Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-02-04

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 4 February 1998

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER EXPELS THREE DEPUTIES FROM PARTY

The disciplinary council of the main opposition party New Democracy has proceeded to the expulsion of three party deputies who failed to toe the party line against a government provision changing relations between workers and management at state-run public utilities.

The expelled deputies are former ministers George Souflias and Stephanos Manos and Vassilis Kontoyiannopoulos. Former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, ND's honorary president, was exempted from the decision, taken at an extraordinary meeting chaired by party leader Kostas Karamanlis, due to his "long presence and contribution to political life." Mitsotakis has the right "to express views which may not necessarily express the party's positions," according to an announcement Mr. Karamanlis.

[02] CENTRAL GREECE’S FARMERS TO BLOCK THE ROADS

Following a midnight session held by their coordinating committee, the farmers of central Greece have decided to proceed to roadblocks for a few hours, if their demands are not met.

Meanwhile, the farmers in the region of Aigio are also threatening to block the country’s national highway on Friday if their request to meet with the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is not met.

Today, farmers in the region of Messinia in the Peloponnese are to conduct a rally in the central square of the city of Kalamata, while Crete’s fresh produce manufacturers are expected to close off the airport of Heraklion for the whole day.

[03] PREMIER TO EXECUTIVE BUREAU: LET’S PUT AN END TO MISERY

Greece’s Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, heading the Executive Bureau session, stated that an end should be put to misery and to the personalization of juxtapositions and labels that make a mockery out of the political function of the party.

Moreover, the premier added that “we have more than two years of work ahead of us in order to complete our task.”

[04] GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON COMMENTS ON CESSATION OF US MILITARY AID

The Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated that the standard of the Greek armed forces is such that it does not require military aid from the United States.

Mr. Reppas was asked to comment on Washington's decision to discontinue military assistance to NATO allies Greece and Turkey and stated that “what is of interest to us is that the balance of power is maintained between Greece and Turkey for reasons of national security."

The decision to discontinue the assistance was announced by US President Bill Clinton. A State Department official has stated that the decision in effect constituted the result of the "maturing" of the two countries' relations with the US.

"There is no need for the same level of (military) aid as in the past in order for these two countries to continue to play an active role in NATO. We had consultations with both countries," the official said.

[05] THE MINISTER OF FINANCE EMBARKS TODAY ON VISIT TO LONDON

Greece’s Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou embarks today on a four-day formal visit to London, at the invitation of the British Industries’ Association.

The invitation was issued to Mr. Papantoniou on the occasion of a one-day meeting on “Greece in the new millennium” that will be held tomorrow. During the event will be examined the business prospects and the investment opportunities available in Greece.

[06] THE PHASE OF INTROVERSION FOR ND HAS COME TO AN END

Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis met with his advisers today. As it was established, the phase of introversion for the party has come to an end and now it is free to move ahead intensifying its opposition to the government.

New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated that a small group of would-be guardians has prepared and executed proscriptions using a method previously unknown to the democratic party.

ND deputy Mr. Liapis stated that the party with a clear political line and free from introversion will find its way again.

Mr. Manos and Mr. Souflias have not commented yet on the decision of the New Democracy disciplinary council to expel them from the party.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, commenting on the speedy developments in the main opposition party, stated that New Democracy was and is a party without a program.

[07] MEASURES TO FACILITATE THE FILLING OF TAX RETURNS

Measures aimed at facilitating the tax payers, who will file their tax returns in March were announced by undersecretary of finance Mr. Dris.

In those measures are included the extension of the working hours for the revenue offices as well as, the establishment of a special office in the ministry of finance and in the local revenue offices designed to offer advise to the public.

Mr. Dris reiterated that the objective criteria for taxation will be abolished and mentioned that by the end of the year the class system will be implemented in 150 revenue offices in the country.

[08] THE FARMERS THREATEN WITH NEW ROAD BLOCKADES

The coordinating committee of farmers in Thessaly, that met in Larisa last night, decided to block the roads for limited periods of time if their demands are not met.

Meanwhile, the farmers in Egion, southern Greece, threaten to blockade the Athens-Patras road artery on Friday if their demand to meet with the prime minister is not met.

[09] 68.000 JOBS WILL BE CREATED IN 1998

Greek minister of labor and social security Miltiadis Papaioannou announced the materialization of four programs that will create 68.000 new jobs in 1998. Those programs concern unemployed aged between 20 and 27 years old and long term unemployed of 27 to 64 years old.

The benefits they will receive will last from 18 to 22 months. For women those benefits will be extended for 2 more months. They will be 4.000 drachmas daily for the full-time employed and 2.000 drachmas for those working in part-time jobs.

[10] TELEVISION PROGRAM ON THE KALASH WILL BE BROADCAST ON THE STATE CHANNEL ET-3

A television program aimed at informing and sensitizing the Greek public and institutions on the efforts aimed at building schools for the children of Kalash and improving their education, will be broadcast by the state television program ET-3 in cooperation with the satellite program of the state channel ERT, the short wave radio program, the NET state television, the Greek ministry of education and the group “The friends of Kalash”. The program will be broadcast on Friday evening, February 6.

