Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-12-05

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 5 December 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD HOLDS ELECTIONS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

The Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) is continuing its First Regular Meeting in Thessaloniki today, with elections for the nine- member presidency taking place in the afternoon.

The two candidates for the top post are the current president of SAE Andrew Athens and Theodoros Spyropoulos. Both men delivered eloquent campaign speeches which stressed the need for unity and outlined their individual plans of action.

The 350 delegates are to vote for one president, an alternate president, the four regional presidents and the three secretaries. In case a majority vote is not reached, the voting process will be repeated in a run-off election. A.F.

[02] MINISTERIAL COUNCIL TO CONVENE TODAY, ARSENIS WILL BE CALLED UPON

The Greek government’s ministerial council is to convene today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

The Premier is expected to call upon Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, who is a former defense minister, to provide an explanation over his critical statements regarding NATO’s recent agreement concerning both Greece and Turkey.

In Thessaloniki yesterday, responding to an MPA reporter’s relevant question, Mr. Simitis expressed his disapproval over Mr. Arsenis’ statements and fully supported Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos by stating that the latter executed the decisions drawn by the National Defense Council. A.F.

[03] GREEK PARLIAMENT’S COMMITTEE ON HELLENES ABROAD SUPPORTS SAE

The President of the Greek Parliament’s Cross-Party Committee on Hellenes Abroad Grigoris Niotis has proposed that the various organizations of the Greek communities abroad be represented within the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) through the formation of another committee.

Addressing the Thessaloniki-held SAE First Regular Meeting yesterday, Mr. Niotis stated that this committee should comprise members of the General Secretariat of Hellenes Abroad, SAE and the Parliament’s Cross-Party Committee.

In addition, Mr. Niotis outlined that the parliamentary committee’s foremost priority is to construct the premises of a national strategy for the Greek communities abroad.

“The first basic choice is the formation and operation of the World Assembly of Hellenism and its immediate convocation, as well as the concurrent establishment of Thessaloniki as a metropolitan center of coordination of the international network of Greeks living abroad through the creation of an Organization (Foundation) of Hellenism Abroad, as well as the upgrading of the functional and monetary operation of the general Secretariat of Hellenes Abroad,” Mr. Niotis stated.

In turn, the parliamentarian stressed that the SAE must become financially independent and to be established as the top- ranking institution of the various self-coordinated forces of Hellenism.

Lastly, addressing the attending delegates, Mr. Niotis said that “you are the natural leaders of Hellenism abroad, the responsibility for unity is now in your hands.”

The parliamentary committee’s main opposition party representative, New Democracy’s George Kalangis stressed the significance of unity and added that SAE should function with transparency and democratic processes. A.F.

[04] GREECE-FYROM ECONOMIC COOPERATION GIVEN A BOOST BY GREEK BIZ FAIR

The fact the economic cooperation can play a determinative role in the course of establishing a positive political climate between Greece and FYROM was echoed during the course of the First Exhibition of Greek Businesses held in Skopje by Thessaloniki’s HELEXPO - International Trade Fair (ITF).

The Exhibition features the participation of 146 businesses from throughout Greece and various authorities, such as Greece’s ministry of development.

National Economy undersecretary Alexandros Baltas inaugurated the Exhibition and announced that Greece will establish a trade office in FYROM’s capital Skopje at the beginning of the following year.

In declaring open the Exhibition, which will be held until tomorrow, December 6, Mr. Baltas stressed that initiatives such as the current one taken by HELEXPO fall within the framework of the overall Balkan policy drawn and applied by the Greek government. Moreover, Mr. Baltas stressed the weight granted by the Greek government to the development of economic ties with FYROM, in its effort to establish an improved political climate.

Meanwhile, coinciding with the Exhibition, the Thessaloniki- based Inter-Balkan and Black Sea Business Center (DIPEK) organized a seminar in Skopje yesterday which examined the business opportunities for bilateral cooperation between Greece and FYROM.

The head of the Greece-FYROM Liaison Office Alexandros Mallias stressed the need to establish a credible legislative framework in FYROM that would secure Greek investments and ventures in the neighboring country.,

Mr. Mallias referred to two incidents that compromised FYROM’s credibility in business ventures with Greece, one which concerned a Greek-Russian interest joint venture “East Power Corporation” the agreement of which was breached at the last minute. Nevertheless, Mr. Mallias added that significant steps have been taken in the recent years to improve the business collaboration of Greece and FYROM.

