Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-19

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 19 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] TENS OF EARTHQUAKE AFTERSHOCKS ROCK THE ISLAND OF ZAKYNTHOS

Tens of aftershocks continue to rock the region south of the island of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea, after yesterday’s strong earthquake, which measured 6.6 degrees on the Richter scale.

The aftershocks were quite strong, two of them having measured 4.9 and 4.8 on the Richter scale early this monring. The quake caused material damages in buildings of Zakynthos, Pyrgos and Kalamata. The schools at the Municipality of Pyrgos will remain closed today.

The Earthquake Risk Assessment Committee of the Anti- Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation is to convene today in order to examine the recent eatthquake activity both in the Ionian Sea’s region, as well as through the country. A.F.

[02] GOVERNMENT COUNCIL FOR DEFENSE TO CONVENE TODAY

The Greek Governmental Council for Defense (KYSEA) is to convene today under the leadership of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

The officials are to discuss the course of the armed forces’ outfitting program, the potential crises in the drafting process and the trust-building-measures between Greece and Turkey.

Meanwhile, NATO’s chief commander of the European allied forces Wesley Clark is currently in Athens and will be received by the President of hte Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. Mr.Clark will also meet with the Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and the Chief of the Armed Forces Athanasios Tzoganis. A.F.

[03] GREEK FARMERS TO RALLY TODAY IN CENTRAL GREECE

The farmers of central Greece’s Thessaly region are to conduct a rally today, while members of their coordinating committee are submit to the Minister of Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas their demands, among them being the discontinuance of the legal process on the criminal charges filed against them last year for blocking the roads.

The committee is to convene in Larisa this Friday in order to examine the minister’s response. However, the farmers are reportedly already preparing mobilizations, such as blocking the roads between December 5 and Christmas. A.F.

[04] GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE MEETING

The Governmental Council for National Defense met today in Athens chaired by prime minister Kostas Simitis.

The main issues discussed were the new armaments program for the Greek armed forces, the upcoming evaluation of army officers for their promotion in the armed forces and the confidence- building-measures between Greece and Turkey. In the meeting it was also decided that National Defense General Staff Chief wing- commander Tzoganis will remain in his post for one more year.

It is estimated that 440 billion drachmas were spent for armaments programs in the period 1993-96, while in 1997 alone defense spending will reach 512 billion drachmas. The government’s goal for 1998 is for defense spending to exceed 1,5 trillion drachmas.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, stated after the meeting that the armaments program for the Greek armed forces proceeds based on the decisions made a year ago. Referring to the new structure of NATO, he pointed out that Greece will participate in it and will exploit the unanimity principle in the political and military committee in the case of military exercises that hurt the country’s national interests.

[05] THE SEISMIC ACTIVITY DEFUSES GRADUALLY

Scientists point out that one day after the strong earthquake in south-western Greece, that measured 6,6 on the Richter scale, the phenomenon is defusing gradually, while they also predict that the tremor will not be followed by a stronger one.

Specialists, nevertheless, warn that aftershocks will continue for 2-3 months. The seismic danger assessment committee met today and evaluated the seismic activity in Greece.

[06] ALBANIANS WOUNDED THE MONKS AT MOUNT ATHOS

Police have arrested two Albanian illegal immigrants as suspects in yesterday’s attack against two monks at Mount Athos’ monastic community.

The 22-year-old Akim Pisha and his compatriot Petriz Neta, 23 years old, entered the scete of the Koutloumousiou Holy Monastery yesterday evening. The two suspects were arrested by the Police Force of Halkidiki.

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. E.K.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS PROPOSAL FOR EU’S EXPANSION

The European Parliament’s Foreign Afairs Committee has adopted a proposal concerning the European Union’s expansion, which foresees that such negotiations will start in the beginning of 1998 and will concern all candidate members, except Slovakia.

The proposal, tabled by the Dutch Christian-Democrat Ooltander and Spanish Socialist Baron Crespo, was adopted with 31 votes in favor, 10 against and 4 abstentions.

The accession negotiations will be conducted based on each country’s respect of the entrance criteria and its ability to adjust to the Community’s rate of progress.

According to the report, all of the countries are currently a the same starting point, since the expansion constitutes an “ethical right”. However, the EU’s executive committee does point out that “intense negotiations will start first with those countries which have achieved progress in sensitive areas.”

The European Parliament’s committee grants heightened significance in allowing “all the candidate members whcih have drawn agreements for association with the EU to participate at the European conference, Turkey being among these countries.

According to the European Assembly’s parliamentarians, discussions with the EU will concern the common foreign and defense policy, as well as justice-related matters and internal affairs. The said Conference should be held on an annual basis at a state-leaders level.

