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Saturday, 21 December 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-06Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 21:06 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] EUROPENEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] SIMITIS: 1998 WILL BE THE YEAR OF GREAT EFFORTWeb Posted: 16:32 GMT+2Thessaloniki 6 September (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis inaugurated the 62nd Thessaloniki International Trade Fair yesterday evening. Mr.Simitis presented the government's main axis putting special emphasis on the Balkans, while he referred to Thessaloniki's elevation to a metropolitan center of the Balkans.The Prime Minister also mentioned the procedures followed for the materialization of large projects in northern Greece and called on businessmen to invest in Balkan countries. Mr.Simitis characterized the government work as positive and pointed out that 1998 will be the year of great effort. [02] ATHENS WILL HOST THE 2004 OLYMPIC GAMESWeb Posted: 16:32 GMT+2Athens 6 September (MPA)People celebrated in the streets of the Greek capital after the International Olympic Committee members' decision to give to Athens the honor to host the Olympic Games of the year 2004.Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stressed that this decision was not made simply in recognition or in gratitude for Greece's past but it is a proof that there is confidence in the future of the country. President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos stated that this is the beginning of a seven-year effort that will have as a conclusion the successful organizing of the 2004 Olympic Games. The Prime Minister pointed out that it is a chance to promote the cultural side of Greece and also a chance of economic development. [03] THE OLYMPIC GAMES WILL NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN THE REST OF GREECEWeb Posted: 16:32 GMT+2Thessaloniki 6 September (MPA)Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who is in Thessaloniki for the International Trade Fair, underlined that peace, security and stability in the Balkans and in the wider geo-political region, where Greece belongs, depend on the government's political efforts and on Greece's ability to promote economic cooperation and form new prospects for investments aimed at the regional development in cooperation with the Balkan countries.Referring to the Olympic Games of 2004 that will be hosted by Athens, mr.Tsochatzopoulos stated that it is an important event because the Olympic Games return to their place of birth after 108 years. He also said that this is a recognition of the course of democratization, renewal, prosperity and progress followed by Greece in the past 20 years. Mr.Tsochatzopoulos congratulated all those who worked hard in order to bring the Olympic Games to Athens. He also assured that the preparations for the Olympic Games under no circumstances will lead to delays or to the weakening of the regional development programme in Greece which on the contrary must intensify. [04] THE MINISTER OF PRESS VISITED THESSALONIKI'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRWeb Posted: 16:32 GMT+2Thessaloniki 6 September (MPA)Minister of Press and government spokesman Dimitris Reppas visited the pavilion of MPA in the 62nd Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and praised the news agency's contribution pointing out that its activities promote the issues of Greek national interest all over the planet.Commenting on press publications that expressed fears according to which, Athens will be the only one to profit from the economic benefits that will stem from the Olympic Games, the Greek government spokesman stated that the government has included in its priorities the strengthening of all activities in northern Greece, which proves the special interest of the government in the role of Thessaloniki and northern Greece in the developments that take place in the Balkans. [05] THE PRIME MINISTER CALLED FOR NATIONAL MOBILIZATION TO FACE THE GREAT CHALLENGESWeb Posted: 21:06 GMT+2__ Thessaloniki 6 September (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stressed the need for a greater national mobilization and added that a two-year social contract must be secured through consensus, underlining that those are necessary pre-conditions for Greece to be successful in its efforts for development, stabilization, quality of life and participation in the European developments. Speaking in the formal dinner that was given in his honor by the management of Thessaloniki International Trade Fair this evening, mr.Simitis outlined the government's economic policy for 1998 which he characterized as being of crucial importance. The Prime Minister clarified that the public finance deficit and inflation must be reduced and drop under 3% of the GDP, while debt must also be reduced in relation to the GDP and the growth rate must be accelerated. Mr.Simitis stated that the targets ahead are specific, pressing and difficult and stressed that they should be achieved simultaneously in two years at the latest, adding that it is imperative that those targets should be met completely. He said that the rest EU members move ahead and the implications of a delay beyond the year 1999 will be very dangerous for Greece. Mr.Simitis said that the government will not play with the fate of the country and added that the main characteristics of the effort in 1998 will be an effective spending policy in the public sector and the materialization of the recent tax reforms. He also said that the monetary and foreign exchange policy will move within a framework that will keep inflation and monetary stability under control. On inflation, mr.Simitis said that today is at 5,5% but the divergence from the target set does not limit the significant improvement that has been achieved, adding that in order to bring it down to 2% in 1999 intensive efforts are necessary, while it should be realized how crucial this issue is. On unemployment, the Prime Minister said that the government's priority is to create positive terms for its handling and secure job positions through investments in infrastructures. Referring to the education reforms, the Prime Minister stated that the future of thousands students can not be jeopardized in the name of an old system that served its purpose in other times. He said that the teachers have a duty to meet the demands of society and the young. Regarding the industry sector, mr.Simitis said that 5 programmes for small- medium sized businesses worth 100 billion drachmas have been prepared for 1997 and the agreements that will be signed can reach 900 billion drachmas based on the consensus that will be reached with the opposition. On the farm production, the Prime Minister pointed out that it is not the responsibility of the state to finance crops for which the market shows no interest, adding that social policy does not mean to offer subsidies to counter-productive practices, or preferential treatment to certain social groups. [06] THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT WILL BE IN GREECE TOMORROWWeb Posted: 16:32 GMT+2Athens 6 September (MPA)Albanian Parliament President Skender Gjinushi will be in Greece tomorrow for a three-day visit. He is scheduled to meet with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.Mr.Gjinushi will also have meetings with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, other government officials and political party leaders. [B] EUROPE[07] THE FUNERAL OF PRINCESS DIANA WAS HELD TODAYWeb Posted: 16:32 GMT+2London 6 September (MPA)About 6 million people gathered along the route that Princess Diana's funeral procession followed to Westminster Abbey in London, where the funeral service was held and was broadcast live by tens of television stations all over the world.Prince William, Diana's first son, was at the head of the funeral procession. In the funeral were present Dodi Al Fayed's father, Mohammed and his wife who received a telegram of condolences from Queen Elizabeth. In her televised address to the nation yesterday evening, Queen Elizabeth said that Diana was an exceptional and gifted human being and stressed that all those who knew her will never forget her. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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