Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-18

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 18 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] 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 yesterday in Thessaloniki, after an initiative taken by the UN.

Yesterday evening, Greece’s Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, declared the opening of 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.

In his address, the Premier outlined the state’s policy which grants a new dynamism in the principles of political decentralization, productivity and participation. As well as the enhancement of the opportunities to reaffirm the state’s new role through the course of modernization.

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.

[02] OFFICIAL TURKISH MAPS CONFIRM THAT THE IMIA ISLETS BELONG TO GREECE

Two official Turkish maps, that show that the Imia islets in south-eastern Aegean are Greek territory, were presented by International Law professor emeritus Dimitris Konstantopoulos, during a speech he delivered in the University of Tubingen in Germany.

The first of the maps, that was issued in 1954, was included in a Turkish foreign ministry publication, while the second one was published in 1994 by a German publishing house in cooperation with the Turkish ministry of defense.

Mr.Konstantopoulos said to MPA that the 1994 map is being sold today in the German market and this has been established by the press office of the Greek Embassy in Bonn.

[03] RISE OF 3,2% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

The price index in the Athens Stock Exchange gained a 3,2% at noon today with a turnover of 10 billion drachmas.

Nine banks have increased their interest rates, a decision that will put a serious strain on housing, consumer and professional loans.

For example, those who got a 10 million drachma loan with a floating interest rate will pay monthly instalments increased by 8.350 drachmas.

[04] STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH-WESTERN GREECE

A strong earthquake measuring 6,7 on the Richter scale, according to the Seismological Laboratory in the University of Patras in southern Greece, hit at 3:08pm south-western Greece and its epicenter was located in the sea region of the Ionian Sea island of Zakynthos, 290 kilometers south-west of Athens.

The earthquake caused panic to the local residents and was especially felt in Zakynthos, the whole of the Peloponnese in southern Greece, Athens, Evia, western Greece, the islands of the Ionian Sea, Epirus and even Crete.

The tremor lasted several seconds and it was followed by a very strong aftershock.

No victims were reported but two old houses collapsed in the village of Gaitani in Zakynthos and many other old buildings were damaged.

[05] STRONG EARTHQUAKE HITS THE ISLAND OF ZAKYNTHOS

A strong earthquake, measuring 6.6 degrees of the Richter scale, rocked the island of Zakynthos today at 15:09 a.m., approximately 60 kilometres from the west end of the island.

The tremor was quite deep and was especially felt at the Ionian Sea, the north Peloponnese and the Aitoloakarnanean. It was also felt at the Attika region and the Euboia and as far away as Crete.

Its duration was long and it was followed by a strong aftershock at 15:13 a.m., which measured six degrees of the Richter scale. Fortunately, no victims were reported, while the seismologists estimate that it is the main earthquake and they point out that the region is one of the country’ s most earthquake-prone areas. E.K.

[06] TWO MONKS ATTACKED AT M. ATHOS MONASTERY BY UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS

Two monks were attacked at Mount Athos’ monastic community by unknown assailants who entered the scete of the Koutloumousiou Holy Monastery yesterday evening.

According to police reports, the two monks were attacked in two separate incidents. The first victim, a 48-year-old monk suffered knife wounds in the abdomen and the head, while it is unknown what injuries the second victim suffered.

The assailants disappeared after the second monk cried for help. Both victims are currently hospitalized at a near-by facility. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER WANTS TALKS ON ALL MATTERS WITH GREECE

The Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin has reiterated his request to hold talks with the Greek government on all matters, during the Western European Union conference held in Germany, and criticized the Greek government for advocating a step-by-step approach.

Mr. Sezgin also proposed that a two-month military exercises moratorium be applied in the Aegean.

Greece’s Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos has responded that a dialogue can be held if only it is based on respect of international law and accords. A.F.

[08] WORLD CONDEMNS MASSACRE IN LUXOR, EGYPT

The international community has condemned the massacre that took place in Luxor, Egypt, yesterday and took the lives of 69 persons.

The fanatic Islamist organization “Gamal Islameya” has claimed the responsibility for the massacre, demanding that its spiritual leader, the sheik Rahman, be freed from the American prison where he is currently incarcerated.

Travel agencies throughout the world have announced that they will cancel their scheduled trips to Egypt, while the United States and England have issued travel advisories wherein they ask their citizens to avoid visiting that country. The President of Greece’s association of travel agencies and air transport Spyros Ginis has also issued similar advice. A.F.

[09] UN’S D. CORDOBEZ TO MEET WITH CLERIDES-DENKTASH

The special advisor to the United Nations’ secretary-general Diego Cordobez is to meet with the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the Turkish-Cypriot leader of the island’s occupied part Rauf Denktash in separate appointments tomorrow.

According to the Cypriot government’s spokesperson Manolis Christofides, Mr. Cordobez’s visit is preparatory and he will discuss with President Clerides the United Nations’ next steps for the Cyprus issue following the island’s presidential elections.

On Thursday, the UN official will tour the demarcation line and in turn he will met with political leaders from both communities at the residence of Gustav Feishel, the UN’S special envoy to Cyprus.

On Friday, Mr. Cordobez will meet with the ambassadors of the Security Council’s five permanent members.

In turn, Mr. Cordobez will travel to Athens, Ankara and London, while he may also visit Brussels. A.F.

