Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-12-10

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, December 10, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PROTESTING FARMERS REFUSE TO BUDGE, FOOD SUPPLIES MIGHT START DWINDLING

For the 13th successive day, both the Government and the country's farmers have refused to budge from their stated positions, having remained at an impasse that threatens the country's economy with a hitherto monetary loss of 22 billion drachmas (approximately $89 million.)

The protesting farmers continue their roadblocks throughout the mainland, defying the cold nights for the sake of their demands.

Premier Kostas Simitis yesterday emphasized the negative impact to be brought on by any diversion in the country's course of convergence, although he did state that all of PASOK's pre- election promises will indeed materialize for the farmers. A.F.

[02] WAVE OF STRIKES THREATENS TO CRIPPLE GREECE, WIDE PROTESTS OVER BUDGET

A new wave of strikes is due to hit the country this week, starting with pensioners holding ralllies in Greece's largest cities today, protesting the Government's economic policy and the 1997 state budget.

Meanwhile, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), with three million members, plans to map out its future mobilizations today, while the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) has announced a country-wide strike to be held December 17, the day when the 1997 budget will be discussed in Parliament's plenary session.

Secondary school teachers -in both the public and private sectors- will embark on a three-day strike tomorrow, while doctors of the state-owned Social Security Foundation (IKA) begin their four-day strike today.

Construction workers will strike on Thursday, while Education Ministry employees will follow suit the same day with a three-hour work stoppage.

Kindergarten and primary school teachers will strike on December 17-18, while civil aviation unions will conduct a four- hour work stoppage -to be held every day from December 12 to 14. Customs officials will also start a three-day strike on December 17. A.F.

[03] THE PRIME MINISTER INVITED THE FARMERS TO A DIALOGUE ON THE PRECONDITION THAT THEY END THEIR BLOCKADES

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis invited the farmers to a dialogue with no winners and losers, under the precondition that they will end their blockades in the national and provincial road network. The dialogue will focus on forming a national policy on agriculture that will safeguard the Greek farmers today and in the future.

Mr.Simitis made it clear that the existing situation can not continue and added that the government has taken all possible and feasible measures within the limits of the greek economy.

The Prime Minister stressed that no one is exempt from the responsibility for allowing the piling up of problems in the farming sector and pointed out that the government was honest and direct when it dealt with those problems, while it never rejected dialogue. Mr.Simitis said that himself, the Minister of Agriculture and the Ministry's responsible agencies can start a dialogue with the farmers' unions and with all those who have problems and needs.

He said that each day that passes with the roads blocked causes great damage to the greek economy and appealed to the farmers to abandon their hard line stance and enter a constructive dialogue with the government. Mr.Simitis underlined that the government seeks the best possible solutions for the farmers and the rest social groups.

[04] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF PENSIONERS

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met with representatives of pensioners after a protest rally that was held infront of the Parliament building in Athens.

After the meeting, Pensioners Union President Christos Triantis stated that mr.Simitis pledged to open a dialogue in 1997 for the solution of their problems. Within the framework of this dialogue, mr.Simitis is scheduled to meet tomorrow with Labour Minister Miltiadis Papaioannou to address the pensioners' problems.

[05] CABINET MEETS TODAY TO ADDRESS FARMERS' PROTESTS

The Cabinet will convene today to address the problems caused by the protesting farmers' roadblocks and overall assess the damages caused by the disruption in transportation.

In the interim, the farmers' mobilizations continue for the 13th successive day, by blocking off many interstate and intrastate roads.

The up-to-date losses in the sectors of transportation, trade, exports and imports are estimated at 22 billion drachmas. A.F.

[06] GREECE'S LABOR FORCE TO RALLY EN MASSE ON DECEMBER 17, "BUDGET DAY"

Greece's labor force will hold a massive rally on December 17, the day the state budget will be discussed in Parliament's Plenary session, and will also hold a three-hour work stoppage, all in protest of the Governemnt's economic policies.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), with three million members, demands that state revenue be redistributed in a way beneficial to social policies, taxing system be restructured and tax brackets be indexed.

The Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) will also hold a country-wide strike on December 17, joined by kindergarten and primary school teachers. Customs officials will hold three-hour work stoppages on that day as well. A.F.

[07] GREEK CULTURE MINISTER TO EMBARK ON SERIES OF EU MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Greece's Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos will depart for Paris tomorrow, in order to attend the conference of the South European Culture Ministers Group.

According to Mr. Venizelos, the conference will mostly address issues concerning the protection of languages, visual- acoustic culture and cooperation therein, all within the framework of the EU's Ministerial Council.

