Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-17

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 17, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE OF A GREEK, TURKISH AND US FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING

There is not an issue of a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United States, said Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who pointed out that there is only the issue of a meeting between mr.Pangalos and mr.Cem.

According to mr.Reppas, this meeting will be held after a proposal by mr.Cem and will take place next week within the framework of the UN General Assembly session. In this meeting will be discussed among others and issues of economic cooperation, stated mr.Reppas.

[02] THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA IS ON A VISIT TO THESSALONIKI

Georgian President Edvard Chevardnadze is in Thessaloniki. He arrived at noon today and after a short meeting with Minister of Macedonia-Thrace mr.Petsalnikos he went to Mount Athos to visit the monastic community there.

Mr.Chevardnadze stated that his contacts in Greece were very fruitful and that the foundations were laid at an institutional level for the further development of relations between the two countries. Referring to the Greeks living in Georgia he characterized them as the joining link between the two nations.

The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace stated that new prospects are being opened in northern Greece for cooperation with Georgia in the sectors of economy and culture. He also announced that starting next year, the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace will finance 5 scholarships for scientists from Georgia who are specializing in the Greek language and culture offering them the opportunity to study in the University of Macedonia.

This afternoon, the President of Georgia will visit Thessaloniki’s Archeological Museum.

[03] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH HIS UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART

Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis met with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Lazarenko, who is on a formal visit to Greece. Their talks focused on bilateral relations and issues of economic cooperation.

Mr.Lazarenko stated that both share the conclusion that many Greek businessmen are interested in participating in the privatization process in Ukraine and added that the two countries can have a close cooperation in the shipping sector. He also congratulated the city of Athens for becoming the host of the 2004 Olympic Games.

[04] NEW SYSTEM FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO FAIL IN EXAMS

The Minister of Education clarified what will happen with the students who fail in the advancement examinations and also with the evaluation of teachers. Mr.Arsenis stressed that “the new system for those students will not be in effect this year”.

The Minister of Education clarified that the advancement exams system will be abolished next year and will be replaced by another one that will be more just and charitable for the students.

[05] GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES WILL MONITOR THE SERB ELECTIONS AS OSCE OBSERVERS

A Greek Parliament delegation will leave tomorrow for Belgrade at the invitation of the OSCE to monitor the elections that will be held in Serbia on September 21.

The delegation is made up of four Parliament deputies.

[06] THE GREEK EXPORTS TO CYPRUS SHOWED A NOTABLE INCREASE OF 34,5%

The Greek exports to Cyprus showed a notable increase of 34,5% in 1996, compared to 1995, while the exports of all the EU member-states to Cyprus have dropped by 8,3% in the same period of time.

According to data provided by the Association of Exporters in northern Greece, the Greek exports to Cyprus reached 335 million ECU in 1996 from 249,04 million ECU in 1995.

[07] THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHENGEN ACCORD WILL START IN GREECE ON OCTOBER 26

The participation of Greece in the Schengen accord is now a fact and in a month its implementation will begin at least in the free movement of people.

According to reliable information, the responsible Greek diplomatic missions abroad namely, embassies and consulates, have been notified by the Foreign Ministry that the visa requirement will be abolished on October 26 for all the legal residents of the Schengen accord states.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] THE CLERIDES-DENKTASH DIALOGUE IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofides stated that the aim of the agreement for a dialogue on security issues between Cypriot President Glafkoc Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is to lead to practical solutions and to avoid the phenomenon of holding talks simply for their sake.

Mr.Christofides stated that the Cypriot government wants to protect the Cypriot people and to secure its future.

[09] THE CLERIDES-DENKTASH DIALOGUE WILL START NEXT WEEK

The dialogue on security issues between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is expected to start next week, while the United Nations will wait until the end of the month for the implementation of the agreement on humanitarian issues, reached by the two leaders.

The above was announced by alternate special representative of the UN Secretary-General Gustav Feisel, after his meeting with mr.Clerides today. Mr.Feisel will meet with mr.Denktash tomorrow.

[10] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WILL MEET WITH THE US PRESIDENT

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will meet with US President Bill Clinton in the White House on October 22.

The issues that will be discussed will concern the protection of human rights, the freedom of religious expression and the protection of the environment.

The head of the Christian Orthodox Church will visit many states and it is estimated that over 5 million Americans are Orthodox Christians.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will be honored by the US Senate.

[11] INCIDENTS IN THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT

Incidents occurred in the Albanian Parliament during the discussion of tax measures that were voted through by the government of Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

The skirmishes that erupted among Parliament deputies made its President to temporarily interrupt the session until order was restored.

[12] TURKEY DOES NOT MEET THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TERMS NOT EVEN FOR A MEDIUM-TERM ACCESSION INTO THE EU

Turkey does not meet the political and economic terms not even for a medium-term accession into the European Union, stressed EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek, speaking in the Euro- Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in Strasbourg yesterday evening.

Regarding the likelihood of Ankara’s participation in a European “Conference” plan together with other states, that were not invited to accession negotiations even though they have filed for EU membership, mr.van den Broek said that the EU relations with each candidate country will remain bilateral in general and will be based on the pace in which the situation develops in each one of them.

[13] 18 MILLION PEOPLE WILL SUFFER FROM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE BY THE YEAR 2000

Scientists warn of the continuous increase in the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease, which is a form of senility, just a few days before September 21, declared to be the Alzheimer’s World Day.

In Greece, about 120.000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s and its main symptoms are, loss of memory and the ability to think as well as, loss of judgement ability and learning skills, communication problems and limited ability of the patients to care for themselves.

The Alzheimer Disease International, in its message on the occasion of the Alzheimer’s World Day, stresses that by the year 2000 at least 18 million people across the world will suffer from senility and most of them from Alzheimer’s-type senility.

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