Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-12

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 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] OPTIMISM FOR THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GREEK ECONOMY IS EXPRESSED BY THE GREEK MINISTER OF FINANCE

Greek Minister of Finance and National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou expressed optimism over the Greek economy’s growth rate in an interview with the “Reuters” news agency, while he predicted that the average annual growth rate of the GDP will be over 4% in the next decade.

Mr.Papantoniou expressed satisfaction regarding the tourism in Greece and the large public works that will be constructed in view of the 2004 Olympic Games.

[02] THE ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONTINUES HIS VISIT TO GREECE

The very positive climate in the Greek-Albanian relations was reaffirmed today in the contacts Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo had in Athens.

Mr.Milo was received by President Kostis Stephanopoulos, while he also met with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

Mr.Stephanopoulos expressed the friendly feelings of the Greek people toward Albania and invited the Albanian President to visit Greece.

In statements he made, mr.Milo stressed that a new era has begun for the relations of Greece and Albania and Foreign Minister Pangalos stated that by next March the Parliament will ratify the accord of friendship and cooperation between the two countries that was signed last spring.

Mr.Pangalos also delivered a 2 billion drachmas check to mr.Milo within the framework of the Greek economic assistance to Albania, while an 18 billion drachmas loan will be granted for the construction of development projects.

[03] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: ANY THREAT AGAINST CYPRUS CONSTITUTES CAUSE OF WAR FOR GREECE

The firm position that any threat against Cyprus constitutes a cause of war for Greece was reiterated by Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos after the new threats for a permanent division of Cyprus that were hurled by Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in response to the purchase of the Russian S-300 missiles by Cyprus and the island’s EU accession course.

According to the Turkish news agency “Anadolu”, the Turkish Prime Minister maintained that today’s situation in Cyprus will become a permanent one if the EU accession process continues and if the Greek side forces Ankara into a solution that serves its own positions.

Moreover, mr.Yilmaz spoke of alleged Greek claims in the Aegean maintaining that the Cyprus issue can be resolved if those claims are abandoned.

The Greek Minister of Defense in an interview to a Cypriot magazine warns Turkey to stop playing with the issue of the S-300 missiles and stresses that Cyprus is fully protected by Greece. He also reiterates that the casus belli will be immediately in effect if Turkey attacks Cyprus, as it threatens to do, and adds that Cyprus’ right to its defense is inalienable based on the United Nations’ decisions and principles.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos also calls on Turkey to follow a policy that will lead to the easing of tensions and open the way for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[04] CHEVARDNADZE WILL VISIT ATHENS AND THESSALONIKI

Starting on Monday, President of former Soviet Republic of Georgia Eduard Chevardnadze will visit Athens, Thessaloniki and Mount Athos. He will meet with President Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Greek businessmen.

It should be noted that the Georgian President had announced in early September that the Greek language will be taught officially in Georgian schools. It is estimated that in Georgia live about 60.000 Greeks from Pontos.

During his stay in Greece, he will be honored with the Onasis Prize for his efforts aimed at achieving international understanding and also for his social contribution.

[05] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos will welcome Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos in Thessaloniki on September 28 with honors reserved for heads of states.

The head of the Christian Orthodox Church will meet with representatives of local authorities while he will be declared honorary professor in five Departments of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will be accompanied by Patriarch of Romania Theoktistos, Patriarch of Bulgaria Maximos and Patriarch of Georgia Elias.

[06] THOUSANDS ARE QUEUING UP FOR A TICKET TO THE U2 CONCERT IN THESSALONIKI

Thousands of people flooded Thessaloniki’s Aristotelous central square yesterday to get a ticket for the U2 concert that will be held in the city’s seafront on September 26.

In a record 7 hours, 18.000 tickets were sold yesterday, while today a “battle” will be given by those who want one of the 2.000 tickets left.

[07] THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHILDREN HAS FALLEN BY 25% IN THE PAST DECADE

The number of school students has dropped by 25% in the past decade and according to data provided by the Greek Ministry of Education their number has decrease by 220.000.

The Ministry of Education decided the closure of 112 primary schools this year due to lack of students, while 115 will operate with less classes, as the problem of the low birth rate has taken up explosive dimensions.

[08] GREECE COMES FIRST AMONG THE EU STATES IN THE NUMBER OF DEADLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Greece occupies the first place among the EU states in the number of deaths that occur in traffic accidents, based on data provided during the 5th Symposium on Traffic Accidents that was held in Athens.

In the period 1985-1994, the number of people who were killed in traffic accidents were 20.962 and 24% of them were pedestrians.

Also, young people aged 20-24 make up 25% of the victims.

[09] BILL ON OBLIGATORY COMMUNITY JOINING APPROVED OF

The bill for the obligatory joining of the small communities into bigger municipalities was approved of today by the Greek cabinet.

The minister of interior, public administration and decentralization said that the bill will be deposited in the parliament till the end of the month targeting at the creation of strong municipalities of a new type alongside the creation of strong administrative mechanisms so that the country enters a route of progress.

Mr. Papadopoulos added that the government aims at the revival of the country by concrete measures of policy and not by wishes.

[10] PROPOSAL FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE EXISTING STATUS IN MOUNT ATHOS

A proposal, for the inclusion in the Amsterdam treaties of a joint statement by the 15 EU members calling for the preservation of the existing status in the monastic community of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki, northern Greece, was made by 35 Euro-deputies through a memorandum to the EU Foreign Ministers’ Council that will meet in Brussels on September 15.

The initiative was undertaken by Greek Euro-deputy, representing the party Coalition of the Left, Alekos Alavanos and the draft joint statement, suggested by the 35 Euro-deputies, calls for the special status of Mount Athos to be respected and taken under consideration based on spiritual and religious reasons and also, because it constitutes a special expression of common cultural heritage.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[11] TURKEY ACTIVATED MEASURES AGAINST CYPRIOT SHIPPING INTERESTS

Turkey has put into force measures against the Cypriot shipping interests in retaliation to the international blockade imposed against the Turkish-Cypriot regime since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

A circular of the Turkish Merchant Marine sub-ministry issued to all harbour-master’s offices in the country bars the merchant ships under Cypriot flag and also the ships of Greek-Cypriot ownership from entering the Turkish ports.

The Turkish assistant Merchant Marine Minister stated that these are not new measures but simply a clarification of previous ones that were enacted through a decree on April 14, 1987.

[12] THE BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER CHARACTERIZED THE TURKISH THREATS AS UNJUSTIFIED

British Foreign Minister Robin Cook characterized as unjustified the threats hurled by Turkey regarding Cyprus’ EU accession course.

Mr.Cook stated that negotiations will take place with the island’s legitimate government and warned that if Turkey proceeds with the annexation of the occupied northern part of Cyprus it will find that the whole of Europe is against it.

[13] THE ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS IS AGAINST THE CREATION OF A CONFEDERATE STATE

Archbishop of Cyprus Chrisostomos in statements he made yesterday after his meeting with the UN Secretary-General expressed his opposition to the creation of a confederate state in Cyprus.

The Archbishop called for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the occupied territories in Cyprus, while UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan in an interview in New York expressed the hope that the Turkish side will change its position regarding the issue of Cyprus’ accession into the European Union.

He also characterized as very sad the conclusion of the Clerides-Denktash talks because, as he said, the issue of Cyprus’ EU accession was used to complicate the discussions.

Mr.Annan also pointed out that Cypriot President Clerides is ready to return to the negotiating table, while he wished that the Turkish side will do the same.

Meanwhile, US State Department special coordinator Thomas Miller will go to Nicosia today, third stop of his tour in the region, after his visits to Ankara and Athens.

[14] POLLS OPNE IN BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

Polls for the local elections open in a few hours in Bosnia- Herzegovina after the Serbs and the Croats of the country withdrew their threat for boycott. Almost 2.5 million people are expected at the polls to elect their representatives in the local administration.

Ninety parties, 10 coalitions of parties and 263 independent candidate stake part in the elections.

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