Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-15

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 15, 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 PRIME MINISTER IS READY TO BRIEF THE POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ON EVERYTHING AGREED UPON IN MADRID

The Prime Minister is at the disposal of the political party leaders for their complete briefing on everything agreed upon in Madrid, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who pointed out that this is the Prime Minister's position on all political issues.

Responding to questions, according to which, the President of the Republic has expressed reservations on the joint communique issued in Madrid, mr.Reppas characterized as cordial and friendly the meeting Prime Minister Simitis had yesterday with President Stephanopoulos.

On yesterday's announcement issued by the President's Office, which spoke of a Madrid agreement while the government speaks of a joint communique, the Greek government spokesman pointed out that this communique could be regarded as a theoretical acceptance of the terms of an agreement.

[02] FINANCE & NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER: THERE WILL BE NO NEW MEASURES

The most recent developments in the country's economy were the focus of talks held today in a session chaired by the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis with members of the government's finance and economy staff.

The Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou stated that the developments are not to overturn the government's economic planning, and disputed rumors of a new policy by saying that talks concerning economic policy will begin in the fall, during the process of drawing 1998's budget.

[03] PREMIER TO EXAMINE COURSE OF STATE'S ECONOMY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to examine the course of the economy and the regulation of the state's budget for 1998, during a meeting he will have today with the Minister of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou and the Bank of Greece's governor Lukas Papademas.

Tomorrow, Mr. Papantoniou is to chair a meeting of the government's finance staff.

[04] GREECE'S DEPUTY FM YIANNOS KRANIDIOTIS EMBARKS ON MIDDLE EAST TOUR

Greece's under-secretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis is to embark on a five-day tour of Middle East capitals today, according to a Ministry announcement.

Mr. Kranidiotis will visit Cairo, Alexandria, Beirut, Damascus and Amman, where he will hold talks with government officials.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Kranidiotis' visit falls within the framework of Greece's desire to be engaged more actively in the Middle East process, both within the framework of European Union initiatives, as well as on a bilateral basis.

The deputy minister will also meet with church leaders and representatives of the Greek communities of those cities.

[05] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER DISPLEASED WITH MADRID COMMUNIQUE

The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, has expressed his displeasure over the government's handling of the Greek-Turkish issues, following a meeting he had today with the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Mr. Karamanlis stated that "I have expressed New Democracy's displeasure with the Premier's stance, who merely briefed the officials and avoided any direct dialogue with the Greek people over all these significant issues, and, of course, the concerns, and misgivings that exist."

[06] FOUR MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE MET WITH PRIME MINISTER SIMITS

Four members of the International Olympic Committee, who are visiting Greece, met today with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

The foreign officials were accompanied by Undersecretary of Sports Giorgos Fouras and President of the 2004 Olympic Games Biding Committee ms.Yianna Daskalaki.

[07] POLICE OFFICERS HELD A PROTEST RALLY IN THE CITY OF KASTORIA

Police officers serving in the city of Kastoria, in north- western Greece, held a protest rally today with main demand the reinforcement of police and army forces at the Greek-Albanian borders to be able to deal with the attacks of armed Albanian gungs.

For the first time ever in this border city, more than 50 policemen held a protest march that ended up outside the Prefect's Office and a delegation delivered a petition of protest to the Prefect and the city mayor.

The protestors demand the army to play the leading role in the protection of the borders reinforced by a helicopter that will be permanently based in the region, while they have warned that if their demands are not met their mobilization will continue.

[08] INTERBALKAN CULTURAL NETWORK IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE FOUNDED IN THESSALONIKI

The founding of an Inter-Balkan Cultural Network, the establishment of a kind of pan-Balkan conference in the Thessaloniki, is the basic goal of the programme "Balkan Odes" of the Cultural Capital of Europe Organization - Thessaloniki 97.

In this network the views of Greek and other Balkan institutions will be expressed, strategies will be drawn up and ways for cultural activities will be examined.

Already, is being planned the holding of a Balkan Conference of Prose that will be held in Thessaloniki on September 1-3 with the participation of Balkan novelists.

Thessaloniki has already been visited by famous Balkan authors such as, Albanian novelist Ismail Kantare and Serb poet Ivan Gatzanski, while in November is expected to arrive in the city Serb author Milorad Pavic.

[09] TWO LEGENDS OF JAZZ WILL MEET THIS EVENING IN SIVIRI, HALKIDIKI

Two legends of jazz music will meet this evening in the town of Siviri in Halkidiki in one of the greatest concerts of this summer that will be held within the framework of the Kassandra, Halkidiki Festival.

They are Chik Corea and Garry Barton, two great talents in the world music scene, who are repeating their successful experiment of the past decade.

The two artists are meeting again ten years after their previous collaboration to present to their fans their long music experience and offer them an unforgetable night.

[10] THE STRATEGIC PLANNING IS THE GOAL OF THE 7TH WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS

The preparations continue for the holding of the 7th World Conference of Pan-Macedonian Associations that will be held in Thessaloniki on July 20-27.

The official opening of the conference will be held on July 20, while the regional conferences of the Pan-Macedonian Associations of America, Canada, Australia and Europe will be held in the following three days.

Also, within the framework of the World Conference of the Pan- Macedonian Associations will be celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Pan-Macedonian Association that numbers 200.000 members.

