Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-17

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 17 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] EVENTS COMMEMORATING POLYTECHNIC UPRISING OF ‘73 HELD TODAY

Events commemorating the Polytechnic student uprising of 1973 are being held today, with rallies and marches conducted in Athens and Thessaloniki.

The Ministry of Public Order has assigned 3,500 policemen to be on guard around the School’s premises in Athens in light of the march that will be conducted towards the United States embassy at the capital. Meanwhile, all of the country’s political parties have saluted the 34th anniversary of the event that brought on the downfall of the seven-year junta in Greece. A.F.

[02] ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTER ASKS BANKERS TO THINK OF THE COUNTRY

Concern abounds among government circles given the potential repercussions on the national economy which could brought on by the interest rate increases up to 3.5% which many banks are proceeding to today.

The Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, in an article p8ublished today in the press, calls on the Greek bankers to show restrain and to think of the national economy’s interests.

According to Mr. Papantoniou,. the banking institutions have had enough profits up to date in order to cover they any losses from the recent monetary crisis. A.F.

[03] MARCHES IN THESSALONIKI AND ATHENS IN COMMEMORATION OF THE POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL UPRISING

Thousands of police officers are in high alert to avert incidents during the marches that will be held in Thessaloniki and in Athens this afternoon within the framework of the events for the anniversary of the 1973 Polytechnic School uprising.

A rally will be held in Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki and later the demonstrators will hold a march to the Polytechnic School.

Wreaths were laid in the Athens Polytechnic at noon today by the presidents of the opposition parties of New Democracy and Coalition of the Left.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[04] THESSALONIKI HOSTS INTR/NTIONAL CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The creation of a world-wide information network for public administration, with its central website being the United Nations headquarters, in New York, and regional websites in other continents, is to be decided upon during the international conference held today in Thessaloniki, after an initiative taken by the UN.

Greece’s Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, is to declare open the four-day conference titled “Public Administration in transition Enhancing its role, professionalism, ethical standards and values” and he will propose that the city become the permanent headquarters of this program. The purpose of the regional website which is proposed to be created in Thessaloniki will be the promotion and facilitation of information exchange and the technical cooperation of all UN member-states in the regions.

Among those participating in the conference will be ministers and other high-ranking officials from 22 countries. Represented at a ministerial level are the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Lithuania, FYROM, Latvia, Armenia and Albania.

This conference is the first of a series which will be held in developing countries of Europe, Africa, Asia, as well as Central and Latin America. A.F.

[05] GREEK FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY MEETS WITH GERMAN OFFICIALS AT BONN

Greece’s undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis is to have a series of contacts with German officials in Bonn today, with the framework of the efforts exerted to promote a solution to the Cyprus problem and to stay close to the time schedule of Cyprus’s accession to the European Union, in spite of Turkey’s threats.

Mr. Kranidiotis’ visit to Germany is conducted five days after the US presidential envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke went to Bonn. Prior to his trip to Germany, Mr. Kranidiotis met with Mr. Holbrooke last Thursday at Brussels, along with the alternate Foreign Minster of Greece George Papandreou.

According to reports, Mr. Kranidiotis is to meet with his German counterparts while he is also expected to meet with the German government’s representative for the Cyprus issue.

Meanwhile, the Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos and Defense Minster Akis Tsochatzopoulos are also in Germany where they will participate at the Western European Union’s conference which is being held today and tomorrow and will address issues related to security and defense. A.F.

[06] BULGARIAN DELEGATION IN ATHENS TODAY, HEADED BY VP BAKARGIEV

A Bulgarian delegation is embarking on a three-day visit to Athens today, headed by the vice-president of the Bulgarian government E. Bakargiev.

Their aim is to promote Greek-Bulgarian cooperation in order to expedite the Burgas- Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

The Bulgarian delegation will meet with the Minter of Development Vaso Papandreou and the Minister of Environment, City Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis. A.F.

[07] THREE EXPLOSIONS AT VUCOVAR, NO VICTIMS, CULPRIT UNKNOWN

Three explosions occurred yesterday at Vucovar, causing only material damages, according to Belgrade’s “B92” radio station.

According to the report, the first explosion occurred early in the morning at a Serb residence , the second followed a few hours later at a Serb elementary school and the third took place at the city’s catholic cemetery.

According to the Croat police, it remains unknown who placed and activated the bombs. A.F.

[08] TURKEY TURNS DOWN U.S. AID OF $40 MILLION, DIDN’T LIKE THE CONDITIONS

The Turkish government has rejected in full financial aid from the United States amounting to $40 million, because the said assistance was dependent upon terms and conditions, according to Turkish press reports.

The rejection was performed by the Turkish ambassador tot he United States and, according to reports, it appeared that the terms and conditions signified intervention in Turkey’s internal affairs. A.F.

[09] DENKTASH ILL, DEPARTS EVENTS OF OCCUPIED PART’S “STATE” DECLARATION

The leader of the Turkish-Cypriots in Cyprus’s occupied part Rauf Denktash suddenly became ill and was forced to depart from the events held for the illegal declaration of the occupied part as a “state”.

The Turkish daily “Milliyet”, which refers to Mr. Denktash’s illness, reports that he will undergo medical examinations within the following days. He was substituted by the occupied part’s so- called “president of parliament” Chaki Atun.

Moreover, “Milliyet” reports that Necmettin Erbakan’s Welfare party did not take part at the events. A.F.

[10] PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE OPENED IN THESSALONIKI

The Public Administration Conference opened in Thessaloniki this morning with a speech delivered by interior minister Alekos Papadopoulos.

The meeting is attended byu delegations from 22 central and eastern European countries and members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The speech of prime minister Simitis is expected with great interest this evening. Meanwhile, deputy UN secretary-general Mr.Petrowski is also expected in Thessaloniki to deliver a message by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.

[11] SIMITIS-BAKARTZIEV MEETING

Bulgarian deputy prime minister Mr.Bakartziev, who is on a three-day visit to Athens, met with prime minister Kostas Simitis today. The visit is aimed at promoting the Greek-Bulgarian cooperation for the speeding-up of the construction of the Burgas- Alexandroupolis oil pipe line.

Mr.Bakartziev will also meet with minister of development Ms.Vaso Papandreou and minister of environment, land planning and public works Mr.Kostas Laliotis.

[12] NO GREEK TOURISTS AMONG THE VICTIMS OF THE BLOODY TERRORIST ATTACK IN EGYPT

Sixty one people were killed today in a bloody attack by Muslim fundamentalists in the Valley of Kings in Egypt targeting foreign tourists.

According to international news agencies, 11 Muslim fundamentalists stole a tourist bus and went to the Valley of Kings where they opened fire on foreign tourists.

Fifty five tourists were killed, most of them Japanese and Swiss as well as, 6 of the attackers. At least 35 people were injured and police has launched a manhunt for the arrest of the terrorists.

The Greek Embassy in Cairo announced that there are no Greeks among the victims.

[13] THE GREEK MINISTER OF MERCHANT MARINE IS VISITING THE US

Greek minister of merchant marine Stavros Soumakis, will visit the headquarters of the US Coast Guard in Norfolk, Virginia at the Atlantic coast.

Mr.Soumakis is scheduled to have contacts with representatives of the shipping community.

[14] SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS BY GREECE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BALKAN AND CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES

The success of the Greek efforts for the reconstruction of the Balkans and the central-eastern European states is confirmed by the fact that 15% of the Greek exports and the overwhelming majority of Greek investments are taking place in those countries. The above were stated by undersecretary of national economy and finance Alexandros Baltas in the speech he delivered within the framework of the UN conference on public administration that is being held in Thessaloniki.

Mr.Baltas referred to the ministerial level meetings that are being held, in which the prospects of bilateral relations are being discussed as well as, the solution of problems stemming from economic transactions. Through those meetings the Greek ministry of national economy promotes the creation of a general institutional framework for the operation of businesses assisted by economic, industrial and technical cooperation agreements.

