Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-21

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, January 21, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PREMIER ATTENDS SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL MEETING

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is currently in Rome, attending the session of the Socialist International council, to be held today and tomorrow.

The Greek Premier stated yesterday that Turkey must abandon its provocative tactics if it wishes to conform to the rules and principles of the European Union.

During the session, which is attended by 350 representatives of 139 socialist parties from 120 countries, Mr. Simitis is expected to refer to Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue. According to the council's agenda, the sessions will focus on the Middle East and the peace process, the Dayton Agreement, and the reform and renewal of the Socialist International.

Accompanying the Premier are PASOK's foreign policy secretary and recently-named foreign undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, central committee secretary Kostas Scandalides and executive bureau member and Eurodeputy Paraskevas Avgerinos.

[02] SIMITIS CALLS ON U.N. TO TAKE INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis appealed to the United Nations to undertake an initiative for the solution of Cyprus problem. Mr. Simitis, who is currently in Rome attending the session of the Socialist International, denounced the continuous occupation of Cyprus and characterized Turkey's illegal claims as a threat for the whole Mediterranean.

Moreover, the Premier said that the present phase is finally ripe for resolving the Cyprus issue and emphasized Greece's stabilizing role in the greater Balkan region and the eastern Mediterranean, in contrast with the turkish aggression.

Within the session's framework, Mr. Simitis met with the leader of Turkey's Republican People's Party Denis Baykal and its honorary president Erdal Inonu. A.F.

[03] STRIKE FEVER STRIKES AGAIN, SEAMEN ARE EXTENDING THEIRS UNTIL THURSDAY

Greece's seamen and dockworkers, having kept passenger and cargo ships docked at the ports for the past five days, have decided to extend their strike until Thursday, protesting the Government's decision to lift their tax exemptions.

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated that the striking seamen must consider their responsibilities for the social and political cost of the strike. The government has ruled out the possibility of mobilizing the strikers.

The seamen's strike has brought on a series of problems, especially for the islands where medicines and fresh foods supplies are already becoming scarce.

In Crete, agricultural unions warn that about half of the fresh foods that are waiting to be shipped to the mainland are at risk of rotting if they don't leave by this afternoon.

Also, hundreds of Greek lorry and car drivers remain immobilized at Italian ports, unable to embark for Greece.

High school teachers also embarked on an indefinite strike yesterday, demanding wage increases. Government officials have responded by threatening to extend the school year if they have to in order to make up for school hours lost.

On Thursday, the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the country's strongest labour force, will conduct a 24-hour, country- wide strike. On January 27, pensioners will organize a mass rally, while on February 3-4 the Highest Union of Public Servants will hold a 48-hour strike. A.F.

[04] DISTRICT ATTORNEYS INSTRUCTED TO ARREST TROUBLE-MAKERS AT PORTS

The Supreme Court's prosecutor has instructed the country's district attorneys to arrest all trouble-makers at the ports or those who proceed to block the roads.

Also, the Minister of Merchant Marine Stavros Soumakis left open the possibility of mobilizing the port authorities during the seamen's strike.

Meanwhile, the President of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Miltiades Evert, accused the government of being responsible for these strikes and characterized its policy as being "socially callous."

New Democracy's honorary president and ex-premier Konstantinos Mitsotakis called on the Government to impose lawfullness and enforce the recent court decision that found the strikes as being illegal.

Greece's seamen and dockworkers, having kept passenger and cargo ships docked at the ports for the past five days, have decided to extend their strike until Thursday, protesting the Government's decision to lift their tax exemptions.

The seamen's strike has brought on a series of problems, especially for the islands where medicines and fresh foods supplies are already becoming scarce.

Also, hundreds of Greek lorry and car drivers remain immobilized at Italian ports, unable to embark for Greece. A.F.

[05] NEW DEMOCRACY'S MAIN CONTENDER GEORGE SOUFLIAS IN THESSALONIKI

The main contender for New Democracy's leadership George Souflias stated today that the main opposition party's upcoming congress will constitute a starting place for its reformation.

Upon arriving in Thessaloniki, Mr. Souflias stated that once reborne, New Democracy will inspire its members and as such will not need to resort to threats of eradicating the unruly players.

Moreover, while conceding that N.D. is not exactLy enjoying the highest esteem at the moment, Mr. Souflias appeared confident that his party will follow a victorious path to the next elections.

Mr. Souflias met this afternoon with Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and this evening will address an event organized by the Greek-American Chamber of Commerce. A.F.

[06] ATHENS AND NICOSIA SHARE IDENTICAL VIEWS ON CYPRUS' ACCESSION TO EU

There is no divergence in the views shared by Athens and Nicosia regarding Cyprus' accession to the European Union, stated the Greek government spokesperson and Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas today.

According to Mr. Reppas, resolving the Cyprus issue and the island's accession to the EU are two different matters all together. A.F.

[07] GREEK-AMERICANS MOURN DEATH OF SENATOR PAUL TSONGAS

News of the death of Paul Tsongas, United States Senator and former presidential nominee, has deeply moved the Greek-American community.

