Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-12-18

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 18 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] UKRANIAN AIRPLANE MISSING NEAR MT. OLYMPUS, HAS YET TO BE LOCATED

All-night search efforts for the location of the Ukrainian passenger plane which “vanished” late yesterday evening in the region of Mt. Olympus with 70 people on board have yet to produce results.

The YAK-42 aircraft, conducting the charter flight from Kiev, via Odessa, was supposed to land in Thessaloniki shortly after 1930 GMT. It disappeared from the radar of Thessaloniki’s air traffic control tower yesterday at 7:13 p.m. when it approached the landing corridor without embarking on landing maneuvers. According to the “Macedonia” airport officials, the tower personnel guided the Ukrainian pilot to delay landing, by making a turn above the city and re-attempt the landing process. The pilot turned westward, above the Thermaicos Bay, and in turn flew southwest of the airport. The last time it was located on the radar it was flying at an altitude of 1,000 meters, 15 kilometers away the city of Veria.

Laborious searches are being carried out by Navy ships, a C- 130 military plane and other security forces west of the Aegean Sea and the mountains near Katerini in central Greece. Two C-130 Hercules military transports and Chinook helicopters equipped for bad weather are taking part, along with warships, police launches and merchant vessels. Tanks from an armored division stationed at Litohoron at the foot of Mount Olympus are also in the area, while ambulances and rescue workers are on stand-by in Thessaloniki and Katerini.

The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos said that the search efforts have been stretched to the area of Kilkis, northeast of Thessaloniki. The Ukrainian passenger plane, carrying 42 Greeks on board, had replaced a Boeing 737 which had mechanical failure. A.F.

[02] GREEK WORKERS UNIONS EMBARK ON 24-HOUR STRIKE TODAY

In protest to next year’s economic measures, the country’s General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) are embarking on a 24-hour strike today.

The striking workers are demanding that their salaries be increased and fortified against inflation, while they also ask that the government index to a greater degree the income-tax brackets to inflation and raise tax exemptions to GRD two million. Moreover, they ask that pensions be increased to amount to 80% of their salaries.

The sector to bear the brunt of the strike will be that of mass transportation which is to paralyze today, workers in the country’s ports are also participating in the mobilization. Air traffic controllers and stewards have called off their mobilization, which was to begin today, following the disappearance of the Ukrainian plane. A.F.

[03] PRESIDENT OF GREECE EXPRESSES SORROW FOR MISSING PLANE

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, expressed his sorrow over the Ukrainian passenger plane which “vanished” late yesterday evening in the region of Mt. Olympus with 70 people on board, en route from Kiev to Thessaloniki via Odessa.

Shortly before his meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis at the Presidential Mansion in Athens, President Stephanopoulos stated that “we are all currently under a state of sorrow over the airplane tragedy.”

The President, who had returned yesterday from an official visit to Ukraine, met with the leader of Greece’s armed forces who told him that there are no developments in the efforts to located the missing aircraft.

The Premier informed the President on the searches conducted by the Greek armed forces, specifically, Navy ships, a C-130 military plane and other security forces west of the Aegean Sea and the mountains near Katerini in central Greece. Two C-130 Hercules military transports and Chinook helicopters equipped for bad weather are taking part, along with warships, police launches and merchant vessels. Mr. Simitis did state that information so far has been contradictory. A.F.

[04] 42 GREEKS ON MISSING PLANE, 7 OF THEM FROM ONE CITY, RESIDENTS UPSET

Seven out of the 42 Greek passengers on the missing YAK-42 Ukrainian aircraft, conducting the charter flight from Kiev, via Odessa, are residents of the village Eani, near the city of Kozani, in northwest Greece.

Most of them married with children, they are among the 23 factory workers who were en route to home for the holidays, employed by the Greek-owned construction business “Michaniki” which has a satellite factory in Odessa. A.F.

[05] UKRANIAN DIPLOMAT IN GREECE COMMENTS ON MISSING PLANE

The Ukrainian charges d’affaires assigned to Greece Vladimir Skurov has expressed his optimism that the fierce efforts exerted by the Greek security forces to locate the Ukrainian passenger plane that disappeared last evening in northern Greece will bear results.

He also stated that he is satisfied with the immediate mobilization of the country’s armed forces, which are literally combing the inaccessible areas of Mt. Olympus. However, he added that as time goes by without discovering a trace of the aircraft, hopes for survivors diminish. A.F.

