Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-11-28

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 28 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 TEACHING HOURS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION WILL BE REDUCED

The teaching hours in secondary education schools will be reduced and students will be able to choose from nine classes that are being introduced.

The teaching hours, according to the minister of education, are being reduced from 34 to 31. Mr.Arsenis presenting the new program clarified that it will be implemented next September.

[02] THE MASS MEDIA PREFER THE NATIONAL ISSUES INSTEAD OF FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES

National issues are of greater demand by the mass media compared to issues of foreign policy, while the role of national interest can become a boomerang against the government and the journalists.

The above were underlined in the first unity of the one-day conference “Foreign Policy and Mass Media” organized by the Journalism Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Greek Institute of Defense and Foreign Policy.

[03] THE LEADER OF THE MAIN OPPOSIITON PARTY, K. KARAMANLIS, VISITS XANTHI

Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, President of the main opposition party of the Greek government, New Democracy, started today morning a three days tour in Thrace. Mr. Karamanlis expressed his support for the equality before the law of all the inhabitants of Thrace, both Christians and Muslims. During his speech in Ehino, Mr. Karamanlis pointed out the rights and the obligations that derive from the regime of equality before the law, while the inhabitants met him with protests against the government, concerning the “Kapodistrias” bill, holding black flags. E.K.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[04] SIMITIS WILL MEET IN LONDON WITH GREEK SHIPOWNERS

Prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in London today with Greek shipowners, while he will have contacts with the Conservative Party leader, the Archbishop of Great Britain and a Greek-British Friendship Group Parliamentary delegation.

On Sunday, the prime minister will visit France and will meet with the French President, the prime minister and the European Commission president.

[05] THE MAJORITY OF EU CITIZENS ARE AGAINST TURKEY’S ACCESSION

The majority of the people in the European Union countries are against Turkey’s accession into the EU, according to an official opinion poll conducted by the European Commission.

According to the opinion poll, that was conducted in all the EU member-states, 45% of those questioned are against the accession of Turkey, while 32% support it. The majority of the people in 11 of the 15 EU member-states are against Turkey’s accession, while the most negative position is held by the Belgians and the Germans.

Regarding the position adopted by the Greeks, 80% are against Turkey’s accession into the EU, 13% are in support, while 7% are undecided. Meanwhile, 90% of the Greeks support Cyprus’ accession, while 5% are against. Cyprus’ accession is supported by 40% of the Europeans, while 34% are against.

[06] KARADAYI IS LIKELY TO VISIT ATHENS

Turkish General Staff Chief, general Hakki Karadayi is likely to visit Greece, according to Turkish newspapers.

The Turkish dailies “Hurriyet” and Radikal” write that general Karadayi is likely to visit Athens on the occasion of the meeting of the Western European Union Chiefs of General Staff.

[07] CYPRUS IS READY TO ENTER EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS AT THE SAME TIME WITH TURKEY

Cypriot foreign minister Yiannakis Kasoulides stated yesterday that Cyprus is ready to enter EU accession negotiations at the same time with Turkey.

According to the Reuters news agency, Mr.Kasoulides stated in London that Cyprus has no objection to sit at the same table with Turkey. He also stressed that Cyprus’ accession into the EU will be a gradual process which will last four to five years.

Mr.Kasoulides referred to the issue of the anti-aircraft S- 300 missiles pointing out that their installation in Cyprus will be canceled if there is a dialogue on the island’s demilitarization.

[08] THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD HELP IN THE PRESERVATION OF CYPRUS’ CULTURAL HERITAGE

Cyprus’ permanent representative in the UN, ambassador Zakheos, made an appeal to the international community to help in the efforts for the preservation of the cultural heritage and identity of the northern part of Cyprus which is under Turkish occupation.

In his speech to the UN General Assembly, he referred to the systematic destruction of the Cypriot cultural heritage committed by the Turkish occupation forces.

The Cypriot ambassador stated that the policy followed by the occupation force aimed at altering the region’s demographic character and the history of the Cypriot civilization, through the introduction of settlers and the destruction, desecration and looting, especially of places of worship, has left a wound open in the Cypriot cultural heritage.

[09] THE ABNA GENERAL DIRECTORS’ MEETING WAS HELD IN THESSALONIKI

The general directors of the Balkan news agencies expressed satisfaction in their general assembly meeting in Thessaloniki, for the acceptance, in principle, by the European Commission of the “Diavlos” program concerning the satellite link-up of all the Balkan news agencies with Thessaloniki which was hammered out by MPA.

The members of the Association of Balkan News Agencies, ABNA, decided to intensify their efforts for the final approval of the “Diavlos” program by the EU.

Also, they rejected the application submitted by the private Turkish news agency, IHA, requesting to become a full member of ABNA, as members become only the Balkan national professional news agencies.

[10] BUREAUCRACY, CORRUPTION AND CRIME HURT TRANSPORTS IN THE BALKANS

The smooth transport of goods through the road network of the Balkan countries is impeded by bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure and crime that is on the rise in the roads of south- eastern Europe.

President of the Bulgarian Hauliers Association Vladimir Dimchev stressed that the above, in combination with the corruption occasionally observed among the employees, who oversee the road network, have a very negative effect on transports. The statements were made in his speech during the 2nd Inter-Balkan Conference of the sector which will be completed in Thessaloniki this afternoon.

Mr.Dimchev stated that if the same situation continues road transportation in the Balkans will become non competitive or even impossible by the year 2000. He also said that additional problems are the long waiting at the Balkan border stations, where tens of vehicles are being immobilized for many hours as well as, the high taxes imposed on the goods transported by trucks.

[11] GREEK PREMIER, K. SIMITIS: “STOP” TO TURKEY ABOUT THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE

The Greek Premier, Kostas Simitis, announced, during a press conference given in London today, that Greece is ready to block Turkey’s participation in the European Conference. During the day Mr. Simitis had meetings with the Leader of the Conservative Party, William Hart, the Archbishop of Great Britain and the representative of the Intergovernmental Parliamentary Group of Greek - British Amity, while few hours ago he had a meeting with the Greek ship owners. On Sunday, the Greek Premier will go to Paris in order to participate in the Session of the West European Union and he will meet with his French counterpart, Lionel Zospen. E.K.

[12] CONFERNCE IN BUCHAREST ABOUT ENERGY

Programs about energy connection between the Balkan countries, are expected to be adopted during the Conference about Energy, that takes place today in Bucharest, in the frame of cooperation with the European Union. Ministers of 13 countries of the Black Sea and the Balkans participate in this conference. The Conference has been organized with the initiative of the Greek Communal Delegate, Christos Papoutsis, who stressed, during his opening speech, the interest of the European Union for the Black Sea countries, which, as he said, constitute geopolitical and economical challenges. E.K.

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