On Friday, Mr. Venizelos will move on to Copenhagen, Europe's Cultural Capital for 1996, where, along with the accompanying delegation of the "Thessaloniki: Cultural Capital of Europe 1997" organization, he will be handed the torch for hosting this annual event.

Next stop in Mr. Venizelos' itinerary will be Brussels, where the EU's Ministers of Culture Council will convene next Monday.

There, Mr. Venizelos will officially unveil Thessaloniki as the forthcoming year's cultural capital of the EU. Also, the Greek Culture Minister will table a first reference to Greece's proposal for an equal representation of the EU member-states' cultures within the Treaty's document revision, in light of the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference. A.F.

[08] WORLD HELLENISM COUNCIL'S PRESIDIUM MEETS IN THESSALONIKI THIS WEEKEND

The World Hellenism Council (SAE) will hold its Presidium's third session in Thessaloniki during December 14-18.

Officiating the session will be the Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who oversees issues concerning Greeks living abroad, and the Greeks Abroad Secretary-General Stavros Labrinides.

The President of SAE, Andrew Athens, and other members of the Presidium arrived in Athens today. A.F.

[09] OVER 35 COUNTRIES WILL PARTICIPATE OFFICIALLY IN THE 1997 CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE ARTISTIC EVENTS

Over 35 countries will participate officially in the artistic events that will be held in Thessaloniki in 1997 when the city will be the Cultural Capital of Europe.

Apart from the European Union member-countries, in the events will also participate formally Cyprus, Turkey, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Albania. Cultural programmes will be presented by Canada, the United States, Japan, Russia, Switzerland and Hungary.

The programme of the official state participations, which is a novelty for the Cultural Capital of Europe institution, offers to Thessaloniki the opportunity to have a world first presentation of exhibitions and cultural events attracting the interest of the art-loving public worldwide.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] NATO'S FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET TODAY IN BRUSSELS

Foreign Ministers of NATO-member countries will convene in Brussels today, with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos representing Greece.

According to reports, Turkey threatens to block NATO's eastward expansion if its terms for equal participation in the Western European Union (WEU) are not met. Although a member of NATO, Turkey is not a member of the EU which is a prerequisite for full WEU membership. Currently, Turkey has associate member status in the WEU.

Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller has rejected Mr. Pangalos' proposal to resort to the International Court of Justice at The Hague for any conflicts that arise within the Alliance.

Among the issues to be tackled in today's conference will be the establishment of a timetable for the Alliance's expansion to Europe's central and eastern countries, as well as ways to address Russia's objections to such expansion, and the re-organization of NATO's internal structure and the replacement of IFOR, which is the Alliance-directed peacekeeping force in Bosnia. A.F.

[11] THE ASSEMBLY MEETING OF THE BLACK SEA COUNTRIES' INTER- PARLIAMENTARY UNION WILL BE HELD IN TBILISI

Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis left for Tiblisi today to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly meeting of the Black Sea Cooperation Pact countries.

Mr.Kaklamanis will be the Assembly's President for the first half of 1997 and announced that the Greek Parliament has already prepared a programme for the further development of relations with those countries. He also stated that within this framework a meeting will be held in Greece in May or June for the promotion of contacts with the Black Sea Cooperation Pact countries.

[12] A TURKISH APPEAL TO THE HAGUE ON THE IMIA ISSUE WAS WITHDRAWN IN 1933

Turkey had appealed in 1929 to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the then League of Nations International Court of Justice, requesting a ruling to be issued on whether the islets of Imia belong to Greece or Turkey. This appeal was later withdrawn by Turkey after the 1932 treaties were signed recognizing that those islets belong to Greece.

Professor of International Law, Dimitris Konstantopoulos said to MPA that he found a 1929 agreement signed by Turkey and Italy with which the two countries appealed to the International Court of Justice requesting a ruling on whether the islets belonged to Greece or to Turkey. In the meantime, the January 1932 Italian- Turkish treaty and the December 1932 protocol had been signed clearly determining which of the islets belong to Turkey and which to Greece. A year later, in 1933, the appeal to the International Court of Justice, made jointly by Italy and Turkey, was withdrawn.

Prof.Konstantopoulos concluded that those facts had not been announced before and probably, only the Italian Foreign Ministry was aware of them aside from Turkey, adding that they are of grave importance at a time when Greece's sovereignty over Imia is being disputed by Turkey.

[13] THE CYPRIOT NATIONAL GUARD ARMAMENTS PROGRAMME WILL CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides gave the assurance that the armaments programme for the National Guard will continue as scheduled.

Referring to the meeting he had earlier with the UN Secretary- General special representative in Cyprus, mr.Clerides said that this is the last time the UN envoy comes to the island on a fact- finding mission.

