Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-14

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 14 November 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THE GREEK PRESIDENT WAS BRIEFED BY FOREIGN MINISTER PANGALOS

Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos briefed president Kostis Stephanopoulos today on the recent developments in the issues of national importance.

Mr.Pangalos denied the information according to which, US presidential envoy Richard Halbrooke has suggested the creation of a three-zone federation in Cyprus.

The foreign minister characterized that information as unworthy of a denial and stated that this plan had appeared in a Turkish Cypriot publication. He also stressed that the initiative of the US official is important but it can not lead to concrete results if the United States do not exert pressures on Turkey which is being constantly armed and receives economic help from the United States. Mr.Pangalos also pointed out that the United States could limit the armaments of Turkey or at least they could force Ankara not to use them in the Aegean coasts and in Cyprus.

The Greek foreign minister also added that no US mediator is needed in the effort to find a solution to the Cyprus problem through the European Union procedures.

[02] THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED A LIST WITH THE NAMES OF TAX EVADERS

The Greek government is trying to secure additional revenues through the publication of a list with the names of businessmen, who owe large amounts of money to the state.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the collection pace of public revenues is impressive, while commenting on the imposition of new taxes, he stressed that the government must think ahead regarding its tax policy.

[03] THE YOUNG GREEKS BELIEVE IN THEIR COUNTRY, GOD AND FAMILY

The army, the family and the Church have the trust of the overwhelming majority of the young Greeks, according to a poll conducted on a sample of 1.600 people aged between 15 and 29.

Based on the poll, 97,8% believe in the concept of the family, 84,6% in God and 92,6% in the concept of the fatherland, while 72% trust in the Greek armed forces.

Also, according to the poll, 98% believe in love, while 97% believe in hard work. Nevertheless, 75% want a luxurious house and 45% an expensive car or motorcycle.

In favor of marriage is 73,4%, while 97,4% believe in friendship. Young Greeks fear most unemployment, drugs and AIDS, while 45% believe that certain crimes deserve the death penalty.

The majority (67%) wants the expulsion of illegal immigrants, while 5 out of 10 agree that the cars of all those who are caught driving under the influence of alcohol should be confiscated.

Finally, 6 out of 10 believe that the radio is the most reliable information media, while 70% of those asked believe in the positive influence of sports.

[04] PREMIER ANNOUNCES MEASURES FOR THE COUNTRY’S YOUTH

Greece’s Prime Minister Kostas Simitis announced today that the government is set to create 200,000 subsidized jobs, between the years 1998-2001, and will also take measures for supporting the newly-married couples, entrepreneurs, and new farmers.

Addressing the PASOK Central Committee and its youth Central Committee, Mr. Simitis stated that these programs are to contribute to the promotion of employment, subsidized jobs and the creation of new businesses.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[05] PANGALOS: THE TURKISH STANCE ON THE S-300 MISSILES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A REAL THREAT

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos attributed the Turkish threats against the installation of the S-300 missiles in Cyprus to Ankara’s usual bad manners.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper “El Mundo”, he stressed that the Turks can not do anything and that they simply display their usual bad manners.

He reiterated that any Turkish military action in Cyprus will provoke a war between Athens and Ankara and stated that the Greek Cypriots have the absolute right to arm themselves in order to limit their disadvantage in relation to the Turkish forces that are stationed in their territory as an occupation army.

According to mr.Pangalos, the same insecurity is felt by Greece also, due to Turkey’s much higher armament ability and the increased role of the military establishment in the Turkish state especially now, that no progress has been made in the Greek- Turkish relations in spite of the Madrid agreement and the Simitis- Yilmaz meeting in the Inter-Balkan Summit in Crete. The Greek foreign minister also clarified that Greece does not arm in view of a future conflict or because it favors the military option.

He regards as obvious that Turkey can not become an EU member because it does not meet the necessary requirements and maintains that this fact is known all over the world even though certain parties prefer to hide behind Greece and not tell the truth to the Turks.

Referring to the issue of the defense agreements between Turkey and Israel, mr.Pangalos predicted that they will lead to new conflicts between Israel and the Arab world.

[06] HALBROOKE CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN BRUSSELS

US presidential envoy to Cyprus Richard Halbrooke continues his contacts in Brussels today within the framework of the meeting of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businessmen.

Mr.Halbrooke met twice with Greek deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou yesterday and discussed the US plan aimed at reaching an agreement in principle for the solution of the Cyprus problem. No details were made public.

[07] POSITIVE COMMENTS ON THE GREEK EFFORTS AIMED AT JOINING THE EMU

The foreign press sees positively the efforts made by the Greek government, through the 1998 state budget, which are aimed at joining the single European currency.

The British newspaper “Financial Times” characterizes as a “welcomed surprise” the fact that Greece continues its serious efforts at the economic level, even though it has been rejected as an untimely candidate for the European economic and monetary union.

The newspaper also stresses that the Socialist government of prime minister Kostas Simitis is moving steadily toward meeting the Maastricht Treaty criteria regardless of the political cost.

[08] BANK EXECUTIVES FROM CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE IN ATHENS

Senior executives from the largest banks in Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia and Moldavia are in Athens since November 10 to attend the 2nd International Banking Seminar which is organized by the Agricultural Bank of Greece and is scheduled to end tomorrow.

