Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-06-03

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, June 3, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK PREMIER EMBARKS ON WORKING VISIT TO SWEDEN TODAY

Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis embarked today on a five-day working visit to Stockholm, where he will be the honored guest at a formal dinner to be hosted this evening by Sweden's Premier Goran Persson.

Tomorrow, the Greek Premier will meet personally with his Swedish counterpart and will also be received by the leader of Sweden's Parliament Brigitta Dahl.

On Thursday, Mr. Simitis will be received by the King of Sweden Gustav, and will later depart for the city of Malmoe where he will attend a conference of the European Socialist Parties, which is to be held until June 7.

Among the topics to be discussed at the Conference will be the approach between the Sosialists and the center-left following the election outcomes in Britain and France, a factor that creates new terms in light of the Maastricht Treaty's revision.

Equally significant is the Summit Meeting of Amsterdam which is to be held on June 16, while at the end of the month, Athens will host a conference concerning the opportinuties of the center- left and the "social Europe", an event to be attended by various European leaders. A.F.

[02] GREEK FM THEODOROS PANGALOS ARRIVES AT TIRANA

Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos arrived at the Albanian capital Tirana today where he is to meet with the leaders of the country's political parties.

Specifically, Mr. Pangalos will be received by Albanian President Sali Berisha, Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, the leaders of the opposition parties, the leadership of Omonia and the Italian chief of the multinational force assigned to Albania.

Meanwhile, the political climate in the neighboring country is beginning to electrify, as it closes in on the June 29 early elections. Yesterday, a strong explosion rocked the center of Tirana where over 20 persons were injured, four of whom critically. A.F.

[03] THE ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA IS VISITING ATHENS

Archbishop of Tirana and All of Albania, Anastasios had separate meetings in Athens today with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and President of the opposition party of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis.

Archbishop Anastasios stated after his meeting with Prime Minister Simitis that in this crucial time the Albanian people need the help of friends.

As it was made known, the Greek-Albanian relations were the main topic of discussion in the meeting the Archbishop had with the leader of the main opposition party in Greece.

[04] PANGALOS MET WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF ALBANIA

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who is on a visit to Albania, met today with President Sali Berisha and Prime Minister Baskim Fino to discuss the situation in the country and ways to safeguard the necessary pre-conditions for the holding of fair and democratic elections scheduled to take place on June 29.

Mr.Pangalos also met with political party leaders, the leadership of the Greek minority organization OMONIA and the Italian commander of the multi-national protection force that is deployed in the country.

[05] GREEK FM THEODOROS PANGALOS IN TIRANA, MEETS WITH BERISHA, FINO

Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, currently at the Albanian capital Tirana, vowed that "Greece will aid Albania during the early election process and in its efforts to revive the economy."

Meeting with Albanian Premier Bashkim Fino, Mr. Pangalos stated that "the West's interest for your country, is not merely a diplomatic phrase, it is an affair of viable significance for Albania's integrity and for the existence of a stable democracy.

"Greece will aid at a bilateral level, as well as within the framework of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, so that your country will be granted the necessary aid for the elections and the recovery of its economy."

In turn, Prime Minister Fino referred to the current situation in his country and to yesterday's bombing attacks in Tirana and requested aid for his country's police forces. Moreover, he reiterated his government's request that the size of the multi-national force currently deployed in Albania be augmented.

Athens has already stated that it will be willing to increase the number of Greek soldiers participating in the eight-nation peacekeeping force assigned to Albania.

Mr. Pangalos also met with his Albanian counterpart Arian Starova to whom he stressed upon that Albania's stability is significant for Greece and for the overall region. He also invited Mr. Starova to participate at the upcoming Foreign Ministers meeting to be held n Thessaloniki.

Albanian President Sali Berisha also met with Mr. Pangalos and requested that his gratitude be conveyed to the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis for Greece's help. Mr. Berisha also requested that the international force's presence in his country be increased.

[06] GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON: SOCIAL SECURITY WILL REMAIN INTACT

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated today that the state will secure the Greek worker's social rights and insurance at all costs.

Also, Mr. Reppas stated that the country's policy is aimed at ensuring Greece's participation in the European developments on equal terms, without damaging the rights of the workers, by maintaining its social character.

[07] THE PAPER INDUSTRY "SOFTEX" WILL BE PRIVATIZED BY DECEMBER

Minister of Development ms.Vaso Papandreou expressed the certainty in Parliament yesterday that the "Softex" paper industry will be privatized by December.

Undersecretary of Development ms.Anna Diamantopoulou stated that the plant must continue its operation because otherwise its sale will not be easy while she also added that there is no privatization without a loss of jobs.