[06] ADVERSE WEATHER STRIKES GREECE WITH LOW TEMPERATURES, SNOW, HAIL

Tens of villages in mountainous areas of Greece have become isolated due to heavy snowfall, mainly in Thrace, Florina and Kastoria, while vehicles in most of Northern Greece require non- skid chains.

Strong winds are battering the country, while authorities in the region of Evros are currently on stand-by in case of potential floods resulting from the heavy rainfall in the area. A.F.

[07] THE SEARCH FOR THE LOCATION OF THE UKRAINIAN PASSENGER PLANE IS FRUITLESS

The search for the location of the Ukrainian passenger airplane, that is missing since yesterday evening, is still fruitless.

The “JAK-42” Jakovlev plane is missing since 9:15pm yesterday when it attempted to land at the Airport of Thessaloniki and the control tower instructed the pilot to make a circle over the airport before repeating its attempt. As it was made known, on board the plane were 62 passengers, among them 42 Greeks, and an 8- member crew. Twenty two of the Greek passengers were technicians and mechanics working for the Greek construction company “Michaniki” in the Ukraine, who returned to Greece for the Christmas holidays.

Transport minister Mr.Mantelis stated that the government will find who is responsible as soon as the necessary evidence is gathered and the airplane is located. Mr.Mantelis also stressed that in deed there is no radar at the airport of Thessaloniki.

National Defense General Staff Chief Mr.Tzoganis stated that the Ukrainian airplane was flying at a low altitude and is possible to have crashed at the Pieria Mountains. He also stressed that the search is being hampered by the low clouds in the region that restrict visibility to less than 100 meters.

The location of the airplane is especially difficult as it was not equipped with the satellite system for the location of its ground position in case of an accident.

Specialists have listened to the tapes with the conversation that took place between the control tower and the plane’s pilot. The pilot says that he is preparing the plane for landing and that its altitude is at 3.500 feet. He also informs the control tower that he will notify it as soon as he reaches the position for descent. Those were the pilot’s last words.

Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos stated that land and sea search is being conducted in the prefectures of Imathia and Pieria, in north-central Greece, with the participation of army land forces, special rescue forces, a C-130 military transport plane, 6 military helicopters and 39 fishing- boats.

As it was made known, the Greek authorities have requested the assistance of a special center in Brussels specializing in the location of planes that have crashed.

[08] STATEMENTS BY THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE MISSING AIRPLANE

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas expressed the prime minister’s and the government’s regret for the plane crash, while he underlined that the responsible authorities are doing everything possible in order for the search to be successful.

Responding to questions by reporters on the delay of the installation of the new radar at the Macedonia Airport, Mr.Reppas stated that the responsibility for the delay belongs to those who did not want its installation, while he stressed that the political responsibility belongs to the government. Nevertheless, he added that in order to be successful in its task the government must have the assistance of the responsible social institutions and workers’ unions.

He also said that for the time being and before the search for the location of the Ukrainian passenger plane is completed, the crash can not be related with the delay in the installation of the new radar at the Airport of Thessaloniki.

[09] THE COUNTRY CAME TO A STANDSTILL DUE TO THE GENERAL STRIKE

The private and public sector came to a standstill due to the 24-hour strike organized by their main unions which are opposed to the new state budget that has been brought to Parliament for approval.

Protest rallies were held in Athens and Thessaloniki and in other large cities. In Thessaloniki, the strikers gathered outside the Workers’ Center and held a march to the ministry of Macedonia- Thrace in spite of the bitter cold. In the region of Thessaloniki the strikers’ participation in the public sector was about 50%.

[10] STEPHANOPOULOS-SIMITIS MEETING

Prime minister Kostas Simitis briefed president Kostis Stephanopoulos this morning on the outcome of the EU Summit meeting in Luxembourg.

In statements he made after the meeting, the prime minister stated that he briefed the president on all the developments in Luxembourg and stressed that the government’s policy on national issues is characterized by consistency, firmness and cool- headedness.

