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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-18Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 16:26 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANSNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT BACKS CYPRUS' RIGHT TO ARMWeb Posted: 16:26 GMT+2Athens 18 January (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis reiterated the Greek government's full support to Cyprus' right to arm after his meeting in Athens yesterday with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.The two men pointed out that Nicosia has the authority to decide if it will accept the US proposal for a moratorium to military flights over Cyprus. At noon today, the Cypriot President was scheduled to visit the Pentagon to be briefed by the Chiefs of Staff. Mr.Clerides also met with Greek Minister of Defence Akis Tsohatzopoulos who stated that the Cypriot President was briefed on the defence cooperation plans between the two countries. The Cypriot President earlier had met with opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiadis Evert and with the party's honorary President Kostantinos Mitsotakis. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns has stated that according to US envoy mr.Cavanaugh, the two sides are taking under serious consideration the US proposal for a moratorium on military flights. Yesterday, mr.Cavanaugh visited the Fanar in Istanbul and met with the Ecumenical Patriarch. On Monday, he will be in Brussels to brief the Dutch Foreign Minister, who is presiding over the EU Council of Ministers and is expected to bring the issue of the Cypriot-Russian missiles agreement before the Council. [02] THE SEAMEN STRIKE CREATED SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE GREEK PORTSWeb Posted: 16:26 GMT+2Athens 18 January (MPA)Serious problems have been created in the Greek ports as a result of the seamen strike.A court in the city of Pireaus ruled that the strike is an unlawful and undue action, while fresh fruit and vegetable growers in the island of Crete, in southern Aegean, are threatening to undertake dynamic measures to have their products shipped to Athens. [03] SIMITIS WARNED THE FARMERS NOT TO RESUME THEIR MOBILIZATIONSWeb Posted: 16:26 GMT+2Athens 18 January (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis issued a strong warning to the farmers during the discussion in Parliament on their issue.Mr.Simitis stated that the imminent mobilizations are being provoked by opposition political parties and warned that the government will not accept such a behaviour. Opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiadis Evert stressed that his party is not behind the farmers but on their side. [04] TURKISH SLAVE-TRADERS FORCED 26 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO JUMP IN THE WATER FROM THE SPEED-BOAT CARRYING THEM TO PSERIMOSWeb Posted: 16:26 GMT+2Phodes 18 January (MPA)Turkish slave-traders forced 26 illegal immigrants to jump in the water from the speed-boat carrying them to Greece when they were spotted by the Greek Coastguard off the small island of Pserimos, in south-eastern Aegean last night.The illegal immigrants were picked up by two Coastguard ships. In the chase that followed shots were fired and two slave-traders were arrested after abandoning their boat which made water. [05] THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL ALTERNATE ENVOY TO CYPRUS APPEARS OPTIMISTICWeb Posted: 16:26 GMT+2Nicosia 18 January (MPA)UN Secretary General alternate envoy to Cyprus Gustav Feissel expressed optimism over the assurances for military dialogue he received by the political leaderships of both sides in Cyprus.Mr.Feissel stressed that both sides have agreed to discuss all the issues included in the package of measures proposed by the United Nations for the easing of tensions along the ceasefire line in Cyprus. He said that he is pleased from the fact that both sides have agreed to discuss the whole package without preconditions, which is a step toward the right direction. Meanwhile, a new meeting between the UN forces and the Cypriot National Guard is expected to take place today, while mr.Feissel will have contacts with the turkish occupation army next week. [B] BALKANS[06] BULGARIA'S NEW PRESIDENT SWEARS-IN TOMORROWWeb Posted: 16:26 GMT+2Sofia 18 January (MPA)Bulgaria's President elect Petar Stoyanov swears-in tomorrow and together with Vice-President Todor Kavaltsiev will formally assume office on January 22.Stoyanov, who like his predecessor Zeliu Zelev comes from the Bulgarian opposition, won the second round of the presidential elections of November 3 getting 60% of the votes. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |