Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-08-12

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 12, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] "ATHENS '97" ORGANIZERS STRIKE BACK AT NEBIOLO'S BELLICOSE STATEMENTS

The anti-Greek comments of the President of the International Amateur Athletics Federation Dr. Primo Nebiolo, have provoked a storm of reactions on behalf of the "Athens '97" organisers who truly put together a spectacular World Atletics Championships over the past ten days.

Dr. Nebiolo, clearly chagrined at the booing audience during the last day of the championships, berated the Greek organisers of the event, calling them "mediocre". He also stated that the event would not have been a success "if IAAF hadn't been involved."

Moreover, Dr. Nebiolo went on to tell the baffled reporters that Greece has "many, many problems, economic, political, problems with FYROM, problems with Cyprus, problems with the Maastricht Treaty."

However, the Greek organisers of "Athens '97" promptly reacted to Mr. Nebiolo's bellicose statements.

The President of the Olympic Games Committee and member of the International Olympics Committee Labis Nikolaou, assessed that Dr. Nebiolo lost control of his temper having been confronted by the booing crowd at the packed Panathinaikon Stadium.

Moreover, Mr. Nikolaou added that Dr. Nebiolo's verbal attack against Greece will have a boomerang effect and will in actuality strengthen Athens's candidacy for the Olympics of 2004. He also stated that on the critical day of September 5, when the Olympic Games Committee will announce the city to host the Games, Athens will have the same chances as Rome does.

The general director of "Athens '97" Vangelis Savramis said that Mr. Nebiolo only dealt with matters related to protocol, the seating arrangement and the invitations.

"We had to add two more seats in the dignitaries' section at the Stadium so that his wishes would be met and that he could seat at a throne," he added.

Dr. Nebiolo apparently does not fare well at home, either.

Italy's daily "La Stampa" wrote that thanks to the successfully-organized World Championships, Athens could not have had a better advertisement for its candidature of the 2004 Olympic Games. A.F.

[02] THE NEBIOLO STATEMENTS CAUSED THE GOVERNMENT'S REACTION

The statements made by IAAF President Primo Nebiolo caused the strong reaction of the Greek government.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos spoke of unprecedented impropriety and pointed out that mr.Nebiolo violated the basic rule followed by every sports official and every sports fan namely, not to mix politics with sports.

Mr.Pangalos stated that mr.Nebiolo is not well-informed regarding Greece's foreign relations and stressed that the country has excellent relations with most of its neighbours, including Turkey, adding that Greece is not responsible for the existing problems.

[03] STATE TO COMPENSATE FARMERS WHOSE CROPS WERE DAMAGED BY HAILSTORM

The Greek government is to grant three billion drachmas in compensation money to the farmers whose crops, 17,500 acres in central Greece, were destroyed by a sudden hailstorm last Saturday night.

According to Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas, the first on the line to compensation will be those farmers whose crops were about to be harvested. The compensation money will be drawn from the special fund of Agricultural Development (ELGA), but the Minister added that in case this fund cannot bear the full amount of the compensation, then the money will be drawn from the state budget.

This is the third consecutive year that adverse weather conditions have caused extensive damages to the farming industry, this time damaging tons of cotton, sugar beets watermelons and grain produce. A mere ten days before Saturday's brief hailstorm, the state had completed its compensatory payments over crop damages that occurred in 1996. A.F.

[04] DOLLAR CONTINUES TO PLUNGE IN ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The US dollar's rate continues to plunge at the Athens Stock Exchange, in spite of the fact that it had stabilized in most other foreign markets, its current selling price being GRD295.14.

According to the financial analysts, the downward trend in the US dollar is attributed to rumors that Germany's Bundesbank is about to increase its interest rate and to intervene by selling dollars from exchange reserves for the purchase of German marks. A.F.

[05] GREEK F.M. TO RECEIVE HIS YUGOSLAV COUNTERPART IN ATHENS TODAY

Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is to meet with the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan Milutinovic in Athens today. The two men will discuss the development of bilateral relations, the overall situation in the Balkans and the establishment of peace in the region, following the application of the Dayton Agreement. A.F.

[06] PLANE SKIDS OFF THESSALONIKI'S AIRPORT RUNWAY, LANDS IN NEARBY FIELDS

An Olympic Airways passenger plane, conducting the Athens- Thessaloniki-Frankfurt route, skidded off the runway of Thessaloniki's "Macedonia" airport this afternoon, landing at the nearby fields. None of the 26 passengers and other crew members was injured and rescue crews immediately rushed to the site. €.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] PANGALOS-MILUDINOVIC MEETING

The relations between Greece and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as well as, the overall situation in the Balkans were the main topics discussed in the talks of Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos with his Yugoslav counterpart Milan Miludinovic, who is on a formal visit to Athens.

The two ministers underlined that the strengthening of bilateral relations is necessary especially, in the economic sector, while they backed the immediate implemetation of the Dayton peace accord without any reviewing.

Mr.Pangalos condemned the policy of discrimination against Belgrade and mr.Miludinovic, who invited Prime Minister Simitis to visit FRY, expressed satisfaction for Greece's support to his country in its efforts to become a member of the European institutions.

Also, the two ministers expressed interest in the construction of the Belgrade-Skopje road axis and a 100million dollar credit was approved for the financing of other similar projects.