Speaking to MPA on the activities of the Pan-Macedonian Association of US-Canada its President Evangelos Michalopoulos stated that a special emphasis is given to issues of education and to the establishment of new Greek Language Departments in american universities. Referring to the establishment of the Alexander the Great Foundation, he said that it will become a reality through the contributions of the Pan-Macedonian Associations from all over the world. Mr.Michalopoulos also said that it will be based in the town of Litochoro in Katerini and it will be a monument for Alexander the Great.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[11] BLACK ANNIVERSARY FOR CYPRUS TODAY, 23 YEARS AFTER THE COUP AGAINST MAKARIOS

Black anniversary for Cyprus today as 23 years have passed since the coup against the ethnarch Archbishop Makarios that led to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

In a special session the Parliament of the Cypriot Republic condemned the coup and the Turkish invasion. Air-raid sirens were heard in Cyprus this morning and a memorial was held for those who lost their lives.

[12] ALBANIA: PRIME MINISTER FINO MEETS WITH PRESIDENT BERISHA

Albania's new parliament is expected to be formed by the end of this week, according to Tirana press reports.

Meanwhile, the electorate central committee has received a series of objections filed by political parties which claim that various irregularities took place during the voting process.

Yesterday evening, the country's interim Premier Bashkim Fino met with the President of Albania Sali Berisha with whom he discussed the imminent formation of the new Parliament.

Meanwhile, official results of the second round of elections held in two districts have yet to be published.

[13] BRITISH PREMIER TO MEET WITH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT TODAY

The President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the British Prime Minster Toni Blair are to meet in London today in order to discuss the results of the direct talks held in New York between President Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash.

According to the British High Commissioner to Nicosia David Madden, "today's meeting will take place in order for the British government to be informed on the direct talks and assess the developments of the Cyprus issue."

This will be the first meeting between Mgrs. Clerides and Blair.

[14] US PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY: THERE IS A WIDE GAP IN VIEWS OF CLERIDES, DENKTASH

The United States presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke has stated that there is a great gap dividing the positions of the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash.

Mr. Holbrooke met with the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in New York yesterday.

The special adviser to the UN Secretary-General Diego Cordovez will brief the Security Council's five permanent members on the results of the first round of direct talks.

[15] US STATE DEPARTMENT: DIRECT TALKS WERE USEFUL AND POSITIVE

The US State Department has characterized the New York-held direct talks between the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash as "useful and positive."

State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns stated that "we are glad this dialogue took place because it was significant and substantive."

The next round of the direct talks will be held in Geneva on August 11-16.

[16] EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO PUBLISH "AGENDA 2000" REPORT TOMORROW

The European Commission is to present its "Agenda 2000" report to the European Parliament's plenary session tomorrow, outlining its proposals for the Community's policy in light of the next millenium.

The voluminous report, numbering over 1,400 pages, includes assessments for the ten countries-candidates for EU membership, as well as proposals for restructuring agricultural policies, regulation of the EU's funds, among them a stringent fiscal policy for the upcoming year.

Also, the report contains positive assessments for embarking on accession negotiations with six countries, namely Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary Slovenia, Esthonia and Cyprus. While the Commission does not view these countries as being fully ready from an economic point of view, it does add that that they would be ready to begin accession negotiations during the first half of 1998.

For Cyprus, the report states that resolving the issue of the divided island is not viewed as a condition to be overcome for Cyprus' accession negotiations.

[17] GREECE, FYROM SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT ON SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

A delegation from Skopje's University of Ss Cyril and Methodius visited the University of Ioannina in Greece last week, where they signed an Agreement for cooperation in the sectors of education and science.

The agreement between the two universities will develop in social sciences, natural sciences, medicine and art.

[18] GREECE, FYROM UNDERTAKE INITIATIVE FOR BALKAN CIVILIZATIONS CONFERENCE

Greek academician Triandafyllos Karayanis, honorary Minister and President of the International Science Forum and the European Studies Institute in Athens has been received by FYROM's Science Minister Aslan Selmani in Skopje.

The two officials discussed the possibility of establishing a traditional conference on Balkan civilizations.

Today, Mr. Karayanis will be received by FYROM's Minister of Culture Slobodan Unkovski, the Minister of Education and Sports Sofia Todorova and the President of FYROM's Academy of Science and Arts Xente Bogoev.

[19] GREEK EURODEPUTY'S EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN REPORT GRANTED UNANIMOUS OK

The report on the "European Ombudsman" submitted to the European Parliament's plenary session by the Greek Euro-deputy Nikos Papakyriazis has been granted the unanimous approval of the House.

Upon presenting his report on the task and activities of the ombudsman, Mr. Papakyriazis stated that a Europe close to its citizens would be unfeasible if its mechanics are unknown or hostile towards the public.

[20] WEU SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT CYPRUS THIS WEEK

The Secretary-General of the Wetern European Union Jose Kutileiro is to conduct a two-day vist to Cyprus this week, on July 17-18.

Mr. Kutileiro is to be received by the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and will also meet with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Yiannakis Kasoulides and Defense Kostas Heliades.

[21] SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS F.R.Y'S NEW PRESIDENT

Slobodan Milosevic is the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's new President, as of this evening.

The two houses of the Federal Parliament voted in favor of Mr. Milosevic's election, albeit he was the sole candidate for the post.

In order to elect the President, a simple majority is needed in both houses of the Assembly.

[22] THE RESIGNATIONS OF PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES CONTINUE IN TURKEY

Another Parliament deputy resigned in Turkey today, this time from the Islamist Party.

The new facts that are being formed in Turkey have further weakened the Erbakan-Ciller coalition, while they create favourable conditions for Prime Minister designate Mesut Yilmaz.

[23] THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT TRIES TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY

The government of Prime Minister Kostov decided that any cash investment in Bulgaria that will be made by a foreign company will be regarded as foreign investment regardless of the amount, while until now a foreign company had to invest a minimum of at least 50.000 US dollars in the country in order to be a legitimate investor.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian cabinet is expected to approve a complete programme aimed at attracting foreign investments in the country.

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