The secretary-general of FYROM’s Ministry of Economy Mr. Asorvski outlined that his country has proceeded to legislative reforms and tax incentives that will attract foreign investment. A great incentive, according to FYROM’s official, is the tax exemption granted to foreign investors who will be relieved from a 15% tax under the condition that their profits be re-funneled into FYROM. A.F.

[05] C OF E’S PRESS MINISTERS TO HOLD 5TH SUMMIT IN THESSALONIKI NEXT WEEK

Over 40 ministers of press and media from the Council of Europe member-states, along with observers and other officials, are to gather in Thessaloniki next week in order to participate at the Fifth European Ministerial Summit for Politics in the Mass Media.

The conference, to be held on December 11 and 12, is jointly organized by the C of E and Greece’s Ministry of Press and Media, which will hold the presidency of the event.

This marks the first time that Greece has been assigned the organization of such a significant event in the sector of information and communication.

The Summit will be inaugurated by the Greek Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas and the C of E’s alternate secretary- general Hans Christian Kruger, while salutations will be forwarded by the President of Greece Kostis Stephanopoulos and the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

The Greek delegation, headed by the secretary-general of information Yiannis Nikolaou will focus on the theme “Society of Information: a Challenge for Europe” .

The two-day Summit will examine the opportunities provided by the governments for the adoption of a common policy in regards to new technologies and the new services related to communication- information. The ministers will try to draw a regulating framework that will aim at safeguarding human rights and freedoms, as well as the basic principles of democracy. A.F.

[06] THE CABINET DISCUSSES NATO’S NEW COMMAND STRUCTURE

The new command structure of NATO was discussed today in a Greek cabinet meeting and prime minister Kostas Simitis stressed that Greece will not adopt a policy of nationalist isolationism.

The issue of the disagreements expressed regarding the agreement between Greece and Turkey that concerned the operational control of the Aegean air space was the main subject that was discussed by the cabinet.

Mr.Simitis stressed that the agreement completely safeguards the Greek national interests and made tough comments for those who expressed their disagreement publicly. He added that every member of the government and especially those, who participate in collective government bodies, have the obligation to back the basic government choices and not to create problems to the government’s image. Mr.Simitis also said that he will bear the cost of his personal choices.

On Wednesday, minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos will brief the Parliament Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on NATO’s new structure.

The national issues will also be discussed in the meeting of the New Democracy parliamentary group that will be held under the presidency of party leader Kostas Karamanlis.

[07] ORTHODOXY AND THE GREEKS LIVING ABROAD SHARE A COMMON COURSE

The important role played by the Christian Orthodox Church in the countries with Greek communities and the difficulties it faces in its effort to fulfill its mission were examined by the speakers in the conference unity “Orthodoxy and the Greeks living abroad” of the Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, assembly meeting that is held in Thessaloniki.

Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All of Africa stated that there are about 300.000 black Orthodox Christians, who have to walk 3-4 hours to get to the closest church.

He pointed out that the Church unites the Greeks abroad and added that the spirit of Orthodoxy and Hellenism should reach even the peoples who have never heard of the message of God. Also, the Metropolite of Carthagena added that the Church has to become Ecumenical without borders, stressing that it has to be the Church of man regardless of religion.

Metropolite of Austria and central Europe Michail emphasized the problems faced by the Greeks living abroad, pointing out that the course of Orthodoxy must be defined and should be adjusted to the new conditions that have been created.

Holy Synod press spokesman Nikos Hatzifotis spoke of the long course of Orthodoxy through the centuries and pointed out that the Greek language is the language of Orthodoxy, while he maintained that in this new era Orthodoxy is being called to continue its work and offer support to the Greeks living abroad.

[08] ELECTIONS FOR THE SAE PRESIDING BOARD

The speeches of the candidates for the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) 9member Presiding Board were completed with those of Andrew Athens and Theodoros Spyropoulos, who are candidates for the presidency of SAE.

Already, 350 delegates have began voting to elect the president, the deputy president of the four regional presidents- vice-presidents and the three secretaries of SAE.