[15] WATERGATE GOT A GREEK DIMENSION

A Greek dimension was given to Watergate after the revelations made by reporter Elias Dimitrakopoulos to Washington’s Channel 7 television station which, according to TV presenter Del Walters, is possible to have led to the resignation of former US president Richard Nixon.

In the introduction of his presentation, Mr.Walters mentioned that the Greek journalist was the target of a 10-year long defamation campaign launched against him by the Nixon administration, because he had revealed that CIA money were used through Tom Papas and the Greek secret service for the funding of Nixon’s pre-election campaign.

The Watergate break-in operation took place when Dimitrakopoulos presented the incriminating evidence to the Democratic Party National Committee Chairman Larry O’Brien and was aimed at locating the documents Dimitrakopoulos had delivered to O’Brien. Dimitrakopoulos paid a high price as the Nixon administration tried to kidnap him, accusing him of being a communist and a subversive.

[16] CORDOVEZ SUPPORTS THE CONTINUATION OF THE EFFORTS FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

UN secretary-general special adviser Diego Cordovez, in statements he made to the Cypriot news agency, supports the continuation of the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem, with a short-term target the resumption of negotiations after the Cypriot presidential elections next February.

Mr.Cordovez, who will be on a four-day visit to Cyprus starting tomorrow, expressed disappointment because neither the Greek Cypriot nor the Turkish Cypriot side appear ready to submit new legal documents as requested by the UN in preparation of new constitutional and institutional agreements.

[17] GERMAN MAP PRESENTS TURKEY DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS

The Turkish press reacted strongly to a map that was published by the German “Touring Club” agency which presents Turkey divided into three parts.

The Turkish newspaper “Sabah”, in a front-page article writes that the map in question presents eastern Anatolya as Armenia, the Black Sea as Pontos and south-eastern Anatolya as Kurdistan.

The newspaper mentions that in spite of the protests made by the Turkish authorities, the only response that was given by the German “Touring Club” was that the map’s goal was to present the political situation in the country.

[18] THESSALONIKI HOSTS UN’S INTR/NAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE

The creation of a world-wide information network for public administration, with its central website being the United Nations headquarters, in New York, and regional websites in other continents, is to be decided upon during the international conference which opened today in Thessaloniki, after an initiative taken by the UN.

Greece’s Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, declared open the four-day conference titled “Public Administration in transition: Enhancing its role, professionalism, ethical standards and values” and proposed that the city become the permanent headquarters of this program. The purpose of the regional website which is proposed to be created in Thessaloniki will be the promotion and facilitation of information exchange and the technical cooperation of all UN member-states in the regions.

Among those participating in the conference are ministers and other high-ranking officials from 22 countries. Represented at a ministerial level are the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Lithuania, FYROM, Latvia, Armenia and Albania.

This conference is the first of a series which will be held in developing countries of Europe, Africa, Asia, as well as Central and Latin America. A.F.

[19] GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON COMMENTS ON U.S. INITIATIVE OVER CYPRUS

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas made extensive reference to the initiatives undertaken by he United States presidential envoy for the Cy0prus issue Richard Holbrooke, during the press briefing session today.

Mr. Reppas stated that Greece awaits with interest the development of these initiatives,. Adding that the results will become more evident following the island’s presidential elections.

When asked to comment on the American interest in improving ties between the European Union and Turkey,. Mr. Reppas stated that the Community has taken specific actions on this issue.

“We would also like the improvement of these tie, but only within the framework set by he EU and the question is, if Turkey wants the same, then it has to abide by the framework.”

In regards to statements made by the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel who stated that Cyprus cannot accede the EU unless the political problem has been solved, Mr. Reppas stated that “statements are made from time to time., but the main point is that we need to intensify our efforts, given the EU’s decision to embark on accession negotiations with Cyprus on April 2, 1998. A.F.

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