[08] THE CLERIDES-DENKTASH TALKS FOCUS ON FINDING COMMON GROUNDS FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The direct talks between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, that are underway in Montreaux, Switzerland under the UN auspices, focus on finding common grounds for the solution of the Cyprus problem. The talks will be completed on Saturday with a press conference of UN Secretary General adviser Diego Cordovez.

In statements he made from Sweden, UN Secretary General mr.Annan expressed hope that there will be progress, but he pointed out that no significant steps are expected.

The President of the Cypriot Republic did not refer to the details of the discussions but underlined that the Cypriot side enters the talks in good will. On the contrary, Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash again appeared provocative and stated that he will leave the talks if there will be a reference to Cyprus' accession into the European Union.

[09] CLERIDES-DENKTASH DIRECT TALKS MARKED WITH PESSIMISM

The second round of direct talks between the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash began yesterday evening in Glion, Switzerland, amidst a climate marked by pessimism since Mr. Denktash remains intransigent.

Specifically, Mr. Denktash reiterated his intention to walk out from the negotiations if Cyprus proceeds with the process of accession to the European Union.

Also present at Glion is the United Nations Secretary- General's special adviser for the Cyprus issue Diego Cordovez who stated that "the tactic followed for the past 23 years in resolving the basic premises of the Cypriot issue has led nowhere."

The agenda of the talks will be specified on a daily basis and Mr. Cordovez is expected to submit a document that could be transformed into a joint declaration. A.F.

[10] ALBANIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY UNDERGOES CHANGE OF GUARD

Albania's state-owned news agency, the Albanian Telegraph Agency, has undergone a "change of guard", following journalist Frock Cupi's acceptance to take the position of the agency's general manager, an offer made by the Albanain Presidnet Rejep Meidani.

Mr. Cupi is a well-known political analyst who was quite vocal of his criticisms during the Berisha regime in his country, especially on matters of freedom of press, incarceration of journalists and violations of human rights.

To begin with, Mr. Cupi is to proceed with a make-over of the news agency, along the lines of other news agencies in western countries.

Following the changes that have occurred in Albania's state- owned radio and television stations, the new leadership of ATA is expected to provide accurate and timely reports. A.F.

[11] INTERNATIONAL SEISMOLOGY CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI ON AUGUST 18

The recording of the latest developments in the scientific knowledge on seismology and the passing of this knowledge on to the wider public is the goal of the 29th General Assembly of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of Earth's Interior that opens in Thessaloniki on August 18 and will last until August 28.

Organizing Committee President seismologist Vasilis Papazachos stated that the conference, which is organized by 8 countries, was decided to be held in Greece partly because it has the highest seismic activity in western Eurasia and also for cultural reasons, as the principles of seismology were first conceived in Greece.

Over 1.700 scientific announcements are scheduled to be made in the conference during which the latest developments in the prediction of earthquakes will also be presented.

[12] THE LITHOSPHERIC PLATE OF THE AEGEAN APPROACHES THE AFRICAN CONTINENT WITH A QUICK PACE

The lithospheric plate of the Aegean approaches the coasts of the African continent very fast, covering a space of 6 centimeters annually, which is regarded as very high speed in the development of tectonic events, based on data provided by recent studies conducted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Geophysics Laboratory.

If the movement of the Aegean plate continues with the same speed then Greece will reach the coasts of northern Africa in 5 million years. The phenomenon of the gradual approach of the two plates is intensified and by the fact that Africa also moves closer toward Greece by one centimeter a year.

The interest of the scientists focuses lately on the plate of Anatolia, which consists of Turkey and gradually approaches Greece pushing it from the east.

The scientific announcements on this phenomenon will be presented by the research group of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Geophysics Laboratory in the 29th General Assembly of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior that will be held in Thessaloniki on August 18- 28.

[13] MULTINATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO ALBANIA HAS FULLY WITHDRAWN

The multinational peacekeeping force code named "Alba" has fully withdrawn from Albania following a four-month stay.

Yesterday, the last Italian troops left the country and Albanian Premier Fatos Nano stated that the mission was a successful one. Mr. Nano also stressed the significant contribution made by the international community to the restoration of democratic order in his country. A.F.

[14] HIGH COURT IN BOSNIA'S SERB REPUBLIC TO REVIEW PLAVSIC'S DECISIONS

The High court of the Serb Republic in Bosnia is to review the constitutionality of the decisions drawn by President Biljana Plavcic to dissolve Parliament and declare early elections.

Ms. Plavcic, who declared that elections will be held on October 12, has been invited to attend the two-day court session, along with government officials and international observers.

In Banja Luka yesterday, Ms. Plavcic stated that she intends to found a new party which will participate in the upcoming elections.

While she has yet to announce the name of the party to be founded, Ms. Plavcic did say that "the Serbian national issue and democracy will be the main axes on which the party will be based." A.F.

[15] DRUG USE AMONG ALBANIANS REACHES UNPRECEDENTED HIGH

Drug use among Albanians has reached a record high for this country's standards, according to recent reports from Tirana's military hospital.

According to the hospital's director of the toxicology clinic Zichni Zulia, about 150 persons have been treated for drug use since January of this year, a number double the size of the persons who sought treatment last year.

Moreover, Dr. Zulia added that about half of these drug addicts began their use abroad, with heroin being their most frequent choice. A.F.

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