In case no 50%+1 majority is achieved in the first round of voting the process will be repeated with the participation of the two candidates with the most votes.

[09] PROTEST RALLY FOR THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES

A protest rally will be held today, the World Day for the Parthenon Marbles. The rally will take place outside the British Museum and is organized by the Greek students in Britain. Already, the communities of the Greek students have collected 20.000 signatures endorsing a text that calls for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

The marbles were removed from the Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens 200 years ago by Lord Elgin. They were taken to London and were sold to the British Museum and since then the British government refuses to return them to Greece.

The Greek government decided to build a new museum in the Acropolis were the marbles will be placed when they are returned.

The supporters of their return to Athens call on the British government to reconsider its decision to keep the Parthenon Marbles and to start negotiations for their return as soon as the new museum is ready.

[10] THE NEW STRUCTURE OF NATO IN THE GREEK CABINET

The national issues and the new structure of NATO, as well as the reactions that were stated upon this matter, were the main issues of the long session of the Greek Cabinet which convened today. The Prime Minister stressed that it is inconceivable to have an image of public disagreement from the ministers members of the Greek Cabinet, and this is worst when the ministers who handle this issues are abroad. Mr. Simitis suggested that the rules of function of the government must be respected and he added that the statements made by the Minister of Education, Mr. Arsenis, form a negative impression for the government and do not respond to the actual level of performance of the governmental work. E.K.

[11] ANDREW ATHENS RE-ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF HELLENES LIVING ABROAD

Mr. Andrew Athens was re-elected as a President of the Council of Hellenes Living Abroad with an overwhelming majority over Mr. Theodoros Spiropoulos. Mr. Athens received 243 votes while Mr. Spiropoulos received 55 votes.

Mr. Kostas Pappas was re-elected for the position of alternate president of the Council of Hellenes Living Abroad with 148 votes.

For the positions of Peripheral Presidents - Vice Presidents of the International Council of Hellenes Living Abroad were elected as follows : In the Council of Hellenes Living in America Mr. Christos Tomaras with 108 votes, in the Council of Hellenes Living in Europe Mr. Agathangelos Aslanidis with 71 votes, in the Council of Hellenes Living in Australia Mr. Konstantinos Vertsagias with 21 votes and in the Council of Hellenes in Asia - Africa Mr. Stefanos Tamvakis unanimously.

For the positions of the three secretaries of the Council of Hellenes Living Abroad the following were elected : 1) Dimitris Konstantinidis (from Australia) with 148 votes, 2) Kostas Georganas (from Canada) with 85 votes and 3) Christos Karipidis (from Sweden) with 78 votes.

316 people enrolled in the catalogues. 313 people voted. 298 votes were valid, 12 were invalid and 3 were blank. E.K.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] US REITERATE ADVOCACY OF INTERNATIONAL COURT FOR AEGEAN DISPUTES

The State Department has reiterated its stance that Greece and Turkey should resolve any territorial dispute through a mutually acceptable dispute resolution mechanism, such as the International Court of Justice.

State Department spokesperson James Rubin, responding to a question submitted by a Greek correspondent, stated that “Greece and Turkey have agreed in principle to a plan to revamp the NATO command structure in the context of the overall realignment of NATO’s command structure. We see this agreement as a noteworthy step forward in the effort to build confidence in the Aegean.”

Moreover, Mr. Rubin clarified that, as the US understand it, the agreement is not directly related to any territorial dispute.

White House spokesperson Mike McCurry also referred to the NATO agreement and said that it is an encouraging development.

“We welcome this agreement in principle between Greece and Turkey which facilitates the adjustment of NATO’s command structure,” Mr. McCurry stated. “This had been an issue for at least two decades and was the source of tension between two of NATO’s close allies.” A.F.

[13] ATHENS HOSTS CRUCIAL TALKS ON BURGAS-ALEXANDROUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE

Talks concerning the allocation of the Greek, Bulgarian and Russian shares in the Transbalkan Pipeline company, which will construct and operate the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, are to be continued in Athens today by experts representing the three sides.

Yesterday, the officials signed an agreement for the auctioning of the pipeline’s construction study, whose cost is budgeted at one billion drachmas and whose funding will be derived from the European Union (70%) and two Greek companies (30%) which are to participate in the project, Latsis and Kapelouzos.