In regards to ties with Turkey, the report underlines that, aside from this country’s participationin the Cofnernece, there should also be a special relationship at a high level which will surpass the Customs Union.

In regards to Cyprus, the EU is called on to adopt a more active policy towards the island, so that it may “help Cyprus find its integrity” and to “promote the finding of a political solution”. A.F.

[08] UN’S DIEGO CORDOBEZ TO MEET WITH CLERIDES-DENKTASH TODAY

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 today.

Upon his arrival in Cyprus, Mr. Cordobez stated that no developments should be awaited from his visits, and reminded the UN secretary-general Kofi Annan’s statement that opportunities to solve the Cyprus issue will appear after the island’s presidential elections.

Moreover, he added that his visit is exploratory in order to ascertain if preparatory work can be performed for the period following the elections. Mr. Cordovez is to relay a message from Mr. Annan to Mgrs. Clerides and Denktash.

Tomorrow, 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, he will travel to Athens, Ankara and London, while he may also visit Brussels. A.F.

[09] GREEK SHIPOWNERS “SAIL” FOR ROMANIA

Greek shipowners have purchased 51% of the Romanian Company Oceanic Fishery’s shares (CRPO) and are to proceed with its reorganization, according to the Romanian press.

The Bucharest daily “Cronia Romana” reports that the Greek shipowners Yiannis Dimakos and Theodoros Ladas have purchased the company’s majority shares and, once their proposal is approved, are to proceed with its reorganization.

The two will sell as scrap ships no longer in use that are anchored at the Danube River’s ports or at Cape Media. Also the shipowners will repair and reactivate fishing ships.

According to other press reports in Romania, CRPO has been saved from certain bankruptcy. A.F.

[10] EDUCATION OFFICIALS FROM CYPRUS AND BALKANS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

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

[11] THESSALONIKI IS PROPOSED TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER

Alternate UN secretary-general mr.Petrowski sees very positively the proposal that suggests Thessaloniki to become the seat of the international information center for public administration issues.

Mr.Petrowski said that what remains to be examined is its implementation and incorporation into the NATO mechanisms.

[12] SIMITIS WILL ATTEND THE EU SUMMIT MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG

Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis leaves for Luxembourg this evening to attend the extraordinary two-day EU Summit meeting in Luxembourg that will be held for the discussion of issues concerning unemployment in the European Union.

Mr.Simitis will table a package of proposals for employment and development and also, specific measures that will deal with unemployment, mainly among the young.

On the sidelines of the Summit meeting and specifically in the formal dinner of the EU leaders tomorrow evening, it is likely that the issue of Turkey’s participation in the European conference will be raised.

[13] A NIGHT DEDICATED TO MARIA KALLAS FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW OPERA HOUSE IN ATHENS

A night dedicated to Maria Kallas will be held in Opera Comique Favart Hall in Paris tomorrow, at the initiative of the Greek ministry of culture and under the auspices of UNESCO and the permanent Greek delegation in the international organization.

The main performer in the concert will be soprano Vaso Papantoniou, who is widely known to the Greek and international audience, while the orchestra Colonne, that is made up of 80 musicians, will be directed by Greek conductor Alexandros Mirat.

The concert will be held to honor Maria Kallas’ memory and contribute to the materialization of a significant initiative for Greece, namely the creation of a new Opera House in Athens.

[14] “EUROPE” MAGAZINE ARTICLE ON THE GREEK PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM

An article in the November issue of the magazine “Europe”, published by the European Union delegation in the United States, refers to the privatization program of the Greek government.

The article underlines, among others, that the Greek government is very pleased with the pace of privatizations in the country, stressing that already have been sold 20% of the State Tele-communications Company (OTE) shares and it is expected that over 12 state companies will be privatized next year.

It is also pointed out that for now the privatizations are estimated at 25%, but according to economic analysts, the percentage is expected to be increased as the deadline for Greece’s accession into the European economic and monetary union gets closer.

The article stresses that the Greek stock prices have increased steadily since June and that the hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games by Athens has raised prices to an unprecedented high. It is also mentioned that construction companies, cement industries and electronics companies are expected to win significant gains as a result of the new public works that will be constructed in Greece in preparation for the Olympic Games.

[15] PRESIDENT CLERIDES MET WITH US SENATOR GORDON SMITH

US Senator Gordon Smith, member of the US Senate foreign relations committee and responsible for European issues, was received today by Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides.

Mr.Smith stressed that the people of Cyprus should be free from external forces in order to reach an agreement for the settlement of the Cyprus problem. He also said that the involvement of US presidential envoy Richard Halbrooke is an indication that the United States are making efforts for the solution of the problem.