Leaders of Greek-American organizations who had gathered in Washington to attend President Bill Clinton's swearing-in ceremony, also took the opportunity to pay their last wishes to the son of Greek immigrants who achieved great progress in promoting Greece's national interests at the White House.

Mr. Tsongas died last Saturday at the age of 55. A.F.

[08] THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS UNDERLINED THEIR EFFORTS FOR THE AWAKENING OF THE GREEK AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION

The efforts that are underway for the awakening of the Greek and international public opinion regarding the problem with FYROM were mentioned by the Presidents of the Pan-Macedonian Associations of US, Canada, Europe and Australia in a press conference they gave in Thessaloniki today.

President of Pan-Macedonian Association of Australia, mr.Soustis stated that they have managed to reverse the Australian government decision to recognize FYROM as Macedonia. He also said that the Australian Federal Parliament members themselves have stressed that even the rocks in Macedonia speak Greek.

President of the newly formed Pan-Macedonian Association of Europe, ms.Popi Asimi stated that the information coming from Greece on the issue of Macedonia should target the simple people and not those with an education. She said that the citizens of foreign countries should be enlightened on the issue because, after all, they do not have to know about the borders and the history of the region.

In the press conference was also announced that a luxurious volume with analitical facts on the history and the activities of the Pan-Macedonian Association will be sent to 1.000 Universities in the United States to inform foreign students on issues concerning Macedonia.

This edition will be included in the libraries of the American Universities after being approved by the US "library congress".

[09] THESSALONIKI'S MUSEUM HAILED AS THE BEST, BY FRENCH MAGAZINE

Being the Cultural Capital of Europe for 1997, Thessaloniki rightfully basks in the limelight of international attention.

France's magazine "Nouveau" recently hailed the city's museum as the "best in Greece", part of a three-page article dedicated to Thessaloniki.

The article is titled "Thessaloniki, Once the City of the Tragic King, now Europe's Cultural Capital" features a useful guide for the city's sights, museums, theaters and hotels. A.F.

[10] KALAS TRIBE IN PAKISTAN HAS GREEK SCHOOL, BUT NO DESKS, FUNDS NEEDED

The Kalas tribe, Alexander the Great's descendants in Pakistan, may have been given a school recently thanks to the benefaction of the Greek educational community, but instead of sitting on school desks, they make do with the cold cement floor.

The Kalas, known as the Greeks of the Himalayas, are a tribe whose culture brings to mind ancient Greece, with similarities in language, religion, rituals and even the hippocratic methods in medicine. Perhaps most importantly, the name Sikander Azam - Alexander the Great- is the strongest link with their splendid ancestry.

In the summer of 1994, a Greek teacher from Athens, Athanasios Lerounis, had travelled to Pakistan for mountain climbing where he met the Kalas. The idea to establish a school for the tribe was his own.

"They didn't ask for money, they only wanted a school so that they wouldn't lose their culture," Mr. Lerounis told the Macedonian Press Agency.

The project started from scratch. Upon his return to Athens, Mr. Lerounis secured a permit from the Education Ministry and, with the aid of other Greek organizations, the Kalas school was built in Pakistan's Kracal, at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level near the Indian Caucasus.

The school has five classrooms with 56 students, but no desks. The Greek academic community continues the fundraising efforts for the Kalas and a bank account has been opened at Agrotiki Trapeza, acc. number 4180100655769. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[11] MICHAILIDES: THE CONTENT OF THE DEMIREL-DENKTASH JOINT DECLARATION IS NOT SERIOUS

Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michailides characterized as not serious in content the joint declaration issued in Ankara yesterday after the talks between Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Turkish President Suleiman Demirel, with which Turkey warns that it will set up a Naval and Air Force Base in Cyprus if Greece proceeds with setting up its own military bases on the island.

Called to commend on the declaration, mr.Michailides wondered if Denktash has convinced himself of what he declares. He said that those statements are not serious in content and pointed out that if Denktash had looked around him in Cyprus he would have found that all the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus is a Turkish military base.

He also underlined that the occupied territories function as a Turkish military base as there are 35 thousand Turkish soldiers and miltary armaments, while the illegal airport of Lefkonikou operates as an airfield and Kerinia is a naval base for the Turks.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister stated that there is a harsh reality as Turkey occupies 36% of the Cypriot territory for 22 years and has turned it into a huge military base. This reality, he said, leads many Turkish-Cypriots to abandon the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

Commenting on the statements made yesterday by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, according to which Cyprus' EU accession is not feasible if the Cyprus problem is not resolved first, mr.Michailides clarified that mr.Kinkel's exact statement was that Europe does not want problems to be brought in the EU. Mr.Michailides added that neither Cyprus wants to bring problems in the EU and for this reason, mr.Kinkel and all the EU member- states are called to contribute effectivelly to the solution of the Cyprus problem. "We do not want the problem to drag on, we want solution", stressed the Cypriot Foreign Minister.