The program viewers will have the opportunity to watch 13 documentaries, 5 to10 minutes long, which deal with the expedition of Alexander the Great and the origin of the Kalash, who live in Pakistan.

Twelve Kalash children are expected to arrive in Thessaloniki tomorrow and will be hosted by families in the municipality of Kalamaria. The Kalash are regarded as descendants of the soldiers of Alexander the Great and have preserved many elements of the Greek civilization.

[11] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN IRAQ

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that US assistant Secretary of State Mark Grossman did not request Greece’s assistance in case of military operations against Iraq.

Mr. Reppas underlined that the Greek government supports the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and it is opposed to the use of weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Reppas concluded that the Greek government wants a solution to be found in Iraq through peaceful means.

[12] THE DAY AFTER THE EXPULSION OF SIX OPPOSITION DEPUTIES

The latest developments in the main opposition party of New Democracy render the party’s future uncertain since many party deputies expressed their discontent about the resolution of the party’s authority council to expel 6 deputies. Vasilis Kontogiannopoulos who was permanently expelled from New Democracy stressed the eventuality of establishing a new party saying that the president and his men have chosen to cover their weaknesses and cause problems to the role and perspectives of New Democracy.

Ex-New Democracy leader and Prime Minister Georghios Rallis expressed his deep concern about these developments and noted that a breach was caused without any reason at all in the party. He also said that since an issue of party discipline was not laid, the imposition of penalties was inexcusable.

[13] UNIVERSITY RECTORS’ MEETING IN THESSALONIKI

Issues concerning the University of Greece will be examined in the 29th meeting of the rectors and presidents of the administration committees of the universities of the country which begins in Thessaloniki on Friday and will last till Sunday. The participants will discuss-among others-the administrative and economic independence of the Highest Institutes of Education, the connection of all career services and the development of the Business Program of Education and Initial Professional Instruction.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[14] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION ON VISIT TO BULGARIA

A delegation of the Greek parliamentary Committee on Defense and Foreign Affairs is currently on an official visit to Bulgaria

So far, the delegates have been received by the Bulgarian Ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Interior, while they will also meet with the country’s president and prime minister.

The Greek delegates stressed Greece’s support to Bulgaria’s request for equal participation in the European Union and the Alliance.

[15] GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO ALBANIA ON FEBRUARY 6

Germany’s Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel is to embark on an official visit to Albania on February 6, upon the invitation issued by his Albanian counterpart Paschal Milo.

According to Skopje’s new agency “Makpress”, Mr. Kinkel is to be received by the country’s political leadership and will also meet with officials from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

[16] RUSSIAN PROGRAMS OF BYZANTINE AND MODERN GREEK STUDIES ARE SUPPORTED BY ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki “Jason” program will support the Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies’ programs that were established last year in two of the best higher education institutions in Russia namely, the St.Petersburg University and Moscow’s Lomonosov University.

Within the framework of the “Jason” program the two universities will be supplied with new libraries, technological material and computers, while scholarships will also be offered. Each of the two universities will receive the sum of 15.180.000 drachmas.

[17] 1.304 STATE BUSINESSES WERE PRIVATIZED IN ROMANIA IN 1997

The responsible state organization announced that 1.304 state businesses, the majority of which were of small or medium size, were privatized in Romania in 1997, compared to 1996 when 1.450 businesses underwent privatization. It should be noted, that the state budget benefited more in 1997 compared to the previous year.

According to this year’s plans, the businesses that will be privatized are estimated to be 1.600.

[18] 16 PEOPLE DIED IN SERBIA FROM TAINTED COGNAC

Sixteen people were poisoned after consuming adulterated cognac that was distributed in Serbia by the production and bottling company “Zivadinovic” based in the city of Nis.

According to the news agency BETA, most of the victims were residents of Nis, while the responsible health agencies fear that the wave of poisonings can spread to other regions of Serbia.

[19] THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL VISIT GREECE

Russian foreign minister Gevgeni Primakov will visit Greece on February 16 and 17.

Mr. Primakov will meet in Athens with president Kostis Stephanopoulos and prime minister Kostas Simitis.

The Russian foreign minister will also meet with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos to discuss issues concerning the promotion of bilateral relations, the situation in the Balkans and possibly the situation in Iraq.

[20] EVENTUALITY OF EARLY ELECTION IN TURKEY

Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz insinuated the eventuality of early elections in the country despite the fact that when he assumed his duties as Prime Minister last summer he committed himself that the coalition government would remain in power until the year 2000.

Yilmaz’s intention to hold early elections was shown in interview with a turkish newspaper where he said that elections would not be held in the next seven or eight months and added that elections could take place within eight or nine months without explaining the reasons for the new approach.

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