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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-03-27Macedonian 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: 22:35 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] EUROPE[D] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] GREEK MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER: FEWER ALBANIANS ARE ENTERING GREECEWeb Posted: 15:08 GMT+2Athens, March 27 (MPA)According to Greece's Minister of Public Order George Romeos stated today that the number of incoming illegal immigrants from Albania has been reduced by 15-20% during the last month, pointing out that the security measures taken by Greek police at the Greek-Albanian borders have been intensified.Mr. Romeos added that arrests of illegal immigrants are taking place at a more frequent rate, while 30,000 illegal immigrants from Albania who managed to enter Greece have been sent back. A.F. [02] DESCARTES COMMEMORATED BY "THESSALONIKI CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE 97"Web Posted: 15:08 GMT+2Thessaloniki, March 27 (MPA)A two-day symposium commemorating the 400th year anniversary of philosopher Rene Descartes, the founder of the European enlightement, will begin in Thessaloniki tomorrow, March 28, within the framework of events organized by the Organization of Cultural Capital of Europe, "Thessaloniki '97".The symposium will examine Descartes' influence on the development of philosophy, mathematics and modern thought. The event is jointly organized by the Hellenic Mathematics Society, University of Macedonia, Aristotelean University of Thessaloniki and the Institute Francais. A.F. [03] HARILAOS FLORAKIS UNDERWENT SURGERYWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2Athens 27 March (MPA)The honorary president of the Greek Communist Party Harilaos Florakis underwent a successful operation for the removal of an aneurism.According to his doctors, the operation went well and mr.Florakis is recovering without problems. The 83yearold honorary President of the Greek Communist Party will stay in the intensive care unit for 1 or 2 days before he is allowed to leave the hospital. [04] PARLIAMENT CHIEF ON TURKISH FRIENDSHIP: "BEWARE OF GREEKS BEARING GIFTS"Web Posted: 22:35 GMT+2Athens, March 27 (MPA)When asked to comment on the latest gestures of friendship extended to Athens by Turkish officials, the President of Greece's Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis responded with the classic maxim "beware of Greeks bearing gifts".Mr. Kaklamanis was referring to the friendly sentiments expressed by the Chief of the Turkish Armed Forces Ismael Karadayi. The House President had successive meetings today with the main opposition party's (New Democracy) newly-elected President Kostas Karamanlis and with N.D.'s honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis, as well as with N.D. deputy and former Premier George Rallis. Mr. Kaklamanis stated that he wishes for cooperation among the parties so that the Parliament's role will be upgraded, especially in its international relations activities. [05] MEDITERRANEAN, BALKANS, BLACK SEA, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENTWeb Posted: 22:35 GMT+2Thessaloniki, March 27 (MPA)A seminar titled "Inter-regional - Cross-Border Cooperation: Mediterranean, Balkans, Black Sea" is organized by the Prefectures of Central Macedonia and Crete, to be held on April 5 in Crete's city of Rethymno.The seminar will examine opportunities for achieving closer cooperation between the two regions, which represent the two basic axis of cooperation with the countries of the Balkan region, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. [B] BALKANS[06] GREEK OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER IN FYROM TODAY FOR 2-DAY VISITWeb Posted: 15:08 GMT+2Skopje, March 27 (MPA)The leader of Greece's Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) opposition party Nikos Konstantopoulos embarked on a formal two-day visit to FYROM today.In Skopje currently, Mr. Konstantopoulos will be received tomorrow by FYROM's President Kiro Gligorov, Premier Branko Cervenkovski, Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frtckovski and the President of the Parliament Tito Petkovski. This afternoon, Mr. Konstantopoulos will have meetings with FYROM's opposition party leaders as well as various social and political organizations. Prior to his departure from Thessaloniki, Mr. Konstantopoulos pointed out that Greece and FYROM are strategic allies. A.F. [07] ALBANIAN PREMIER TO REQUEST AID FROM EU, SOUTHERN REGION STILL IN CRISISWeb Posted: 15:08 GMT+2Tirana, March 27 (MPA)Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino is to request the assignment of a multi-national peacekeeping force to his country in order to police the cities, as well as additional humanitarian aid, during his meeting with a delegation of European Union officials this afternoon.The meeting will focus on the allocation of the