Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-04

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 4, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THE GREEK POSITIONS THAT WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE NATO SUMMIT IN MADRID WERE DISCUSSED BY THE GOVERNMENT

The Greek positions that will be presented during the NATO summit in Madrid next Tuesday and Wednesday were discussed in a Governmental Committee meeting in Athens, presided over by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

In the meeting was concluded that Greece will back the accession of Balkan countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Slovenia into NATO, while it will seek the adoption of a clause that will enable other Balkan countries to become NATO members in the future. Also, it was discussed the proposal for the establishment of four NATO headquarters in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Italy.

Meanwhile, the Governmental Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense met later in the afternoon and discussed the situation in Albania as well as, the situation at the Greek-Albanian borders and the straits of Corfu, Igumenitsa and Albania. It was decided that the Greek forces should remain in a state of preparedness as the situation in the region is still tense.

[02] THE GREEK POSITIONS ON THE MORATORIUM ARE FIRM

For as long as Turkey follows an aggressive policy toward Greece there can be no moratorium, stated the Greek government spokesman.

Mr.Reppas reminded the Greek proposal for a three-month moratorium in the Aegean during the summer months, which is in accordance with International Law and common sense.

[03] NO BRITISH BEEF HAS BEEN IMPORTED ILLEGALLY TO THE GREEK MARKET

Greek Undersecretary of Agriculture Vasilis Geranides stated today that no british beef has been illegally imported to the Greek market, based on data provided by the veterinary agencies in the country.

Mr.Geranides spoke of implications on the relations of Britain with the rest EU member-states as a result of the revelations and also, of the likelihood of sanctions that will be imposed on Britain, if it is established that the 1.600 tons of british beef, allegedly exported from the country, in spite of the ban imposed due the "mad cow" disease, have ended up in European Union countries.

[04] INFLATION SHOWED A SLIGHT INCREASE IN JUNE

Inflation showed a slight increase in June and closed at 5,5% from 5,4% in the previous month.

The increase is attributed mainly to the rise in the prices of fresh fruit and vegetables.

[05] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH GERMAN COUNTERPART IN YIANNENA

Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos received his German counterpart Faulker Rye in Yiannena, a city in northwestern Greece, today, where the two men discussed bilateral relations, NATO's expansion in light of the Madrid Summit and the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Rye supported that four NATO satellite headquarters be created, one of which could be established in Greece.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos expressed his hope that the negotiations will get underway as planned and will produce results.

Regarding the multi-national force assigned to Albania, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also stressed that it has completed its task, which was to aid in the distribution of humanitarian aid and to support in the election process. As such, the Greek Defense Minister concluded, it's only a matter of time before it departs from Albania. A.F.

[06] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTRY'S INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION COMMITTEE COMPLETES VISIT TO ROMANIA, HAILS IT A SUCCESS

The prospect of opening two offices one in Thessaloniki and one in Bucharest, allowing for a better cooperation between Greece and Romania was among the main issues that were discussed in the meetings Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace General Secretary Chrysa Manolias had with her Romanian counterparts in the Ministries of Reform, Industry and Energy, Culture and Tourism, during the visit of a Greek delegation to Romania which was reently completed.

The mission's aim was to promote new, flexible policies and to create a stable framework of economic, business, trade and cultural cooperation. This mission to Romania was the first in a series that are to follow in various Balkan countries. A.F.

[07] A HEATWAVE IS EXPECTED TO HIT GREECE THIS WEEKEND

A new heatwave is expected to hit Greece this weekend and in many regions the temperatures will be over 40 degrees Celsius, while in Thessaloniki the thermometer is expected to reach the 38 degrees mark.

City Halls, hospitals and the air-conditioned public buildings in general, will be open for the people, while according to the weather forecast temperatures will start to go down on Monday.

[08] GREEK HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE BOSNIAN-SERB TOWN OF DOBOI

Humanitarian aid that includes clothing and foodstuffs arrived yesterday in the Bosnian-Serb town of Doboi accompanied by a delegation from the municipality of Peristeri in Athens.

Mayor of Peristeri Giorgos Panopoulos, who is heading a 10- member delegation, was welcomed by his counterpart in Doboi mr.Drago Ljubitsic.

