue that was raised by mr.Alavanos due to the fact that turkish-cypriot leader Denktash did not allow a European Parliament Human Rights Committee delegation to visit their regions in March 1996 and therefore, he concluded that the accusations for violations of the rights of those communities were not possible to be confirmed.

Mr.Alavanos commenting on this response stated that unfortunately we are not dealing just with enormous pressures exerted on Greece and Cyprus to compromise but we are also witnessing a comeback of cruelty and extreme cynicism last seen in the Kissinger era. He went on by saying that it can not be explained otherwise how mr.Van Den Broek, who is essentially the EU's Foreign Minister responsible for the community's interventions in the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' accesion to the EU, can pretend to be unaware of the existence of greek-cypriots in Karpasia who are dealing with continuous violations of their rights.

[18] THE NATIONAL THEATER OF NORTHERN GREECE WILL ORGANIZE THE 6TH FESTIVAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN THEATERS IN 1997

The National Theater of Northern Greece will organize the 6th Festival of the Association of European Theaters next year, as it was announced today by its Artistic Director Vasilis Papavasiliou in a press conference in Thessaloniki.

Mr.Papavasiliou stated that the Festival will be held in Thessaloniki on the initiative of the National Theater of Northern Greece with the support of the Cultural Capital of Europe Organization "Thessaloniki 1997". He also stated that during the festival will be held cultural events such as exhibitions of works by leading european stage-designers, tributes to great theater directors, symposiums and also presentations of new publications.

[19] CONTEMPORARY GREEK ARTISTS AND FILM DIRECTORS ARE BEING PRESENTED IN BERLIN

Two very important cultural events concerning the plastic arts and modern greek cinema are being held in Berlin with the support of the Foundation of Hellenic Culture. The events are taking place in order to promote Greece's new artistic potential.

Specifically, an exhibition of paintings created by 14 greek artists opened yesterday in a Berlin Gallery. The exhibition is organized by Berlin's Institute of New Culture and will last until January 12, 1997. It should be noted that in a statement the Berlin institute stresses that this new artistic group that comes from the edges of Europe is a complete revelation, as for the first time, the variety and dynamism of Greece's contemporary artistic scene is being presented to the german public in a group exhibition.

A tribute to films of new greek directors will be held within the framework of the exhibition, organized on the initiative of the association "Friends of the German Film Library" and will take place on December 11-20.

[20] GREEK-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HOLD ECONOMIC CONFERENCE

The Greek-American Chamber of Commerce will hold its seventh annual conference titled "the Time of the Greek Economy", on November 25-26 in Athens.

The conference will address the topics of investment and development as national priorities and will be attended by foreign businessmen and financial experts.

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