The Cypriot President responding to the question if he will have a meeting with Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in 1997 stressed that this will be determined in the process.

[14] 20.000 TURKS FROM THE BLACK SEA LIVE IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN CYPRUS

The Turks from the Black Sea who live in the occupied territories in Cyprus are about 20.000, according to the Turkish- Cypriot newspaper "Birlik".

The report refers to the discussion on "Turkish nationalism" organized in Trabzon. One of the speakers in the meeting was the so-called "Minister of Interior and Countryside" Ilkai Kamil, who stated that nationalism is not localized.

[15] EVENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS ARE HELD IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN CYPRUS

Events on human rights are being held in the turkish occupied territories in Cyprus organized by the Turkish-Cypriot "Movement for Democracy and Human Rights".

Within the framework of those events a press conference was held in front of the house of Turkish-Cypriot journalist Kutlu Antali, who was allegedly murdered by Turkish extremists. In the press conference were present Antali's family members and supporters of human rights and Cyprus' reunification.

The organization "Movement for Democracy and Human Rights", in a statement on the recent tragic incidents along the "green line" in Cyprus, criticizes the attitude expressed by the Denktash regime and the Turkish extremist organization "Grey Wolves", who are trying to play down the killings of three Greek-Cypriots, that took place in the period from last August until today. `

[16] STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: "U.S. KEENLY INTERESTED IN SOLVING CYPRIOT ISSUE"

The United States are keenly interested in seeing a solution to the Cyprus problem, has stated the State Department spokesperson, Glenn Davis.

Referring to the recent visit to Cyprus of Carey Cavanaugh, the State Department's Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs, Mr. Davis stated that the U.S. Government remains committed to working towards a solution of the cypriot issue.

"We recently sent an intergovernmental team to Athens and Nicosia and dicsussed the issue within the parameters of the OSCE Summit in Lisbon," Mr. Davis stated, adding that his government's efforts are identical with those exerted by the international community.

Meanwhile, Han Sung Ju, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the cypriot issue is currently in Cyprus where he will meet with President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides. British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind is to arrive in Nicosia next week. A.F.

[17] TURKISH OCCUPATION TROOPS FENCE OFF SECTION IN CYPRUS' NEUTRAL ZONE

Turkish occupation troops fenced off a section in Cyprus' neutral zone at St. Domecius and hoisted the turkish flag, during yesterday's early morning hours.

The Greek-Cypriot side is expected to proceed to a formal protest with the United Nations.

Also yesterday, the occupation troops opened fire against the island's free region, damaging a parked car and a solar water heater. A.F.

[18] KOZLODUI'S FIRST NUCLEAR REACTOR READY TO OPERATE AGAIN

The first nuclear reactor at Bulgaria's Kozlodui electric energy plant is ready and operative, according to Siemens company, which also heads the EU-guided international committee in charge of researching the nuclear reactor's security.

Nevertheless, according to Sofia's daily "Trud", the EU's Committee on Atomic Research has issued an announcement through which it insists on its initial stance to immediately halt Kozlodui's operation and consider altrernative sources of energy.

For this, the EU has earmarked MECU-10 in order to purchase lignite for Varna's thermoelectrical plant. So far, Bulgaria has received half of the promised amount. A.F.

[19] F.R.Y.: FEDERAL COURT SECONDS SUPREME COURT, OPPOSITION'S HOPES PALE

The Federal Yugoslav Republic's (FRY) Federal Court rejected today a request of Beglrade's Electoral Commission to review the Supreme Court's recent decision not to reverse the State's annulment of local elections results.

The FRY's main opposition, the three-member coalition Zajedno (Together), and Belgrade's Electoral Commission, had requested last week that the Supreme Court review the election results annulled in municipalities where Zajedno prevailed.

Yugoslav students and Zajedno followers continue to rally in the streets of Belgrade for three weeks straight, carrying placards asking Serb President Slobodan Milosevic to resign. A.F.

[20] BULGARIA: INFLATION RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL, STEADILY GALLOPS UPWARDS

Bulgaria's across-the-board inflation rate has reached the unprecedented 223.6 per cent during 1996, according to official data issued by the country's National Statistics Service.

Since the beginning of 1996, prices on foodstuffs have risen by 227.5 per cent, while prices on spirits and cigarettes have increased by 178.3% and 165.2% respectively. Public services and transportation costs have risen by 282.2 per cent.

According to experts, one of the potential repercussions in delaying the establishment of Bulgaria's Exchange Council could be a further destabilization of the economic situation and an ever- increasing inflation that could swell well into the first months of 1997. A.F.

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