Mr.Ljubitsic stated that the friendly ties between the Greeks and the Serbs will last for ever and no one will be able to interrupt them.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] THE BULGARIAN PRESIDENT IS IN MOUNT ATHOS

The President of Bulgaria is visiting Mount Athos today. Mr.Petar Stoyanov visited the Bulgarian monastery and in the afternoon he will return to Sofia. The Bulgarian President pledged that the Book of Paisios will be returned to the church of Agios Georgios in the Monastery of Zografou from where it was stolen in the '80's. The historic manuscript is exhibited in the National Museum of Sofia since last year.

Yesterday, mr.Stoyanov attended a formal dinner given in his honour by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos. The Bulgarian President and his wife also visited the exhibition of relics from Mount Athos held in Thessaloniki.

[10] THE US SUPPORT THE CLERIDES-DENKTASH DIRECT TALKS ON CYPRUS

The US State Department with a statement confirms Washington's support to the Clerides-Denktash direct talks on Cyprus.

The US State Department calls on the two sides and all the interested parties to work hard to start a process that will bridge the differences separating them, while it is stressed that the basic goal of this process remains a comprehensive solution that will establish a two-zone, two-community federation in Cyprus.

The United States also express the hope that the New York meeting will serve as a basis for further negotiations during this year and the following one, while in the statement is also mentioned that US special envoy Richard Holbrooke will have private and separate meetings with the two leaders before the opening of the talks.

US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns stressed that his country wants to offer every posible support to the UN for the promotion of a good basis for those talks.

[11] THE PRESIDENT OF THE SERB REPUBLIC OF BOSNIA DECIDED THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT

President of the Serb Republic of Bosnia ms.Biljana Plavsic decided the dissolution of Parliament and the holding of early elections on September 1.

Meanwhile, the NATO peace-keeping forces got orders to arrest former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and former Bosnian- Serb army commander general Ratko Mladic, who are accused of war crimes.

[12] AN AMERICAN SPACE CRAFT IS EXPECTED TO LAND ON PLANET MARS TONIGHT

An american unmanned space craft is expected to land on planet Mars at 8pm tonight, Greek time, within the framework of a NASA mission that could open the way for the planet's exploration by man.

A special space vehicle will take pictures and collect samples of rocks and dust from the surface of the "red planet", while the data gathered will be transmitted through the international computer network Internet to millions of users all over the world.

[13] ALBANIA: FINAL RESULTS OF FIRST ROUND OF ELECTIONS ARE OUT

The final results in the first round of the parliamentary elections in Albania are out in 103 out of 115 electorate precincts, according to Tirana's Central Electorate Committee.

The voting process is to be repeated on Sunday in 31 precincts. The Socialists and their allies have won 60 seats in the House, the Democratic Party has won 10, and the Party of Human Rights has earned one seat in Koritsa.

Elections are to be re-held in the Agii Saranta region, where the Human Rights party is expected to win one more seat.

Meanwhile, another rally is to be held tonight by the pro- monarchist faction which comprises supporters of the former monarch's son.

The Socialist Party has accused the former monarch of being a factor of instability, a front for President Sali Berisha.

According to representatives of the multi-national force assigned to Albania, the troops from the eight-nation "Alba" mission are to police the rally. A.F.

[14] THE 2ND WORLD INTER-REGION SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER

The Ecumeical Patriarchate is to organize the second international inter-religion symposium in September, whose topic will be "The Black Sea at Risk."

The President of the European Commission Jacques Santer is to particpate at the event, where 250 religion leaders and scientists will examine together the ecological dangers the region of the Black Sea is subjected to. A.F.

[15] GREEK EUROPARIAMENTARIAN ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO BUCHAREST

Europarliamentarian Antonis Trakatellis, who is also the president of the European Union-Romania joint parliamentarian committee, embarked today on a three-day, official visit to Bucharest.

During his visit to Romania, Mr. Trakatellis will be received by Romanian Prime Minister Victor Corbea, the Minister for European Issues Alexandru Erlea and the President of the Romanian Parliament Ion Diakonescu.

The officials are to discuss ways to strengthen ties between the EU and Romania, and will also talk about the progress that has been achieved in the recent years concering Romania's pre- accession progress in its participation in the first "wave" of Central-Eastern European countries that are to join the EU. A.F.

[16] GREECE MAKES IT TO THE FINAL FOUR OF EUROBASKET

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