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Saturday, 21 December 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-02-04Macedonian 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: 21:59 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] CENTRAL GREECE'S FARMERS TO PROCEED TO ROADBLOCKSWeb Posted: 17:59 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 4 (MPA)Greek farmers in the country's central region of Thessaly are expected to proceed to roadblocks today.A strong police force is lined up along the parts of the national highway where the farmers have indicated that they intend to place roadblocks. Thessaloniki's farmers will line up their tractors along the length of the roads but will not block the tolls or the roads that lead to the "Macedonia" airport. [02] TEACHERS CONTINUE STRIKE FOR THIRD WEEKWeb Posted: 17:59 GMT+2Athens, February 4 (MPA)Greece's secondary education school teachers are continuing their strike for a third week, following a decision drawn late last night by their union representatives.Also, the primary school teachers and kindergarten teachers continue their five-day strike for a second day, while also on strike today are most of Greece's public servants. [03] THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCHUBERT'S BIRTH WAS CELEBRATED IN THESSALONIKIWeb Posted: 18:24 GMT+2Vienna 4 February (MPA)The Symphony Orchestra of Vienna celebrated the 200th anniversary of Schubert's birth in the Cultural Capital of Europe, Thessaloniki and not in the composer's home country, Austria according to the Austrian newspaper "Neue Kronen".Meanwhile, the newspaper "Die Presse" writes that 8 thousand people attended the concert of famous Greek music composer Thanos Mikroutsikos. The newspaper mentioned that delegations from 40 countries were present in the official inauguration of the Cultural Capital of Europe events in Thessaloniki, which since Saturday is officially the Cultural Capital of Europe for 1997. [04] STOLEN PIECE OF ACROPOLIS MARBLE RECEIVED BY CULTURE MINISTRYWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Athens, February 4 (MPA)The Culture Ministry received today the small fragment of marble, which was taken from Greece either by a German tourist or even perhaps by a German soldier who was stationed in Athens during the occupation period (1940- 45).Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos received the marble and handed it over to the Archaeological Services. He stated that this gesture is of vast significance, since it represents the replacement of the aesthetic integrity of the greater monument of international culture, which was chosen as a logotype and emblem of UNESCO. "This message, I hope is clear to all recipients at an international level." [05] COOPERATIVE BANK TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THESSALONIKIWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 4 (MPA)A Cooperative Bank is to established in Thessaloniki, but not before the monies needed for its operation are amassed, four billion GRD, ($16 million), a figure that will need at least one year and a half of waiting time.Already 152 million GRD have been secured by the Thessaloniki Civic Credit Cooperative, the Bank's founding body, and, when the two billion GRD goal is met, the Credit Cooperative will embark on granting consumer loans to its members. Once fully operative, the Cooperative will extend its activities into the credit-card sector, leasing, savings, etc. [06] THESSALONIKI PORT ORGANIZATION TO TRANSFORM INTO LTD COMPANYWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 4 (MPA)Thessaloniki's Port Organization is to soon be transformed into a limited liabity company, with its major shareholder being the State, although the city's Aristotle University has submitted its proposal to develop the port into an ownership-entity, leaving open the potential of sub-letting part of its activities.Also, the University's relevant study proposes the creation of a marketing department, fully modernization of the port's data input-output facilities- services and the founding of a Center of Freight Transport. The Port autthorities are said to be carefully taking into consideration these proposals. [07] TRANSPORT-COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY OPENS SATELLITE OFFICE IN TOWNWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Thessaloniki, February 4 (MPA)The Ministry of Transport and Communications has established a satellite office (Special Secretariat) in Northern Greece, aiming to improve and expedite the addressing of matters related to transportation and telecommunication.The office was opened as part of the government's shift to de-centralize its Athens posts and to strengthen Northern Greece's role in the Balkans. Included in the Secretariat's duties are issues related to railway transport, passenger travel, freight transport and telecommunications. The Secretariat is housed at the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace and serving as Secretary-General is G. Maniatis. [B] BALKANS[08] GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDERS REMAIN CLOSED FOR FIFTH DAYWeb Posted: 17:59 GMT+2Promahonas, February 4 (MPA)Greek-Bulgarian borders remain closed for the fifth consecutive day today, due to the roadblocks placed by Bulgarians who protest their country's economic policy.The Greek Railway Organization (OSE) has halted all routes to Bulgaria and only a few buses make trips to the neighboring country, mostly by driving through obscure sideroads. Bulgaria has all the symptoms of a country on the verge of economic collapse, the strongest, aside from the skyrocketing inflation rate, being the citizen's relentless protest rallies. [09] ALBANIA: PRESIDENT BERISHA TO OFFICIATE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION OVER CRISISWeb Posted: 17:59 GMT+2Tirana, February 4 (MPA)Albanian President Sali Berisha is to chair a round table discussion on the crisis that currently plagues his country, following the unrelenting protests of thousands of irate Albanians who have fallen victim to covert money-making operations styled after what is known as "the pyramid".Today's discussion will be attended by representatives from all of the country's political parties, except the Socialist and the Democratic Alliance. Despite the government's pressing reassurances that part of the lost money will be returned to the "investors" tomorrow, the country's opposition continues to doubt the govenrment's promises and is preparing new rounds of mobilizations that aim at the Government's resignation. [10] THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS AND THE CYPRUS PROBLEM ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUESWeb Posted: 18:24 GMT+2Athens 4 February (MPA)Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied information on the existence of an initiative that will deal with the Greek-Turkish relations and the solution of the Cyprus problem as a package.Mr.Reppas added that the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem are separate issues that are impossible to be handled in the same light. [11] THE CYPRIOT SECURITY FORCES ARE IN A STATE OF READINESS AFTER THE THREATS MADE BY THE "GREY WOLVES"Web Posted: 18:24 GMT+2Nicosia 4 February (MPA)The Cypriot security forces are in a state of readiness after the threats made by the Turkish extreme right organization "Grey Wolves", according to which, tomorrow and the day after will settle in Varosia.The Cypriot government has stated that it will take all necessary steps in international organizations in case settlers arrive in the city. [12] DENKTASH LAUNCHED THREATS AGAINST CYPRUSWeb Posted: 18:24 GMT+2Nicosia 4 February (MPA)Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash launched threats in case Cyprus is supplied with the Russian S-300 missile system, stressing that the Turkish side will respond in an appropriate way.According to the Turkish-Cypriot press, mr.Denktash reiterated his known positions on Cyprus' accession into the EU maintaining that the Greek- Cypriots do not have the right to represent the Turkish-Cypriots neither can speak on behalf of the whole of the island. Mr.Denktash blamed the Greek-Cypriot side for the fact that the Cyprus problem remains unresolved and also blamed those countries which in order to serve heir own interests, as he said, are doing injustice to the Turkish- Cypriots. [13] THE SERB OPPOSITION IS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE ITS MOBILIZATIONSWeb Posted: 18:24 GMT+2Belgrade 4 February (MPA)The dealine for the swearing-in of Belgrade's new city council ends today while the serb opposition awaits for the Milosevic government moves, declaring its determination to continue the mobilizations if its victory in the November 17 municipal elections is not recognized.The use of police force in the opposition demonstrations was condemned by the European governments, while the US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns stressed that the police actions in Belgrade worsen the situation inside the country and lead Serbia to international isolation. [14] THE BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER DESIGNATE WILL PRESENT THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT TODAYWeb Posted: 18:24 GMT+2Sofia 4 February (MPA)Bulgarian Prime Minister designate Nikolai Dobrev will present to President Stoyanov today the members of the new government, while tomorrow he will ask for a vote of confidence in Parliament in spite of the threats made by the opposition for the escalation of its mobilizations.The members of the new government were approved with 150 votes for and 7 against even though there are differences of opinion among the Socialist party deputies for the holding of early elections. Meanwhile, there were no blockades today in the region of the border crossing of Kulata at the Greek-Bulgarian borders neither in the road networks leading to the Bulgarian-FYROM borders, according to information given by police in the city of Blagoevgrad. The national highway E-79 to Greece has been blockaded only near the city of Santanski. Air traffic controlers in all the airports of the country will be on an indefinite