[12] ZIVKOV REGAINED HIS FREEDOM AT THE AGE OF 85

Todor Zivkov, Bulgaria's absolute ruler for 35 years and one of the last traditional Communist leaders still alive, has regained his freedom at the age of 85.

He was overthrown in November 1989 and was placed under house arrest. He was tried 3 years later and was sentenced to 7 years in prison for squandering public money, while his personal estate was confiscated. The court ruled that Zivkov had spent about 6 billion dollars to buy real estate and luxury items for himself, his family members and close friends.

Last February, Bulgaria's Supreme Court cleared him of the charges based on the reasoning that as state leader could be charged only of high treason. The Bulgarian Supreme Court also ruled that he could leave the house of his grand-daugther in Sofia's Bojana suburb only for specific reasons and after receiving a special permit because charges were still pending against him such as, the illegal financing of terrorist organizations in third world countries and the forceful change of the endings of the Muslim community members' surnames into Bulgarian.

Prosecutor General Michail Doitsev allowed Zivkov's release on the grounds of his old age and the bad state of his health. The aged Comminist leader still has many followers in the country, mainly citizens disappointed by the economic insecurity and the political fluidity observed in Bulgaria and political analysts link his release with the latest developments in the country.

Nevertheless, the opposition protests against the ruling Socialists, former Communists, who are in power in the last 2 years, continue.

[13] WIDE PRIVATIZATION PROGRAMME WAS APPROVED IN BULGARIA

The outgoing Bulgarian government approved the state companies' privatization programme for 1997 and the expected revenue is estimated at 43.076 million leva, 50% of which will be in state bonds.

The privatization list includes 27 companies among which are the country's biggest chemical plants, "Sodi" in the city of Devnia, "Chimco" in the city of Vratsa, the Bulgarian Telecommunications Organization, the shipyards in the cities of Ruse and Burgas, the "Pirdop" copper production plant and others. The revenues from those companies are estimated to reach 1.2 billion dollars and the money gained from the privatization will be used for foreign and domestic debt payments.

The airplane manufacturing company "Balkan" is not included in the privatization list as well as the National Electricity Company, and the country's ports and the airports, while the outgoing cabinet has suggested that the weapons production plants should not be privatized in the next 3 years.

Meanwhile, in December 1996 the jobless Bulgarians were 478.470 people, corresponding to 12.5% of the economically active population. The increase compared to the same month in 1995 is 55.000 people. The average number of unemployed in 1997 is estimated to be 480.000 people. According to the 1997 budget, the number of public employees will be cut by at least 10%.

[14] ERBAKAN: TURKISH MILITARY SHIPS TO VISIT CYPRUS

Turkey's Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan stated yesterday that Turkish military ships will sail for Cyprus, relaying information from the Turkish General Army Staff.

"According to information I received form the General Army Staff, our military ships will visit Cyprus," Mr. Erbakan said during his meeting with the Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, adding that "Cyprus and Turkey are closely associated with one another. The whole world must see and know this."

Also, Mr. Erbakan referred to Cyprus' purchase of S-300 missiles from Russia, which he characterized as "an unacceptable provocation."

"It does not matter that they have postponed it (the deployment) for 16 months. These arms can never go there, because if they do, they would turn the island into a powder keg," the Turkish Premier said, adding that if the missiles are deployed, then Turkey will take the appropriate steps." A.F.

[15] KOZLODUI'S FIFTH AND SIXTH NUCLEAR REACTORS TO BE UPDATED

European Union energy experts are currently in Bulgaria in order to be informed on the updating program concerning the fifth and sixth reactors at Kozlodui's electric energy nuclear plant.

The amount of funds to be allocated for this project, so far assessed at USD250 million, will greatly depend on the experts' findings, while the update program has been supervised by Bulgarian experts and has already been granted the initial approval of the International Committee of Atomic Energy.

The two reactors' updating project is expected to be undertaken by the European consortium "Siemens-Framatom", with the participation of Russian companies as well. A.F.

[16] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO HOLD ITS PARLIAMENTARY WINTER SESSION IN JANUARY

The situation in Cyprus, Bellarus and the Federal Yugoslav Republic will be among the items to be discussed during the Council of Europe's upcoming winter session of its parliamentary assembly, to be held between 27-31 of January.

The President of the Ministerial Committee, Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen, will field questions from the deputies on January 28, while the Committee of Political Affairs has requested an extraordinary discussion over Bellarus.

Also to be discussed during the session will be the Intergovernmental Conference and Economic Monetary Union, with interjections made by European Commission President Jacques Santer, and the Dayton Agreement, with interjections made by Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and NATO's Secretary-General Xavier Solana. A.F.

[17] SOCIALISTS WANT TO COOPERATE IN ORDER TO SALVAGE BULGARIA FROM CRISIS

Bulgaria's ruling Socialist Party is ready and willing to cooperate with the new cabinet in order to salvage the country from the economic crisis, stated today a member of the Party's Executive Bureau's Highest Council.

Mr. Petar Dimitrov added that Bulgaria's economic and social plights have taken dramatic dimensions and necessitate the drawing of drastic measures. A.F.

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