Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-11-26

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, November 26, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK GOVERNMENT COMMENTS ON EU FOREIGN MINISTERS COUNCIL

Greek Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas commented on yesterday's decision issued by the EU Foreign Ministers Council - who ruled not to hold the EU-Turkey Association Council- and characterized the result of yesterday's meeting as positive.

The Greek Government closely follows the processes occuring within the EU, in order to uphold Greece's interests, Mr. Reppas stated, adding that, yesterday's decision, reflects the EU allies' understanding that Greece supports Turkey's european orientation.

However, the Governemnt spokesperson added, in order for this course to materialize, Turkey must come to terms with those principles and values that befit a european orientation.

[02] THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE MADE DETAILED ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE NEW ECONOMIC MEASURES

Minister of National Economy and Finance, Yiannos Papantoniou, shortly after the cabinet meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and focused on the proposed new taxation, made detailed announcements on the draft law concerning the greek government's new economic measures.

In the cabinet meeting that lasted 5 hours, mr.Papantoniou presented the economic staff's final recommendations.

The draft law provides for the abolition of tax reliefs for the President of the Republic, government ministers, Parliament deputies, prefects, mayors, village councils' presidents and journalists. Tax exemptions on premiums received by tax officials, customs officials, military and security forces officers are aso being abolished as well as, all tax reliefs for public welfare institutions. Also, tax exemptions for medical and hospital care and for private insurance expenses are being cut down.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the government's economic measures have as an objective to put the strain on those who must undertake the cost of the economic growth.

[03] THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SPEED-UP PRIVATIZATIONS WAS REITERATED TODAY BY THE MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT

Minister of Development ms.Vaso Papandreou, speaking in the Conference of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce on the greek economy, reiterated the government's intention to speed-up privatizations.

President of the Association of Greek Industries mr.Iason Stratos stated that the increase of public revenues does not guarantee the growth of the economy if is not combined with spending cuts and a programme of privatizations.

Labour Undersecretary Christos Protopappas stressed that the government has already established which companies will be privatized and moves toward this direction with determination aiming at the materialization of the triptych, reliability, investment and employment.

[04] COMMITTEE FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES CONVENED TODAY

The Committee for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles convened, officiated by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos who announced that work groups will be formed to establish and organize the relevant legal and historical archives.

The Culture Ministry intends to promote the issue beyond UNESCO, such as to the European Union and the Council of Europe, although bilateral negotiations with Britain are considered as a first step.

[05] COUNTRY'S TEACHERS AND MOST OF WORK FORCE TO STRIKE THIS WEEK

Greece's primary schools and kindergartens will remain closed tomorrow as teachers will hold country-wide strikes, demanding that wage scales be unified and that the state allocate more money for education.

Secondary school teachers have announced that they plan to strike towards the end of December and again in January.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) will hold a country-wide strike on Thursday, protesting the Government's economic measures and 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 has stated 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.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] EU DECIDES NOT TO HOLD ASSOCIATION COUNCIL WITH TURKEY ON DECEMBER 6

Having taken into consideration the current conditions, the majority of the European Union's member-states ruled that the EU- Turkey Association Council will not be held on December 6, stated Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in a press conference held in Brussels yesterday, following the session of the EU Foreign Ministers Council.

Moreover, the Greek Foreign Minister stated that the statement issued by the "15" on July 15, 1996, will constitute the base for their common position regarding the EU-Turkey Association Council, if and whenever it will be held.

Commending on the invitation issued to Turkish Premier Necmettin Erbacan to attend a formal banquet during next month's Summit meeting in Dublin, Mr. Pangalos clarified that this was an initiative taken by Ireland as the EU Presidency, rather than by the EU's foreign ministers.

[07] WORLD'S FOURTH LARGEST RESEARCH CENTER TO BE FOUNDED IN THRACE

The relatively new scientific theory of complexity, which will be studied and developed at the world's fourth-largest research center to be founded in Thrace's Democritus University, is expected to bring revolutionary progress in the diagnoses of skin cancer and cardiac arrhythmia, as well as to the theories of technology and management.

According to the newest methods, skin cancer will be diagnosed by simply moving a "pencil" upon the skin, with the speed and accuracy not attainable through conventional medicine, while cardiac arrhythmia will be diagnosed with relative certainty up to 25 hours prior to symptoms, as opposed to the two-hour period before symptoms that is currently needed.

The deputy director of the internationally known Solvay Institutes, Ioannis Antoniou from Greece, told the Macedonian Press Agency that he believes the theory of complexity will serve as the base of the 21st century's science.

Mr. Antoniou, who is a close associate of Ilya Prigogine, the 1977 Nobel prize winner in Chemistry, explained that the theory of complexity concerns an interdisciplinary science, which spans from micro-organisms to the universe, and extends into psychology and sociology.

Prigogine himself was the catalyst for securing the Greek Education Ministry's support in founding the research center at Dimocritus, since he forwarded a letter to Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, illustrating the significance of the center and the scientific worth of the theory of complexity.

Also, Mr. Antoniou explained that the reasons which led to establishing the center in Greece is this country's relation with abstract theories and philosophy.

"The theory of complexity is nothing more than giving a mathematical nature to Heraclitus' philosophy. At a philosophical level, all the relevant ideas were born in our country. A second reason is that Greece's scientific force is extraordinary," Antoniou explained.

Also, Mr. Antoniou stated that the Greek state's budget for education is the lowest throughout Europe, adding that the center will "embrace" all of the country's scientists who are forced to go abroad to further their career.

[08] THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN DUMA ARRIVES IN ATHENS TOMORROW FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT

President of the russian Duma, the lower house of Parliament in the Russian Federation, mr.Genadi Selesnyov is expected to arrive in Athens tomorrow for a two-day visit heading a seven- member parliamentary delegation on the invitation of greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

Mr.Selesnyov will be received by greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos while he will have contacts with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

During his visit will have talks with political party leaders and the mayor of Athens.

[09] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH EXPRESSED OPTIMISM THAT AUSTRALIA WILL BACK GREECE ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL INTEREST

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, speaking in a celebration that was held this morning in the Archbishopric of Sidney on the occasion of Archbishop Stylianos' name-day expressed the belief that the australian political leadership will back the greek positions on the Cyprus problem and on the issues of greek national interest in general. In his speech the Ecumenical Patriarch also praised the Archbishop for his contribution to the Christian Orthodox Church.

Later, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos visited two bilingual greek-orthodox colleges that operate under the auspices of the Archbishopric of Sidney, while he also visited, for the second time, the institution "Estia" which is home to young greek- australians with special needs.

The Ecumenical Patriarch will return to Istanbul tomorrow.

[10] EURODEPUTIES IN FYROM, MEET WITH GLIGOROV, FRTCKOVSKI

A delegation from the European Parliament's Committee for Relations with Southeastern European countries, is currently on a visit to FYROM where they met with President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frtckovski.

Participating in the delegation, which oversees the Europarliament's relations with Yugoslavia, Croatia, Albania and FYROM, is the greek main opposition party's eurodeputy Panayiotis Sarlis (New Democracy) who stated that FYROM officials do not foresee a solution to the name issue pending between Athens and Skopje, althought hey believe that the development of economic relations between the two coutnries is a foremost priority.

During its two-day stay in FYROM, the delegation will hold a joint conference with FYROM's corresponding parliamentary committee and the delegates are expected to also meet leaders of various political parties.

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