[16] THE EU-BULGARIA JOINT COMMITTEE WILL MEET IN BRUSSELS

The program 2000 and the European Union and Euro-Parliament positions regarding Bulgaria’s application for accession into the EU are the main issues that will be discussed in the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting that will be held in Brussels on November 26-27.

Issues concerning the European regional and cross-border cooperation in the sector of transportation will also be discussed.

[17] EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON TELEMATICS APPLICATIONS IN THE SECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES

European conference on telematics applications in the sector of health services will be held in Thessaloniki on December 12-13. The conference will be organized by the European Popular Party with the technical support of the European Union Telematics Applications Department in the sector of health services.

In the conference will be presented and discussed examples of successful applications of telematics, which is a combination of information technologies and tele-communications that offers speedy access to needed information and knowledge.

[18] A GREEK “ZORBA” TEACHES GREEK POPULAR DANCES IN CHINA

In the city of Santu, in south China’s Guatong province, a Greek pioneer plays a significant role in the protection and spread of the Greek spirit. His name is Yiannis Karantonis and is the founder of the dance school “Zorba” where he teaches popular Greek dances to the young Chinese.

Both, he and his wife, express their love for Greece by making the Greek music tradition known to distant China.

He says that the Chinese are being taught about the Greek civilization and history in their schools and young people show a great interest in learning the Greek dances.

Yiannis Karantonis comes from Iraklion in the island of Crete. In 1960 he immigrated to Australia and in 1995 he went to China.

[19] GREEK PREMIER, K. SIMITIS ATTENDS THE SUMMIT CONFERENENCE

The Greek Premier, Kostas Simitis, departs tonight for Luxembourg, where he will take part at the European Union’s summit conference. The subjects to be discussed at the conference are employment and dealing with unemployment in the countries of the United Europe. Mr. Simitis goes to Luxembourg determined to confront all the problems with outline the positions of the Greek government both for the issues concerning employment and for the issues concerning the Greek - Turkish relations and the relations of Turkey with the European Union. Mr. Simitis will table a package of proposals for employment and growth and specific measures in order to deal with unemployment mainly of the young people and of long-term unemployed people. E.K.

[20] LOCAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI

Important decisions concerning the future of the Greek Local Authority are expected to be taken during the annual convention of the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities, which will begin tomorrow in Thessaloniki and will be completed on the 22nd of November. This came out during the press conference that was given today for the presentation of the convention of the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities, which, in terms of the 1st international fair “POLIS”, will amass in the Cultural Capital of Europe 3.500 representatives of local authorities, municipalities and district from various countries. One of the most important moments of the convention is expected to be the discussion which will take place on Friday for the creation of a network of cooperative carriers of the Local Authority of Balkans, Europe and Mediterranean. E.K.

[21] THE BANJA LUCA AIRPORT STARTS TO OPERATE AGAIN

The President of the Serb Republic of Bosnia, Biljana Plavsic and the representative of the international community of Bosnia, Karlos Westenthorp, inaugurated yesterday the airport of Banja Luca. The re-operation of the airport of Banja Luca was saluted by the Secretary General of NATO, Javier Solana, who stressed through his announcements that the operation of the airport will be a positive step for the opening of the gates of the Serb Republic and Bosnia in general towards the rest of the world and the strengthening of peace and economic growth. E.K.

[22] GREEK EURODEPUTY ASKS FOR IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES

Greek eurodeputy Antonis Trakatellis (New Democracy) has asked the European Parliament’s plenary session to adopt more effective control mechanisms for the sector of public health, in order to avoid problems such as the “mad cow disease” that plagued Europe last year.

As the coordinator of the European People’s Party, Mr.Trakatellis told the European Paliament’s Review Committee trhat “the experience of the spongine encephalopathy proved that the European paliament strenghtened its control role and forced the Committee to draw severe measures.”

Nevertheless, the Greek eurodeputy critisiced the Committee for not having met five of the House’s proposals, in spite of the positive measures it did draw.

Among these proposals, the three most significant were: drawing measures against the British government, imposing disciplinary measures on those employees who failed to perform their tasks and paying damages in restitution to the 20 individuals who were stricken with the Croitchfel-Jacobs disease, which was linked with the “mad cow syndrome” .

“I want to believe that, through this dramatic event which cost human lives, we will once and for all take decisive action and not merely be limited to verbal wishes, based on the principle that the protection of the European citizen’s health is a priority,” Mr. Trakatellis stated.

EC President Jacques Santer, responding to the European deputies’ comments, stated that the Commission will provide the victims’ families with specific assistance, while, in regards to disciplinary acitons taken against the employees, he stated that he will propose that the relevant regulation be reviewed. A.F.

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