Macedonian Prees Agency: News in English, 97-10-23

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 23 October1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS .

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PM INAUGURATES STATE ELECTRICITY COMPANY’S HYDROELECTRIC STATION

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is at the city of Drama today, where he will inaugurate the State Electricity Company’s hydroelectric station at Thesaurus.

The station’s electricity-production capacity is estimated at 1,300 annual megawatts, while it is to produce at least 570,000 cubic meters of water for irrigation and provide jobs for 1,000 persons.

Mr. Simitis is accompanied by the Ministers of Development Vaso Papandreou, Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas and Macedonia- Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos. A.F.

[02] MOST OF GREECE’S WORKFORCE GOES ON STRIKE TODAY

Most of Greece’s work force is on strike today with the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) embarking on a 24- hour one, while the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) is to conduct a four-hour work stoppage.

Hospitals will only accept emergency cases as state doctors are also participating in the strike, while those who opted to travel with Olympic Airways today are in for a long wait as the OA’s staff will conduct a work stoppage this afternoon between 12 and three. Also, the country’s teachers and professors are to hold a work stoppage, two hours in the morning shift and two in the evening. Meanwhile, employees of the State Electricity company (DEH) are continuing their strike for a second day, which has led the DEH administration to appeal to consumers that they limit their electricity consumption.

The strikers’ most common and resounding demand is increase of incomes and changes in the taxing system, as well as improved working conditions and collective negotiations. A.F.

[03] A HOT INCIDENT IN THE AEGEAN IS NOT RULED OUT

Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos did not rule out the likelihood of a hot incident in the Aegean between Greece and Turkey.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos made the statement before the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee during the briefing of its members on the latest developments in the Greek-Turkish relations.

The Minister of Defense stressed that the likelihood for Turkey to cause a hot incident is not ruled out and this speculation is being attributed to Ankara’s provocative stance, adding that given this fact no one can rule out such a likelihood.

Responding to a question on the US initiative in the Greek- Turkish relations, mr.Tsochatzopoulos pointed out that its intention is to find a solution and defuse the tension in the Greek-Turkish relations regardless of which of the two sides is right.

[04] THE GREEK ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER HAD HIGH LEVEL CONTACTS IN WASHINGTON

Greek alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou met in Washington with leading members of the US House of Representatives and Senate Foreign Relations Committees.

In an interview to a US television station, he stressed that he hopes some day Greece and Turkey will settle their differences adding that Greece is a power that supports cooperation and not confrontation while as member of the EU wants to strengthen Turkey’s European orientation.

He also mentioned that Turkey should meet certain of the EU criteria such as the respect of human rights, international law, borders and democracy.

Referring to Cyprus’ EU accession process, mr.Papandreou stressed that this will be the subject of negotiations between the two sides and that the Cypriot government supports the position that the Turkish Cypriot side should receive as many guarantees as possible.

On the Balkan developments, the Greek alternate Foreign Minister stressed that the Greek government follows them closely and supports stability, economic cooperation and the basic principles of human rights.

[05] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS INAUGURATED THE THISAVROS HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION

The future of the country’s development can be found in cooperation, underlined Prime Minister Kostas Simitis speaking in the inauguration of the state Electricity Company hydroelectric power station of Thisavros, located near the city of Drama at the Greek-Bulgarian borders.

The cost of the project is estimated at 160 billion drachmas and together with the hydroelectric power stations of Platanovrisi and Temenos, that will be completed by the end of 1999, the electricity production in the country will be considerably increased.

The Thisavros Dam is one of the largest in Europe and was largely constructed by Greek technical companies and Greek workers, a fact that proves Greece’s ability to meet the technological challenges.

Mr.Simitis also pointed out that this project was the result of cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria regarding the exploitation of the waters of Nestos River.