[11] SEARCH FOR THE UKRAINIAN AEROPLANE CONTINUES

The special forces unit is still going on with its searches for the Ukrainian aeroplane, which is missing since yesterday night, without having any results. It is estimated that, on the whole, about 1.500 people took part in today’s mobilization and it is possible that, if there are no results until late tonight, tomorrow the mobilization will expand with the participation of, at least, 4.000civil servants. Civilians, who have already offered warmly to help, are not included in this number.

[12] T. MANTELIS: WE WILL FIND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

The government will find who is responsible as soon as they have the experts’ report regarding the cause of the aeroplane accident outside Thessaloniki. Transport Minister Tasos Mantelis stated today. Mr Mantelis admitted that the accident might have been avoided if “Macedonia” airport had radars. But, as he stressed, it is internationally known that landings and take-offs in Thessaloniki follow the ILS procedure. Macedonia-Thrace Minister Filippos Petsalnikos expressed his satisfaction about all the ground, air and sea forces that search intensively for the aircraft.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] US REITERATE SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S ACCESSION TO THE WEST

US State Department spokesperson James Foley reiterated yesterday evening that the United States would like to see Turkey gain entrance to the European institutions, thereby confirming President Bill Clinton’s similar statements.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has embarked on a four-day visit to the United States, on the aftermath of the snubbing it received from the European Union.

According to the itinerary of his visit, Mr. Yilmaz is to meet with US President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, five Secretaries and with the chiefs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Mgrs. Yilmaz and Gore are to meet on December 19 and will proceed to the signing of an $850 million agreement concerning the purchase of 49 Boeing aircraft.

The Turkish Premier will next meet with President Clinton, who is expected to bring up the issue of human rights, while also setting forth as priority matters both the Cyprus issue and the situation in the Aegean Sea. A.F.

[14] TURKISH PREMIER IN THE UNITED STATES, TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON

Turkey’s Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is currently on a four- day, official visit to the United States, where he is to meet with President Bill Clinton tomorrow.

According to BBC reports, the American President is to ask the Turkish Premier to bridge his country’s differences with the European Union, by emphasizing that at least some of the terms set forth by the Community need to be accepted by Ankara so that Turkey may proceed with accession to the EU.

President Clinton is also expected to request from Mr. Yilmaz that he accept recourse for the Imia islets with the International Court of Justice at The Hague and to achieve progress on the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Yilmaz is to also meet with US Vice-President Al Gore, five Secretaries and with the chiefs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Mgrs. Yilmaz and Gore are to meet tomorrow and, according to reports, will proceed to the signing of an $850 million agreement concerning the purchase of 49 Boeing aircraft. A.F.

[15] THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER WILL MEET WITH THE US PRESIDENT TOMORROW

The meeting US president Bill Clinton will have in Washington tomorrow with Turkish prime minister Mesut Yilmaz is being characterized as crucial.

According to reliable information broadcast by the BBC, the US president is expected to ask the Turkish prime minister to bridge the gap between Ankara and the European Union, stressing that it should accept at least some of the terms set by the EU in order for the process of Turkey’s EU accession to proceed.

[16] THE TALKS BETWEEN GREECE AND FYROM WILL CONTINUE IN JANUARY

One more meeting was held between representatives from Greece and FYROM without any concrete outcome on the settlement of the issue of the name that will be used by FYROM. The representatives of FYROM reiterated for one more time their government’s firm position on the use of the constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia”, as it is being called.

According to FYROM’s news agency, a statement made by the representative of the office of the UN secretary-general to the radio station of Skopje, the talks will resume at the end of January.

[17] FYROM WANTS TO OPEN A CONSULATE IN THESSALONIKI

FYROM’s government spokesman Zoran Ivanov expressed the hope on behalf of his government that groups of specialists from Greece and FYROM will examine by early 1998 the problem that has been created in the issuing of visas.

In a press conference Mr.Ivanov pointed out that his country is ready to proceed with the full liberalization of the visa issuing process through the opening of a consulate in Thessaloniki.

[18] PKK WANTS CEASE - FIRE

The Kurd separatist party PKK asked today for a cease-fire in a bid to defuse the conflict between Turkey and Kurds. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asked all the EU members to support his offer so that the war will end and an open dialogue will begin with Turkey. Mr Ocalan stated that PKK is not against Turkey’s bid for membership in the EU, as long as Ankara accepts the fundamental rights of the Kurds, ceases its military operations in northern Iraq and grants Kurd political parties, including PKK, their independence.

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