Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-08-20

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 20, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GOVERNMENT MEETINGS ON THE ECONOMY

The deviation from the budget targets that has been observed in the past few months worries the Greek government in view of the drafting of the 1998 budget.

Tomorrow, a meeting will be held presided over by the Minister of National Economy and with the participation of the two Undersecretaries of Finance, while the Prime Minister will call a broad government meeting to be held on Friday. According to information, the government sets new targets aimed at the control of inflation.

Based on National Economy Ministry estimates, inflation will be between 5%-5,4% at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the forced resignation of the General Accounts Office special adviser mr.Dimitris Dritsas, who was responsible for the drafting of the state budget in the past 15 years and had warned the government that the budget will close with a deficit of hundreds of billions of drachmas, caused the reaction of the opposition parties. Undersecretary of Finance mr.Giorgos Dris clarified that the resignation of mr.Dritsas is the result of the abolition of the position of the special adviser on budget issues.

[02] TEACHERS' MOBILIZATIONS IN SEPTEMBER

Teachers react with mobilizations to the changes announced by the Education Ministry and mainly to the abolition of the old system used in their appointments to state schools.

On September 3, they plan to hold mass protest rallies, while the unemployed teachers will hold a rally outside the Education Ministry in Athens today and on September 5 they will protest during the formal opening of the 62nd International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki.

[03] NEW SEISMIC FAULT DISCOVERED IN THE REGION OF PILIO

A seismic fault, 8-12 kilometers deep and tens of kilometers long, has been discovered near the region of Pilio in central Greece, according to a scientific announcement that was made today in the 29th General Assembly of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior that is being held in Thessaloniki.

The scientists maintain that this fault is responsible for the earthquake that hit the region in 1930, while they announced that the Amorgos fault in the Aegean, responsible for the 1956 devastating earthquake, was also discovered.

According to the scientists, the presence of those faults is a considerable factor in the prediction of future strong earthquakes.

[04] MPA OFFERS AN ELECTRONIC GUIDE FOR THESSALONIKI

A unique electronic guide for Thessaloniki, in Greek and English, is offered by MPA in the Internet for the users of the network and especially for those who want to visit the city, in order to have all the necessary information that will allow them to know more about it, have fun, shop and relax.

The guide can be found in the address http://www.mpa.gr and includes colored pictures on the history of Thessaloniki, its monuments and museums, while it also offers detailed information on tourism, transportation, the market, night-life and the foreign consulates in the city.

[05] REPPAS: THE ECEVIT STATEMENTS ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE SIMITIS-DEMIREL JOINT COMMUNIQUE

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas underlined that the statements made by Turkish government vice-President Bulet Ecevit are in conflict with the spirit of the Simitis-Demirel joint communique that was signed in Madrid.

In an interview to the Turkish newspaper “Hurriyet”, mr.Ecevit stated that if Turkey had aspirations concerning the Aegean islands it would had occupied them during World War II, while regarding the Imia islets issue, he characterized as absurd the likelihood of an appeal to The Hague by Turkey.

On the Cyprus issue, mr.Ecevit described the Turkish invasion as a peaceful operation and pointed out that the Turkish forces could have easily occupied the whole of the island.

The Greek government spokesman stated that the political fluidity in Turkey and the sudden return of mr.Ecevit to the political life of his country after a long absence, led him to a quest of an audience in order to continue to play a main role by winning over the supporters of other political parties that are in a period of crisis.

Mr.Reppas concluded that statements like those made by mr.Ecevit prove that Turkey still has a long way to go before it harmonizes with the international law and order and becomes a member of modern world.

[06] THE GREEK FARMERS WILL GET INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE INTERNET

New prospects are being opened for information, communication and cooperation in the sector of agriculture, through the Greek Agrarian Network of Development which is accessible via Internet to all those interested. The network is promoted by the Farming Rural Information - Expertise News Dissemination Service joint venture within the framework of the EU initiative on telematics.

As it was made known, the network offers a series of services and information that cover all aspects in the farming sector contributing decisively to the development of agro-tourism.

The user can benefit from services such as tele-conferences and tele-seminars in order to be informed on the latest developments or to ask for specialized advice.

Also, there is a two-way communication capability for placing orders via Internet, and for registering to participate in events concerning different sectors of agriculture or make hotel reservations.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL WILL BE BRIEFED TODAY ON THE MONTREAUX TALKS

The UN Secretary General special envoy to Cyprus mr.Diego Cordovez will brief the UN Security Council today on the Clerides- Denktash talks in Montreaux, Switzerland, while he will also have a meeting with US Presidential envoy to Cyprus mr.Richard Halbrooke.

Meanwhile, the permanent representatives of Greece and Cyprus to the UN, Ambassadors Christos Zacharakis and Nikos Agathokleous, already had a series of contacts with the UN Secretariat and the UN Security Council members aimed at getting a public statement from the Security Council on who is responsible for the failure of the talks.

Athens and Nicosia have launched an international information campaign to make it clear to the foreign governments and mass media that the responsibility for the failure of the talks, which were aimed at the solution of the Cyprus problem, belongs to Ankara and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who has adopted an intransigent position.

[08] FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE MONTREAUX TALKS

The French Foreign Ministry in a statement it has issued refers to the direct talks held between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Switzerland.

In the statement is mentioned that Cyprus' EU accession negotiations should start as scheduled, 6 months after the Inter- Governmental Conference, and that its accession should benefit the total of the island's population and contribute to social peace and reconciliation.

In conclusion, the statement maintains that only the EU has the right to determine the pace and the procedures for its enlargement assessing each candidate-state separately.

[09] TENSION MOUNTS IN THE BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC

Tension continues in the Bosnian Serb Republic. President ms.Biljana Plavsic suspended those in charge of the state security and the Banja Luka police after the revelations concerning the telephone tapping scandal against her.

Also, according to unconfirmed information, supporters of former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadjic have abducted the chief of police causing the West's concern.

[10] AN IMF DELEGATION IS VISITING TIRANA

Transparency and the abolition of the illegal banking schemes are the main preconditions for progress in the International Monetary Fund's negotiations with the Albanian government which are aimed at granting a low interest loan to Albania for its economic reconstruction. The above was concluded in the first round of talks an IMF delegation had in Tirana yesterday.

According to the state radio, the talks will be completed in September adding that the IMF must be absolutely certain that the government has the complete control of the country before it approves the loan.

[11] THE ALBANIAN OPPOSITION ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF SECRET DIPLOMACY

Italy's intention to deport by August 31 about 15 thousand Albanian illegal immigrants who went to Italy during the popular uprising in March, has caused the fury of the Albanian opposition.

Democratic Party president Sali Berisha accused the government of Prime Minister Fatos Nano of secret diplomacy and agreements which are to the disadvantage of the Albanian immigrants.

In response, Foreign Minister Paskal Milo accused the opposition of amorality and stated that the Albanian government already had contacts with the Italian government for the best possible settlement of the problem.

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