Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-19

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 19, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] SIMITIS ASKS THAT PASOK WORK BE INTENSIFIED

Greek Prime Minister Mr.Constantinos Simitis addressing today the Central Committee of PASOK called for the intensification of the work of the governing party.

Referring the work by his government since the elections of September 96 Mr. Simitis characterised this first year as a year of familiarization with the problems and asked that the pace of the governmental work be intensified so that in the ned of the remaining three years the government ask for a new mandate.

The prime minister repeated that the local elections due in October 1998 is a crucial political battle for PASOK.

[02] A NEW EARTHQUAKE IN GREVENA

A strong earthquake measuring 5.3 in the Richter scale took place today in the area of Grevena, 185 Km west, southwest of Thessaloniki.

Its epicenter was 147 km southwest of Thessaloniki, 12 km southwest of Grevena. Scientists estimate that the epicentre was the one which gave the disastrous earthquake of May 1995.

[03] PANGALOS-CEM MEETING IN NEW YORK

Foreign Minister of Greece Theodoros Pangalos and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem will discuss all issues on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting that will be held in New York next week.

The Secretary-General of NATO regards as inconceivable a Greek-Turkish armed conflict. Mr.Solana has announced that he will have separate meetings in New York with mr.Pangalos and mr.Cem.

US State Department spokesman mr.Rubin reiterated Washington’s willingness to actively contribute to the efforts for the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations.

[04] THE TWO-DAY MEETING OF PASOK’S CENTRAL COMMITTEE OPENED TODAY

The association of the strategic targets of the governing party of PASOK with Greece’s equal participation in the European Union as well as, the creation of a modern and competitive economy and the modernization of the state and society, were the issues stressed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in his speech for the opening of the governing Socialist party of PASOK Central Committee meeting. The main subject of the two-day meeting will be the evaluation of the governmental work and the discussion of the issues of national interest.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for a different course to be followed in the restructuring of PASOK that could amount to its virtual re-foundation and re-establishment, while he called on all the party officials to make a stronger effort aimed at its reformation.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[05] CLERIDES: THE DEMILITARIZATION OF CYPRUS IS FEASIBLE

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides regards the demilitarization agreement for Cyprus as feasible and points out that in such a case the installation of the S-300 missiles would not be necessary. In a different case, states mr.Clerides, the missiles will arrive regardless of the Turkish threats.

Ankara expressed satisfaction for the decision of Cypriot President Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Denktash to meet to discuss security issues.

[06] CYPRUS IS SATISFIED WITH THE EU RESOLUTION

Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofides stated that the Cypriot government is absolutely satisfied with the resolution that was issued by the Euro-Parliament which condemns the threats made by Ankara and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Mr.Christofides stated that the resolution covers all aspects of the Cyprus problem and underlines all measures that are necessary to be taken to assist in the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The Cypriot government spokesman stated that his government regards this resolution as one of the best ever issued on Cyprus.

[07] A SHOOTING INCIDENT IN THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT

Democratic party deputy Azem Haidari is in the hospital of Tirana in a critical condition. Mr.Haidari was shot five times in the Albanian Parliament building by a Socialist party deputy.

The two Parliament members had a heated argument in Parliament last Tuesday but later they appeared reconciled. Prime Minister Fatos Nano stated that the assailant has lost his Parliament seat.

[08] BOMB BLAST IN MOSTAR INJURED 50 PEOPLE

A bomb blast shook the Croat sector in the town of Mostar today injuring 50 people, of whom 20 are in a critical condition. Last night, a car-bomb exploded outside the central police station in Mostar damaging a four-storey apartment building, while it also destroyed a number of cars parked near-by.

Strong fears are expressed that, as a result of those incidents, tensions will escalate among the Croats and Muslims in Bosnia. They are the first serious incidents since the signing of the Dayton peace accord in November 1995 that put an end to the civil war which erupted in the former Yugoslav Republic in April 1992.

[09] THE ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS MET WITH FORMER US PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

Archbishop of Cyprus Chrisostomos met in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday with former US President Jimmy Carter.

The Archbishop stressed during the meeting with mr.Carter that the Cyprus issue continues to be at a difficult and dangerous time, adding that since their last meeting in the White House in 1979, when mr.Carter was the President of the United States, things on the island have worsened.

Archbishop Chrisostomos underlined that thousands of Turkish soldiers, who violate human rights and desecrate churches, continue to be in Cyprus.

[10] NEW CLASHES ERUPTED IN HEBRON

Tension mounts in Hebron, after the new clashes that erupted today as a result of the Israeli government’s decision to send Jewish students to live in buildings in the Arab east Jerusalem.

The Palestinians reacted to the decision with demonstrations and Israeli soldiers responded by firing plastic bullets in their effort to disperse the crowd.

[11] PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT IS 16% IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

In the European Union, 16% of the work force is employed in part-time jobs, based on a 1996 report issued by the European Statistics Agency, EUROSTAT. In the report is also mentioned, that 63% of those people state that they are satisfied with their job condition.

In Greece, part-time employment is very limited and last year was under 5%, while 37% of those working part-time state that they would prefer to work on a full-time basis. This view is also shared by the French and the Finns.

The part-time system is mostly preferred by women, while 50% of young people aged 15-24 choose part-time jobs in order to have the time to finish their studies. Older people also prefer the part-time schedule because they are allowed to have more time for their private and family life.

[12] GLIGOROV CONCERNED OVER DEVELOPMENTS IN ALBANIA

President Gligorov of FYROM warned today that the idea for the creation of a big Albania to include Cossovo and the wets part of his country will cause a general turmoil in the Balkans.

In an interview with the Russian daily “Obstaya Gazzetta”, Mr. Gligorov expressed his concern over the developments in Albania and his hope that the new albanian government will reject the idea of uniting all Albanians in one state.

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