humanitarian aid forwarded by the Red Cross. Meanwhile, the situation in the country's southern region continues to be in upheaval due to the repeated looting and pillaging of the villages by masked gunmen. At least 11 persons were killed during the past 24-hour period. The region's rioting civilians have organized 15-member committees who are to hold a general meeting tomorrow in Vlore. Officials from Albania's opposition parties are expected to participate in this meeting. Meanwhile, a recently-published report of the international organization Helsinki Human Rights Watch, criticizes the international community for supporting Albanian President Sali Berisha. A.F. [08] BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE TO BE DISCUSSED IN THRACE IN APRILWeb Posted: 15:08 GMT+2Alexandroupolis, March 27 (MPA)A two-day conference on the management policy of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline will be held in Alexandroupolis on April 8-9, organized by the European Commission's XVII General Directorate of Energy.The pipeline will provide oil to the Mediterranean from the Black Sea. The conference is to also tackle topics related to environmental protection and security and will be attended by Greek officials and field specialists as well as officials from Bulgaria's Ministry of Energy. A.F. [09] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT EXPRESSES RESERVATIONS ON THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE TURKISH GENERALWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2Athens 27 March (MPA)Press General Secretary Yiannis Nikolaou expressed the Greek government's reservations regarding the statements made by the Turkish General Army Staff Chief Ismael Karadayi, who had underlined the need for the solution of the Greek-Turkish differences.Mr.Nikolaou did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between mr.Karadayi and Chief of the Greek National Defence General Staff mr.Tzoganis in April within the framework of NATO's Army Staff Chiefs meeting. He clarified that this is not a scheduled meeting and has no specific agenda. Mr.Nikolaou reiterated that the Greek government sees positivelly the move made by mr.Karadayi but stressed that Greece expects tangible indications of Ankara's intentions and also, proofs for the non use of force or the threat of the use of force. [10] THE "FINANCIAL TIMES": THERE IS HOPE FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEMWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2London 27 March (MPA)In a three-page presentation the newspaper "Financial Times" writes that there is hope for the solution of the Cyprus problem, while it examines all aspects of the Cyprus problem in the light of Cyprus' upcomming accession into the European Union.The newspaper stresses that even though concrete peace talks are not expected before the presidential elections in Cyprus in February 1998 there is hope that peace talks will be held in parallel with the accession negotiations adding that the association of those two issues is a given for Cyprus even though this is not officially recognized. In the newspaper presentation, Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides is characterized as probably the only politician, who can achieve a possible solution of the problem. At another point of the report, the newspaper refers to the Cypriot economy and stresses that it is regarded as being one of the few that meets all preconditions for participation in the monetary and economic unification of the EU, while in another article remarks are made on the possible implications comming from the full EU membership, based on the country's geographic position and the fact that it is the center of oversees companies. [11] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENCE IS ON A VISIT TO BUCHARESTWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2Bucharest 27 March (MPA)Greek Minister of Defence Akis Tsochatzopoulos is on a two-day visit to Bucharest on the invitation of his Romanian counterpart Victor Babyuk.The two ministers are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the sector of armaments and technology as well as, a security agreement on the exchange of top secret state military information, according to the Romanian newspaper "Curierul National". Mr.Tsochatzopulos will be received by Romanian President Emil Constantinescu and Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea. [C] EUROPE[12] BRITISH DEPUTY PAULINE GREEN IN ISTANBUL, REFERS TO CYPRUS' EU ACCESSIONWeb Posted: 15:08 GMT+2Nicosia, March 27 (MPA)The leader of the European Parliament's Socialist Group Pauline Green referred to Cyprus' accession to the European Union, during her visit to Istanbul.According to reports in the Turkish-Cypriot press, Ms. Green stated that the EU would like to see all of the Cypriots enter the Community but, she added, the Turkish-Cypriot leaders do not exert the necessary efforts for this purpose. A.F. [13] ROMANIA IS THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN AND EURO-ATLANTIC STRUCTURESWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2Bucharest 27 March (MPA)Romania is the strongest candidate for membership in the european and euro- atlantic structures, stated the Greek Ambassador to Bucharest Christos Alexandris to the newspaper "Curierul National".Mr.Alexandris in an exclusive interview to the Romanian News Agency ROMPRES pointed out that Romania is a characteristic example of stability, as it has an excellent advantage, namely a democratic system that functions very well. [14] 20 MILLION RUSSIAN WORKERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GENERAL STRIKE TODAYWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2Moscow 27 March (MPA)About 20 million workers are expected to participate in the general strike called for today by the Russian labour unions protesting against the delays in the payments of wages and pensions.According to BBC, the Russian Interior Minister announced that the strong police forces that will be deployed will be reinforced by army soldiers in order to avert any clashes and preserve the law and order. Prime Minister Tsernomirdin in statements he made yesterday assured that before the end of the month the government will pay wages reaching 2 billion dollars, while it is estimated that the government owes a total of 9 billion dollars to workers in unpaid wages. The Russian Prime Minister made an appeal to the people for restraint and stressed that such problems can not be resolved with demonstrations. [D] WORLD[15] THE US PRESIDENT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEMWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2Washington 27 March (MPA)US President Bill Clinton said that he will continue to work hard for the solution of the Cyprus problem. The assurance was given by the US President to former Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, responsible for issues concerning the Greeks living abroad, Grigoris Niotis during the meeting he had with distinguished Greek-Americans in the White House.Mr.Niotis referred to the problems with Turkey concerning the Aegean and stated that the contribution of the United States is necessary for their solution. The US President stressed that he intends to do everything he can on that matter. In the meeting were present Archbishop Spyridon, the Greek Ambassador to Washington mr.Loukas Tsilas and the Presidents of SAE and AHEPA, mr.Andrew Athens and mr.Spyros Makris respectively. [16] A GREEK BUSINESS DELEGATION WILL VISIT CUBAWeb Posted: 18:30 GMT+2Athens 27 March (MPA)Greek Undersecretary of National Economy mr.Baltas accompanied by a group of businessmen will make a short visit to Cuba on May 6-11 aimed at examining the bilateral cooperation potential between Greece and Cuba and at improving contacts with the businesses of this Latin American state.The businessmen accompanying mr.Baltas represent the sectors of constructions, stainless steel, mechanical engineering equipment, foodstuffs, cosmetics, footwear, household items and kitchen items. The delegation has been organized by the Organization for the Promotion of Exports. [17] ALBANIAN PREMIER REQUESTS AID FROM EU, SOUTHERN REGION STILL IN CRISISWeb Posted: 22:35 GMT+2Tirana, March 27 (MPA)Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino received a ten-member delegation from the European Union this afternoon to whom he stressed the need to assign a multi-national peacekeeping force to his country in order to police the cities and safeguard the citizens from the attacks of armed gang members.The EU delegation is to remain in Albania for a few more days and will discuss, among other matters, issues of modernization and June's elections. Meanwhile, the situation in the country's southern region continues to be in upheaval due to the repeated looting and pillaging of the villages by masked gunmen. At least 11 persons were killed during the past 24-hour period, among them a six-year-old child. The region's rioting civilians have organized 15-member committees who are to hold a general meeting tomorrow in Vlore. Officials from Albania's opposition parties are expected to participate in this meeting. At the same time, a recently-published report of the international organization Helsinki Human Rights Watch, criticizes the international community for supporting Albanian President Sali Berisha. [18] OVER 350 GREEK COMPANIES ARE ACTIVE IN BULGARIAWeb Posted: 22:35 GMT+2Sofia, March 27 (MPA)Over 350 Greek-owned business ventures are currently in operation in Bulgaria, employing about 25,000 persons.The President of the Greek Businessmen's Association in Bulgaria said that the actual foreign investment with Greek participation in Bulgaria is estimated at being above USD 120 million. According to Greece's trade attache to Bulgaria, Greeks seem to prefer this country for its low labor costs and higher quality of production. 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 |