[06] TURKEY PROCEEDS TO SENSELESS PROVOCATION, SAYS STATE SPOKESMAN

In response to the remarks made by the Turkish Embassy’s attache in Athens Bulent Bostanoglou, who stated that Ankara always wanted to have good relations with Greece and that’s why it did not seize all of Cyprus in 1974, the Greek government’s spokesperson Dimitris Reppas said that this is a senseless provocation which reveals a lack of confidence and a great degree of insecurity.

“There is no room for such braggadocio in relations among politicians, military leaders, diplomats and officials of various countries, when they hold a discussion,” Mr. Reppas said.

Mr. Bostanoglou has also openly questioned the validity of the data concerning the close range in which Turkish military aircraft flew by Greece’s C-130 aircraft that transported the Greek Defense Minister from Cyprus to Crete.

Mr. Reppas said that “this is ridiculous and dangerous,” and recommended that a more serious approach be adopted by all sides. A.F.

[07] GREECE TO HELP BULGARIA IN GETTING FUNDS FROM EU’S PHARE PROGRAM

“Greece and Bulgaria should develop the road to cooperation, since their fate is a common one,” stated today the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, addressing Bulgarian businessmen whom he met at the Greek-Bulgarian border, the site where another border station is to soon operate at Exohi, Drama.

Responding to a salutation given by the Prefect of South Bulgaria and the region’s municipalities Mr. Stoiko Katsarov, Mr. Simitis stated that “I’m glad to be here. As we know, there was a stall in the understanding and cooperation between the two countries, this stall has been overcome. We should develop the road that will support cooperation between the two countries, since the development of one, promotes the development of the other.”

Moreover, the Greek Premier stated that the region’s projects are proceeding as planned and announced that the Greek government is willing to aid Bulgaria in funding these projects on its grounds through the European Union’s PHARE program.

Earlier, Mr. Katsarov stated that the two peoples must work for the further development of cooperation and friendship so that their traditionally good relations can improve even further. A.F.

[08] BALKAN POLICY IS THE CENTRAL AXIS OF GREECE’S POLICY

The Balkan policy is the central axis of the Greek Government’s policy, stated today the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, during his fist visit to Neurokopi, a city in the municipality of Drama.

Mr. Simitis added that the region of Macedonia constitutes the base for the development of cooperation with the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

The Greek Premier also said that the second axis of the government’s policy concerns projects which so far amount to two billion drachmas, both at a regional and at a prefecture level.

Moreover, Mr. Simitis said that the third axis of the state’s policy is Greece’s equitable accession to the European Union.

The Premier inaugurated today the State Electricity Company’s hydroelectric station at Thesaurus, near Drama.

The station’s electricity-production capacity is estimated at 1,300 annual megawatts, while it is to produce at least 570,000 cubic meters of water for irrigation and provide jobs for 1,000 persons.

Mr. Simitis is accompanied by the Ministers of Development Vaso Papandreou, Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas and Macedonia- Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos. A.F.

[09] GREECE PARALYSES TODAY AS MOST OF ITS WORKERS GO ON STRIKE

Massive country-wide strikes were conducted today, organized by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) -with three million members participating- and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) protesting the Government's exhaustive economic measures and its tight fiscal policies.

The country was driven to almost paralysis today, as state hospital doctors, teachers, courthouse and bank employees, public transportation staff and Olympic Airways workers abstained from work, either in the form of strike or a brief work stoppage that brought havoc.

Meanwhile, employees of the State Electricity Company (DEH) continued their strike for a second day, which led the DEH administration to appeal to consumers that they limit their electricity consumption.

The public and private sectors’ workers are protesting what they deem to be unfair taxation, given that 55.2% of state revenue will burden the incomes of public servants, workers, and pensioners. Overall, the strikers demand that the government index the income-tax brackets to inflation, raise tax exemptions to GRD 2 million and tax state securities to finance social policies Most of Thessaloniki's workforce partook in the nation-wide strikes today, with some sectors featuring the astounding 80 per cent rate of participation. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] STATE DEPARTMENT’S SPOKESMAN ADMITS TO BLUNDER

The U.S. State Department’s spokesperson James Rubin admitted today that the statements he had made a few days ago regarding Turkey’s provocative actions against Greece’s C-130 aircraft which transported the Defense Minister from Cyprus to Crete were not correct.

“I didn’t do my job well,” Mr. Rubin said, marking a complete turnaround from his previous stance. He added that the United States have recommended to Ankara that it avoid provocative actions.

Mr. Rubin’s original statement read that the Greek Air Force’s C-130 flight constituted a violation of the flights moratorium over Cyprus. This had stirred a stern reaction from the Greek government.

At that time, diplomatic circles in Washington had predicted that Mr. Rubin’s unprecedented statement was sure to provoke a reaction from the Greek government. Shortly thereafter, according to diplomatic sources, the State Department was pressured into modifying Mr. Rubin’s original statement by the US presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke.

According to these reports, the American diplomat told the State Department that this statement compromises not only his credibility as a mediator in the Greek-Turkish differences and the Cyprus issue, but his authority as well. A.F.

[11] US PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos met with the President of the United States Bill Clinton at the White House yesterday evening.

His All Holiness and the American President discussed issues concerning the Patriarchate and the Theological School of Chalke. President Clinton expressed his support for the Patriarchate and re-opening of the school.

Also, Mr. Clinton and the Ecumenical Patriarchate discussed Greek-Turkish issues and emphasis was granted on the bridging role that his All Holiness plays between the two neighbors. The Ecumenical Patriarch is to meet with the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright today, while the U.S. vice-president Al Gore will host a luncheon in his honor. A.F.

[12] MEETING OF MINISTERS FROM GREECE, ROMANIA AND BULGARIA

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania is being held today in the Romanian city of Sinaia.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Bulgarian Nadenzda Michailova and Romanian Andrian Severin will evaluate the progress achieved regarding the cooperation of their countries at a political level.

According to information, the Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria and Romania will ask mr.Pangalos to support their countries’ application for membership to NATO and the EU and at the same time, to contribute to the development of the infrastructure and transportation necessary for better cooperation among the Balkan states. After the end of the Summit, the three ministers will be received by Romanian President Emil Constantinescu.

[13] THE ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO WILL BOYCOTT THE NEW SERB ELECTIONS

In an interview to MPA mr.Hindayet Hiseni, vice-President of the largest Albanian party in Kosovo, the Democratic Union Party, reiterated the categorical position of the Albanians in Kosovo to continue their boycott to the next presidential elections in Serbia.

Mr.Hiseni stressed that the Democratic Union Party president and leader of the Albanians in Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova must participate in the Summit meeting in Crete if he is invited and meet with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic if there is a mediation either from the United States or the European Union, stressing that Greece has a positive and strong influence in the region.

Mr.Hiseni denied that the Albanians in Kosovo have weapons in their possession and did not rule out the likelihood that certain of them have been led to the streets, stressing that they can be put under control.

[14] IN NEW PROVOCATIVE PLOY TURKEY ACCUSES GREECE OF AGGRESSIVE ACT

The leader of Turkey’s General Staff Ismail Chakki Karadayi accused Greece today of having committed an act of aggression, by stating that a Greek Navy vessel attempted to ram a Turkish submarine.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Karadayi said that “this is the first time that such an aggressive act is committed.

“A Greek patrol boat tried to ram our submarine and when our patrol boat intervened, the Greek one collided with it causing slight damages.”

The Greek government immediately issued a letter of protest to Ankara. A.F.

[15] MILUTINOVIC TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN F.R.Y.

Milan Milutinovic, the Federal Yugoslav Republic’s Foreign Minister, announced today that he will be the Socialist Party’s candidate in Serbia’s presidential elections of December 7.

Mr. Milutinovic was appointed to the foreign ministry in 1995. Prior to that, he was his country’s ambassador in Greece, a seat he continues to hold. A.F.

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/