The seminar, which is hosted by the bank’s training center, aims at offering high level knowledge and abilities and also, at expanding the existing relations among the participating executives from central European and Balkan countries.

[09] THE FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ALBANIAN SHIPWRECK WAS HELD TODAY

The funeral of 42 people who lost their lives in the sea region of Otranto, Italy on March 28,1997 was held in the city of Vlore this morning in the presence of the Albanian leadership.

The funeral was attended by Italian prime minister Romano Prodi, who will have a private meeting with his Albanian counterpart Fatos Nano.

[10] REPPAS: THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF EUROMED TV

Greek government spokesman and minister of press and mass media Dimitris Reppas, in a message he sent on the occasion of the 1st Conference on the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation in the Audio- Visual Media and Television that opened in Thessaloniki today, expressed the Greek state’s support to the planed establishment of EUROMED TV, a satellite multi-cultural and multi-lingual television.

The conference is attended by delegations from 21 countries, 41 government officials as well as, representatives of the European Commission, UNESCO, the EUREKA audio-visual and 74 audio- visual professionals from Europe and the Mediterranean.

[11] THE TURKISH MINISTRY OF FINANCE WILL RENT OUT VACANT HOUSES IN ISTANBUL

The Turkish ministry of finance will record all old and historic houses and building sites in Istanbul, whose owners are unknown or their residence is not listed. It should be noted, that there is an increased likelihood that certain of this real estate belongs to Greeks.

As it was made known by the ministry of finance department in Istanbul, the ministry can rent out those houses and the duration of the contracts that will be signed with the future tenants can be longer than 10 years. The buildings will be photographed and will be renovated by their tenants, while the rent money will go to the ministry of finance.

[12] ANTI-OCCUPATION PROTEST MARCH IN CYPRUS

University and high-school students participated today in an anti-occupation protest march to the “Lydra Palace” passage that divides the Cypriot capital of Nicosia since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

The protest march is taking place under the tight security measures of the Cypriot police.

Meanwhile, Cypriot university students studying in Thessaloniki are scheduled to hold a protest march to the Turkish Consulate tomorrow evening. The protest is organized by the Cypriot National Student Union in Thessaloniki.

[13] GREEK FM: THERE IS NO ISSUE OF TRI-ZONAL SOLUTION TO CYPRUS

The Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas and Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos have categorically refuted reports of the US Presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke’s proposal for a tri-zonal federation in Cyprus.

According o Mr. Reppas, a recent article published in an Athens daily was “inaccurate.”

“It is unfathomable to even talk about the possibility of taking into consideration such a proposal. There is no such issue,” Mr. Reppas stressed.

Mr .Pangalos, who met today with the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, added that a similar report appeared in the Turkish-Cypriot press as well.

“The effort to reach a solution to he Cyprus issue by using the process of the European Union does not need an American mediator, this is something that we can do on our own,” the Greek Foreign Minister added.

In regards to Mr. Holbrooke’s actions in the Cyprus issue, Mr. Pangalos stated that this initiative is a very significant one for the solution of the issue, provided that the US exert pressures on Turkey, since there have been a great many proposals submitted with the best intentions for a long time now.

Moreover, Mr. Pangalos stated that the US could limit Turkey’s military outfitting, or at least restrict it from using its armaments in the shores of the Aegean and Cyprus.

[14] GREEK PRESS MINISTER SALUTES THE HISTORIC GREEK-ROMANIAN TIES

Greece’s Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas, in an exclusive interview to the Romania daily “Curentul”, saluted the historic ties that bind Greece and Romania.

“Romania is a friend of Greece,” Mr. Reppas stated, adding that “we have historic ties that date back into the ages and, in spite of the fact that we are not bordering neighbors, we believe that this will not prevent our countries from standing by each other’s side.”

Mr. Reppas added that “we are very close, more so than with other countries with which we do share borders and this shows that Athens and Bucharest can both become metropoles for the good of the overall region.”

[15] BULGARIA: STORING OF TOXIC WASTE AT KOZLODUI POSES A PROBLEM

Bulgaria’s Kozlodui nuclear energy plant is facing a serious problem of storing its toxic waste.

In Sofia today, the president of the public committee responsible for the plant’s control Georgi Kaciev stressed that measures need to be taken to improve security of the plant’s storing areas.

[16] GREEKS DEMAND REPARATIONS FROM GERMANY FOR WWII ATROCITIES

The matter of Germany being subject to reparations payments to Greeks who suffered in the hands of Nazi troops during WWII has surfaced in the media again.

According to Prague’s daily “Pravo”, the Greek-Jewish communities plan to claim amount $8.4 million from Swiss banks through the World Jewish Council.

[17] OVER 180 FILMS WILL BE SCREENED IN THE FILM FESTIVAL OF THESSALONIKI

Over 180 films from all over the world will be screened within the framework of the 38th Film Festival of Thessaloniki that will open on November 21 and for ten days will put the city at the center of the international film industry’s attention.

Greek and foreign films will compete for the first prize of the festival, while special presentations will be made to honor foreign film directors known all over the world for their work.

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