The allocation of shares is a sore point in the development course of the project since none of the three sides has managed to agree on its degree of participation. The main stumbling block in the negotiations has been Bulgaria’s demand that it be assigned 25% of the shares. A.F.

[14] GREECE, BULGARIA AND TURKEY TO GET NATURAL GAS FROM THE UKRAINE

A supply of 1.26 billion cubic meters of natural gas is to be given by the Ukraine to Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey, in repayment of its debt to these countries, as per the Jaburg Accord.

The relevant agreement was signed yesterday in Moscow between the two Russian companies “Gazprom” and Gazexport” with Bulgaria’s “Bulgargaz”, officiated by the President of the Bulgarian Committee on Energy Ivan Silaski.

Mr. Silaski said that the Bulgarian state will proceed with the construction of the pipeline that will transfer natural gas to Greece, a project whose length measures 120 kilometers. A.F.

[15] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE BYZANTIUM TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI

An international symposium on the Byzantium titled “The Byzantine Philosophy and its ancient sources” is to be held in Thessaloniki next Thursday, December 11, organized by the Organization Cultural Capital of Europe Thessaloniki ’97, the National Metsovio Polytechnic School and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The one-day event, to be held a the city’s Museum of Byzantine Culture, is to feature the participation of distinguished historians, among them D. Harlfinger of the University of Hamburg, J. Duffy from Harvard, L. Benakis from the Athens Academy and others.

The speeches will be delivered in the English and German languages and admission is free of charge. A.F.

[16] WE COULDN’T COMMUNICATE WITHOUT GREEK, SAYS SPANISH ACADEMIC

Giving a new dimension to “it’s all Greek to me”, Spanish academic Francisco Rodriguez Adrados supports that if Greek words were to be expunged from the other languages, then we wouldn’t be able to communicate.

Mr. Adrados, academic and honorary professor of the Greek language, supported the contribution of the Greek language during the presentation of the fifth volume of a Greek-Spanish dictionary.

The book contains a detailed report on the influence of the ancient Greek language on the newer tongues. Spain’s Minister of Culture Esperanda Aguirre was present at the event. A.F.

[17] FATOS NANO ASKS ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT TO EXTEND GREEK FORCES STAY

Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano has asked his country’s Parliament to approve the stay of the Greek military force that is currently stationed in Albania.

The Albanian State Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Perikli Teta, stated that the 250-men force of the Greek company will guard the military hospital and will assist in the distribution of aid that Greece has pledged to offer for the reconstruction of the Albanian armed forces. A.F.

[18] FYROM’S FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH ALBANIAN COUNTERPART IN TIRANA

The Foreign Minister of FYROM Blagoye Hadjinski met with his Albanian counterpart Pascal Milo in Tirana yesterday, where the two men proceeded to the signing of six bilateral agreements concerning border access and safeguarding, as well as trade and economic cooperation.

During his stay at the Albanian capital, Mr.Hadjinski was received by Albania’s President Reijep Meidani, the President of Parliament Skender Gjinushi and Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

Mr. Milo stated that all differences should be resolved through dialogue and stressed that his country has no ill intention towards FYROM’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. He did add that Albania does have the right as the mother-land to develop solidarity with the Albanian people living in FYROM so that it may safeguard its legitimate rights, especially those concerning education in its mother tongue.

In turn, Mr. Hadjinski stated that his country truly wishes for the development of ties with all of its neighbors especially Albania. He stated that the people of his country, as Albania’s are divided and separated (meaning that sections of these peoples reside in other states) and stressed that the only solution is a united Europe. The Foreign Minister of FYROM stressed that his country wishes to fulfill the conclusions reached at the Crete Summit.

Mr.Hadjinski announced that the Premier of his country Branco Cervenkovski will visit Albania in the beginning of January. A.F.

[19] DEPARTMENT OF BALKAN AND EASTERN STUDIES IN MACEDONIA UNIVERSITY

Macedonia University dean Manolis Hatziprokopiou announced the establishment of a Balkan and Eastern Studies Department that will be in operation in one or two years.

All the Balkan languages as well as Turkish, Russian and Armenian will be taught in this department, while according to Mr.Hatziprokopiou, this is a chance to be better acquainted with the neighbouring peoples. He also underlined the effort made by the Macedonia University aimed at spreading the Greek language to the countries with which Greece has close ties.