[08] MITSOTAKIS: THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS HAVE ENTERED A BETTER PHASE

Former Prime Minister and honorary President of the main opposition party of New Democracy Konstantinos Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to attend the Ipekci Awards ceremony that will be held tomorrow.

Mr.Mitsotakis, who will meet with the Greek Ambassador to Turkey, pointed out that the Greek-Turkish relations have entered a slightly better phase but there is still a long way ahead before real improvement is achieved. He also pointed out that himself will continue to work for the Greek-Turkish friendship and cooperation.

This evening mr.Mitsotakis will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate and will meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, while on Thursday he will visit Ankara and is likely to meet with President Demirel.

Among the recipients of the award are mr.Mitsotakis, Greek alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oymen, Greek Euro-deputy Michalis Papayiannakis, the leadership of the Greek General Confederation of Labour and the Turkish Workers' Confederation (Turkis), weight-lifters Valerios Leonidis and Naim Suleimanoglu and singers Sakis Rouvas and Burak Kut. The award ceremony will be held tomorrow afternoon in the building housing the newspaper "Milliyet" in Istanbul.

[09] MOUNTAIN ATHOS OFFICIALS ARE OPPOSED TO SCHENGEN ACCORD

Officials from the all-male monastic community in Mountain Athos once again reiterated their opposition to the Schengen Accord, which is to be tabled in the Greek Parliament for ratification this month.

The monks, representing 20 monasteries from the Mountain Athos community, have issued an announcement wherein they call on the Greek deputies not to ratify the Accord and to revoke a law which already has been passed "on the protection of the citizen against the computer processing and filing of personal data." The monks ask that this law be substituted by another which "would afford real, instead of bogus protection."

The Schengen Accord, which already has been ratified by a number of European Union member-states, foresees removal of border controls and checks for EU citizens and closer cooperation on police matters concerning drug and arms trafficking, through the creation of vast computer databases.

[10] PRESIDENT OF GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPARTS FOR FINLAND TOMORROW

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis is to depart for Finland tomorrow where he will participate at the regular meeting of house speakers of the European Union member- states.

The meeting is to be held in Helsinki between June 5-7, and Mr. Kaklamanis is expected to brief his counterparts on the outcomes of the comparable meeting of house speakers held in Athens last April under the initiative of the Greek Parliament.

Moreover, Mr. Kaklamanis will speak on the role of national assemblies in European institutions and the process of the EU's enlargement, giving particular emphasis to Cyprus' bid to join the Community.

[11] GREECE'S MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION INAUGURATES FIBRE OPTIC CABLE

Greece's Minister of Transportation and Communications Haris Kastanides inaugurated Adria 1 today, a new undersea fibre optic cable in Corfu, with his Albanian counterpart Photoc Duca and the chairman of Greece's Telecommunications Organization Dimitris Papoulias.

The Adria 1 network is to provide new telecommunications services at competitive prices to many users from the Middle East to central Europe.

Mr. Kastanides stated that Greece is seeking new ventures with other Balkan countries and stressed the need for the development of a similar network in the Black Sea.

Adria 1, a 15 million-dollar project, is jointly owned by the Albanian Telecommunications Organization, Croatia Telecom, Deutsche Telecom and OTE.

[12] 500.000 SWEDISH TOURISTS VISIT GREECE EACH YEAR

One of the largest morning newspapers in Sweden, "Dagens Nyheter", dedicated a 10-page presentation to Greece's tourist attractions calling its readers to visit the country independently and not as members of tourist groups set up by tourist agencies. Greece is a traditionally favourite vacation spot for the Scandinavians and this is proven by the fact that about 500.000 tourists from Sweden spend their vacation there each year.

Meawhile, the swedish tourist magazine "RES" dedicates the June issue to Greece and urges its readers to visit the country.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS GLAFKOS CLERIDES TO VISIT ATHENS BEFORE DIRECT TALKS

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides is to meet with Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis before direct talks are held in New York between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities.

Cypriot government spokesperson Manolis Christofides said that the meeting between Messrs. Clerides and Simitis is a "useful" one and added that "it is an established practice that the two governments communicate. We are before certain developments and as such the meeting is a must."

[14] MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN CONSULTATION BEGINS TODAY IN ISTANBUL

The eighth session of the Muslim-Christian Consultation will begin today in Istanbul, with the discussion centering on "Perspectives of Cooperation and Participation between Muslims and Christians on the Eve of the New Century."

The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will declare open the academic consultation while Crown Prince El-Hassan bin Talal, brother of the King of Jordan, will preside on the Mulsim side.