strike starting tomorrow at midnight, while today and tomorrow they will hold one-hour work stoppages. The blockades of students in Sofia continue and hundreds of striking coal miners are on their way to the Bulgarian capital to protest against the forming of a new Socialist government. [15] F.R.Y.: PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RETREATS COMPLETELYWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Belgrade, February 4 (MPA)Serb President Slobodan Milosevic retreated completely as a result of the pressures exerted by the opposition parties and in a letter to the Prime Minister calls for a draft law to be submitted to Parliament through which the results of last November's municipal elections will be fully recognized.The opposition party leaders have not commented yet on Milosevic's decision. [16] PRESIDENT STOYANOV HOLDS EMERGENCY CONSULTATIONSWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Sofia, February 4 (MPA)An emergency meeting of the National Security Advisory Council was called this afternoon by Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov to examine the political and economic crisis in the country.Prime Minister designate Nikolai Dobrev did not get the "green light" to open the discussion in Parliament for the new government. The demonstrations, the marches and the blockades of roads and railway lines continue but the road networks to Greece and FYROM have opened. [17] TURKEY: ECEVIT'S PARTY TO CENSURE ERBAKAN'S GOVERNMENTWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Ankara, February 4 (MPA)The leader of Turkey's Democratic Left Party, Bulent Ecevit announced today that he intends to file a censure motion against the Necmettin Erbakan- Tansu Ciller ruling coalition."We decided that it was necessary to start the legal process to free the country from this government," Ecevit told his party's parliamentarians. He added that the censure motion will primarily concern the government's foreign policy, financial and social issues as well as security matters. Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the opposition party Motherland Party, is also expected to file a censure motion against the government. [18] BULGARIA: DOBREV TURNS BACK MANDATE TO FORM GOVERNMENTWeb Posted: 21:59 GMT+2Sofia, February 4 (MPA)Bulgaria's Premier by proxy, Nicolai Dobrev turned back the mandate to form a government during this evening's National Security Council session which was chaired by President Petar Stoyanov.As such, the country's early elections will be held during mid-April. Neither Mr. Dobrev nor any other political leaders intend to form a government with President Stoyanov's mediation. The political forces are to draw a joint resolution for salvaging the country from the political and economic crisis, according to the leader of the opposition party Union of Democratic Forces, Ivan Kostov. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian people's relentless protests in the streets and highways may endanger the safety of the country's nuclear power plant at Kozlodui. According to the plant's director, the roadblocks impede the delivery of supplies needed for the plants' safe operation. [C] WORLD[19] MOSCOW OPPOSED TO NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSIONWeb Posted: 17:59 GMT+2Moscow, February 4 (MPA)Moscow continues to object to NATO's eastward expansion, despite the fact that it is aware that it cannot avert the entrance of new members to the Alliance.Kremlin's Chief of Staff Anatol Chubai has reiterated his country's objections and warned NATO that any whatsoever act that would lead towards this eastward expansion without Russia's prior approval "will be one of the biggest mistakes during the past 50 years." Addressing the World Economic Forum, Mr. Corbai called on the Alliance's leaders to answer his questions. "You have decided to expand NATO," he said. "But who are your enemies? Against whom will the Alliance turn? NATO is not a discussion club, it is a vast military organization." In a pres conference following his address, Mr. Corbai warned the West that if it does not seriously address Moscow's objection to the expansion "there is a danger that the scene in Russia will shift in favor of the Communists and the nationalists." [20] FOUR EGYPTIAN STATUES WERE DISCOVERED IN CYPRUSWeb Posted: 18:24 GMT+2Cairo 4 February (MPA)Ancient Egyptian statues dated back to the 6th century BC, were unearthed during archaeological excavations, about 12 miles from Nicosia in Cyprus.The arab-speaking newspaper "Al Ahram" and the french-speaking "Pogre Egyptien" mention that the Cypriot archeologists discovered two statues of lions and two statues depicting lions with human heads, like the sphinx in Egypt. The discovery was made in the region of Thamassos which was known since ancient times. According to the archeologist in charge of the excavations, one of the statues is in excellent condition, while the two sphinx statues are exactly the same with those found in Egypt. 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 |
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