[10] SIMITIS: TURKEY SHOULD RESPECT THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF VALUES, PRINCIPLES AND LAW

Prime minister Kostas Simitis, in a press conference to foreign press correspondents, issued a strong warning to Ankara to change its policy and respect the international system of values, principles and law. He said characteristically that Greece has repeatedly stated that it wants to back Turkey’s European orientation but at the same time, Turkey would have to commit itself to the respect of the international system of values, principles and law on which the European unification and peace are built after WWII.

Mr.Simitis referred to a wide range of issues concerning the economy, the 1998 state budget, the international stock market crisis, the government’s social policy, its tactic against terrorism and privatizations.

When asked to comment on whether the Greek economy has the foundations to withstand new incidents of attacks by speculators, the prime minister referred in detail to the significant progress made by the Greek economy in the last three years. He underlined the drop of inflation and public deficits, the growth rate increase and the significant foreign exchange reserves, while he added that in spite of the difficulties there are no crisis phenomena in the economy.

[11] STATEMENTS MADE BY PANGALOS ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview to a Spanish daily expressed fury regarding the likelihood of a Dayton type solution for Cyprus.

Mr.Pangalos also accused the United States of not blocking the transport of US made armored tanks and artillery to the Turkish occupied territories in Cyprus.

UN secretary-general special envoy Diego Cordovez will be in Cyprus this evening and tomorrow will have separate meetings with Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[12] ATTEMPTS TO BLAME GREECE BY THE TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER

Turkish minister of defense Ismet Sezguin, on the sidelines of the WEU ministers’ meeting that was held in Germany, attempted to blame Greece for the absence of confidence-building-measures in the Aegean.

Mr.Sezguin suggested a two-month moratorium on the military exercises in the Aegean and reiterated Ankara’s demand for a dialogue with Greece covering all issues, while he criticized the Greek position for a step-by-step approach.

Responding to his Turkish counterpart, Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos stressed that Greece says “yes” to dialogue only if it is based on international law and principles. Responding to a question on whether he supports a new moratorium in the Aegean, he said that Greece through NATO secretary-general Mr.Solana, has suggested a three-month pause of the military exercises but the proposal was rejected by Turkey. He also added that in the new meeting with Mr.Solana similar thoughts will be discussed.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos stated that it is important to be clarified that the tension in the Aegean is not a problem of administrative procedures but it depends on the willingness of the party that creates the tension to make a political decision and accept as a basis for discussion the international law and treaties.

[13] CYPRUS’ EU COURSE SHOULD NOT BE LINKED WITH ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

The Euro-Parliament prepared a resolution text for the EU enlargement with which it requests that Cyprus’ EU accession course should not be linked with its relations with Turkey, while it also calls for a more active political presence by the European Union in the efforts made for the restoration of Cyprus’ territorial integrity based on the UN resolutions.

The text was passed in Strasbourg last nigh and it should be noted that the EU enlargement resolution will be adopted by the plenary session of the European Parliament in early December.

[14] TEXT ON UNEMPLOYMENT WAS ADOPTED IN BRUSSELS

A text on the general principles against unemployment was adopted in the meeting of the EU ministers of economy and labor that was held in Brussels.

Greek minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou stressed the need for the increase of investments because through investments better growth rates can be achieved. He also pointed out that an annual growth rate beyond the 3% limit contributes to the creation of new job positions.

[15] EFFORTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BALKAN AIRLINES’ ASSOCIATION

The efforts made for agreements among Balkan airlines, that will lead to the founding of an association which will allow them to face the international competition and globalization, are on the right track. “Olympic Airways” appears to participate in the effort based on the fact that the talks and contacts of its executives with the rest of the interested parties have intensified.

The Yugoslav newspaper “Vecernje Novosti”, mentions that Greece’s initiative for the establishment of a Balkan Airlines’ Association, that was presented during the Inter-Balkan Summit meeting in Crete, sealed the efforts that were inaugurated earlier by several airlines in the region.

It should be mentioned that the state airlines of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Romania and Bulgaria as well as, two from FYROM have agreed to organize a joint programme of flights, bookings, airplane maintenance and pilot training, starting on March 26.

[16] GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER MEETS WITH GREEK COMMUNITY IN U.S.A.

The Secretary General of the Communist Party of Greece, Aleka Papariga, is on a tour throughout the United States.

During her meetings with the Greek-American community, Ms. Papariga, criticized the American government’s policy regarding the Greek - Turkish and the Cypriot issues. She expressed her opposition towards the solution that the American envoy, Richard Holbrooke, is promoting and she stated that the plans concerning the trisection of Cyprus lead to a Bosnia-like situation. Concerning the Turkish provocation in the Aegean, Ms. Papariga called on the government to recognize that there is true danger and to exert pressures upon Ankara. E.K.

[17] EDUCATION OFFICIALS FROM CYPRUS AND BALKANS MEET IN THESSALONIKI

One hundred officials from Cypriot and Balkan child education research centers are to meet in Thessaloniki on November 20-23, at the enter for Thessaloniki’s History.

The initiative for this meeting has been taken by Greece’s Pedagogical Association which aims at introducing the various countries’ education specialists to one another and at expanding the opportunities to cooperate on related maters. Moreover, the association aims at establishing in Thessaloniki a coordinating body for the various educational organizations both in the Balkans and in Cyprus. A.F.

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