The opening speech will be given by his Eminence Metropolitan Damaskinos of Switzerland, while among the featured speakers is the Greek profesor Kostis Moskof. A.F.

[15] FRANCE'S NEW PM JOSPIN TO ANNOUNCE CABINET MEMBERS THIS WEEKEND

France's Socialist Party leader Lionel Jospin, having won Sunday's runoff round in the two-part parliamentary elections, will form a new government whose members he will annnounce this weekend.

Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis has forwarded a congratulatory telegram to Mr. Jospin wherein he states thast the victory of the French center-left opens new opportunities for all of Europe's Socialists.

The Socialists won 252 seats in the 577-member Naitonal assembly, the Ciommunists 38, independent conservative parties 21 and the ecologists seven.

The former governing center-right colaiton of Alain Juppe and Jacques Churac won 243 seats. A.F.

[16] TURKEY: ERBAKAN, CILLER ARGUE ON WHEN TO HOLD ELECTIONS

The leaders of the Turkish government coalition are at odds on when the early elections will be held in their country.

Necmettin Erbakan wants the elections to be held in October of this year, while Tansu Ciller insists that they should be held in March 1988, stating that a census needs to be taken and a new election law must be passed. A.F.

[17] TURKISH AIRCRAFT VIOLATED CYPRUS' FIR ONE WEEK AGO

Two Turkish F-16 aircraft violated Cyprus's Flight information Region on May 26, approaching the airspace above the occupied city of Deryneia.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides verified the report and added that the Cypriot government has filed complaints for these violations with the relevant international organizations. A.F.

[18] THREE TURKISH F-4 WARPLANES VIOLATED THE CYPRIOT AIR SPACE TODAY

Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofidis stated that three Turkish F-4 warplanes violated the Cypriot air space today. He condemned the new Turkish provocations and stated that the Foreign Ministry will take all necessary steps in the international organizations.

Referring to yesterday's violations of the Cypriot territorial waters by two Turkish patrol boats, mr.Christofidis stressed that Turkey's provocations are continuous.

[19] GREEK-CYPRIOT AND TURKISH-CYPRIOT JOURNALISTS MET IN THE UN PEACE-KEEPING FORCE HEADQUARTERS IN CYPRUS

Delegations of the Cypriot Association of Journalists and the Association of Turkish-Cypriot Journalists met yesterday in the UN peace-keeping force headquarters in Cyprus and they exchanged views on the Cyprus issue and also on issues concerning their profession.

In the meeting were present alternate special UN Secretary- General representative in Cyprus Gustav Feisel and UNFICYP's spokesman mr.Rokosewski who welcomed the contacts and gave assurances that they will offer every possible assistance.

[20] ALBANIA'S LABOR MINISTER TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTH

Albania's Labor Minister Serif Elmazi will conduct a working visit to Greece this month, on the invitation of the Greek Organization of Employment of Labor Staff.

Speaking to an Albanian daily, Mr. Elmazi stated that the center of his talks with the organization's leaders will be the expedition of the process concerning the laws on the status of immigrants.

According to an Albanian daily, which quotes offical data issued by the Albanian state, about 300,000 Albanians are currently working illegally in Greece. A.F.

[21] ALBANIA: HIGH-RANKING ARMY OFFICIALS RESIGN, THEY BLAME BERISHA FOR CRISIS

Two high-ranking officials in Albania's army have submitted their resignations, publicly critisizing their country's President Sali Berisha for being the person responsible for the country's crisis.

The two dissenting officials are Albania's NATO representative and Albania's military attache to the United States. A.F.

[22] WORLD BANK ON MISSION TO FYROM

A World Bank delegation is currently on a mission to FYROM, shceduled to meet with top government officials as well as with authorities from the country's central bank and the pension fund.

The delegates are to assess the actions taken by the FYROM government in order to fortify the banking system and to reduce the pension fund's deficit.

A positive assessment issued by the World Bank would mean that a basic prerequisite will have been satisfied for the last portion of the so-called Sall loan, totalling $60 million, which was approved last year by the bank for FYROM. A.F.

[23] THE NATIONAL BALLET OF LITHUANIA WILL DANCE ROMEO AND JULIETTE

Famous Russian conductor Mtsislav Rostropovich will direct the Orchestra of the Nations in the presentation of Romeo and Juliette by the National Ballet of Lithuania in a performance that will be held today and tomorrow within the framework of the Cultural Capital of Europe events.

The inspired choreography is the work of Vladimir Vasiliev, while the dancers of the National Ballet of Lithuania are known for their exceptional talent.

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