[20] THE CZECH REPUBLIC WANTS TRADE AND CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH NORTHERN GREECE

Czech ambassador to Athens Vladimir Zavazal conveyed to Thessaloniki prefect Lefteris Papadopoulos his country’s wish for closer trade and cultural relations with northern Greece.

The Czech ambassador, who visited the prefect accompanied by the consul general in Thessaloniki, discussed the likelihood of organizing a Czech cultural night in the city next May.

[21] THE ARCHBISHOP OF AMERICA CALLS ON THE US TO INTERVENE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Archbishop of America Spyridon with a letter addressed to US president Bill Clinton calls for the US government intervention for the protection of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul after the recent bomb attack.

Meanwhile, the Ecumenical Patriarch received today the ambassador of Moldavia, who expressed his country’s support, while telegrams of support still arrive at the Patriarchate from all over the world.

In spite of the requests for increased security measures for the protection of the Patriarchate its guards continue to be just two police officers.

[22] THE UNITED STATES SUGGEST THE HAGUE FOR THE SOLUTION OF DISPUTES

“Any territorial dispute between Greece and Turkey should be resolved through a mutually acceptable dispute resolution mechanism such as the International Court of Justice in The Hague.”

The above are included in a written statement of US State Department spokesman James Rubin that was issued after a question made by a Greek correspondent.

[23] THE BUYING OUT OF ARMEN TELECOM BY THE GREEK OTE IS IN ITS FINAL STAGE

The final negotiations before the signing of an agreement between the Greek telecommunications company OTE and the Armenian government for the buyout of 90% of the Armenian Telecommunications Organization, Armen Telecom, will soon be underway.

According to information, OTE offers 125 million dollars to secure at least 51% of the Armenian organization’s shares, while a 10% will be given to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and 10% to the Leventi business group. A percentage of the shares will be controlled by the French telecommunications organization, France Telecom.

[24] THE 5TH EUROPEAN MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE ON THE MASS MEDIA WILL BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI

Over 40 ministers of press from Council of Europe member- states, as well as, representatives from observer status and associate status countries will be in Thessaloniki next Thursday and Friday to attend the 5th European Ministers’ Conference on the policy concerning the mass media.

The meeting is organized by the Council of Europe and the Greek ministry of press and mass media. It is the first time that Greece has undertaken to host such an important meeting in the sector of communications and information.

The conference will be declared open by Greek minister of press and mass media Dimitris Reppas and Council of Europe deputy general secretary Hans Christian Kruger. Messages will be sent by president Kostis Stephanopoulos and prime minister Kostas Simitis.

In the two-day meeting delegates will examine the adoption of a joint policy concerning the new technologies and the new communication-information services. The ministers will also discuss the adoption of a regulatory framework that will safeguard human rights and basic freedoms as well as, the fundamental principles of Democracy in view of the speedy development of new technologies.

[25] ROMANIA REFUSED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE NAZI GOLD CASE

A representative of the National Bank of Romania stated that based on evidence provided by the state archives, there is not even one gram of gold in the bank’s vault that belonged to victims of the Holocaust.

The statement was made after the publication of a report by Swiss historians according to which, Romania bought Nazi gold worth 54 million dollars that belonged to Jews in the period 1939- 1944. The gold’s value today is estimated at 540 million dollars.

The National Bank of Romania admits that in the period 1934- 1935 it had received gold from Berlin in exchange for the oil it had exported to Germany. Nevertheless, it is speculated that the issue will have a sequel as in another part of the report it is mentioned that according to the Austrian archives, 1.510 bars of gold had been taken to the German Central Bank in Romania in 1943.

[26] ON SUNDAY THE COUNT DOWN BETWEEN MILOUTINOVIC - SESELI

The President of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, put pressures upon the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Milan Miloutinovic, in sight of the presidential elections on Sunday. Miloutinovic was selected by the president himself as a candidate for the serbian presidency, after the week appearance of his party in the elections on October 5th, which were found invalid because less than 50% of the electorate appeared. It is estimated that the former Minister of Foreign Affairs will have problems in winning his main competitor, Voislav Seseli, who has strong public support mainly in the province. E.K.

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