Visit our archive of Documents on The Cyprus Problem Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-06-09

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 9, 1998

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] IONIAN BANK EMPLOYEES DETERMINED TO CONTINUE STRIKE
  • [02] GREEK CULTURE MINISTER TO ASK FOR RETURN OF PARTHENON MARBLES
  • [03] GREECE'S SOCCER TEAMS PREPARE THEIR LINE UPS
  • [04] REPPAS: NO KOSSOVO REFUGEES IN NORTHERN GREECE
  • [05] UNESCO COMMITTEE SHOULD EXAMINE THE PARTHENON MARBLES
  • [06] PPEAL OF THE IONIAN BANK MANAGEMENT AGAINST THE EMPLOYEES WAS DISCUSSED IN COURT
  • [07] LBANIANS LIVING IN GREECE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN PROTEST RALLIES
  • [08] CHILDREN ARE THE MOST OBESE IN EUROPE
  • [09] PANGALOS-CEM FORESEE A "QUIET SUMMER" IN THE AEGEAN SEA
  • [10] PAPANDREOU TO MPA:KOSOVO IS A TORPEDO FOR THE BALKANS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [11] UNITED STATES, EU SLAP SERBIA WITH INVESTMENT BAN
  • [12] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN ISTANBUL
  • [13] DELEGATION OF DIPLOMATS VISITS WESTERN KOSSOVO
  • [14] RICHARD HOLBROOKE: TURKISH SIDE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CYPRUS ISSUE
  • [15] UNITED NATIONS HOLDS DRUG SUMMIT
  • [16] S-300 MISSILES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED IN CYPRUS, RUSSIAN PRESS REPORTS
  • [17] WORLD CUP BEGINS IN FRANCE TOMORROW
  • [18] THE GREEK AIRPORTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PILOTS' "BLACK LIST"
  • [19] TURKEY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRISIS IN CYPRUS
  • [20] THE BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS SUMMIT ENDED WITHOUT A RESOLUTION ON KOSSOVO
  • [21] A SERB SOLDIER WAS KILLED IN KOSSOVO
  • [22] EVENTUALITY OF A NATO INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] IONIAN BANK EMPLOYEES DETERMINED TO CONTINUE STRIKE

    Striking workers at the state-run Ionian Bank are determined to press on with their strike unless the government promises to safeguard their jobs in light of the Bank's proposed privatization.

    Ionian, which is due to undergo a majority stake sale by its parent Commercial Bank this summer, has been the subject of a crippling strike action by unions and employees opposed to privatization and the proposed sale of the bank. Striking Ionian workers, who have already been issued with a legal warning by the bank's management, warning them of disciplinary action if they do not return to work, have vowed to continue their strike action.

    Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has stressed that the Ionian sale will proceed as planned, via a majority stake sale through the Athens stock exchange after approval from Commercial Bank's shareholders on June 19.

    [02] GREEK CULTURE MINISTER TO ASK FOR RETURN OF PARTHENON MARBLES

    Greek culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos is to ask for the return of the Parthenon Marbles which are housed in the British Museum, after the recent disclosure that the Museum's staff caused irreparable damage to the monuments by scraping away their original paint and weathered patina.

    The scandal, hushed up for 60 years, was revealed by William St Clair, a world expert on the Marbles. According to Mr. St. Clair , British Museum curators in the late Thirties scrubbed many of the 2,500-year-old marbles with metal scrapers in an attempt to make them look whiter.

    Mr. Venizelos stated that following the recent disclosure, a basic argument for the maintenance of the Marbles at the British Museum, that supposedly they are being protected, has fallen apart, since it damaged the museum's reputation and undermined Britain's "moral authority" for retaining the marbles.

    In an interview with CNN, Mr. St Clair stated that he believed the historic surfaces of 80 per cent of the Parthenon marbles, removed to Britain by Lord Elgin in 1801, have been lost forever.

    The Greek embassy in London said the episode was "shameful" and "outrageous". Peter Ainsworth, United Kingdom's shadow culture minister, said the discoveries were "extraordinary" and he wanted an urgent assessment made of the new evidence. Mr. St Clair, a former senior Treasury official, said that Chris Smith, the Culture Secretary, should order an immediate independent inquiry.

    In an attempt to head off criticism, the museum immediately promised to hold an international seminar of scholars, restorers and marble experts to consider the damage.

    [03] GREECE'S SOCCER TEAMS PREPARE THEIR LINE UPS

    Panathinaikos has entered the transfer craze for good since, as of the season coming up, it will feature Croatia's Aliosa Asanovic while rumor has it that it also has its eye set on Real Madrid's Davor Suker and two Peruvian players.

    As for AEK, it's trying to entice Christos Kostis to stay in for another four years for 160 million drachmas a year.

    The transfer targets in PAOK are still the same, namely Frousos and Katsiabis, while, as far as foreign players are concerned, Aris will take its pick after the World Cup's close.

    [04] REPPAS: NO KOSSOVO REFUGEES IN NORTHERN GREECE

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated today that there are no refugees from Kossovo in northern Greece and added that until now no special measures have been adopted along the borders.

    Responding to the question on the likelihood to send a military force to the region of Kossovo, the Greek government spokesman stated that no such issue has been raised, adding that a decision will be made if NATO decides to send forces there.

    [05] UNESCO COMMITTEE SHOULD EXAMINE THE PARTHENON MARBLES

    The Greek minister of culture stated that Greece wants a special committee to examine the condition of the Parthenon Marbles, through UNESCO or another non governmental organization.

    Mr. Venizelos also suggested the permanent cooperation of Greek museums with the British one for the return of the marbles by the year 2004 under the form of permanent lending. Those proposals will be included in a letter addressed to the British minister of culture.

    The decision to send a letter to his British counterpart was reached after the accusations made by British historian William Sengler for bad maintenance and destruction of the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum.

    Mr.Venizelos stated that the letter will include the strong protest of the Greek side, Greece's demand for a fact-finding committee of experts and the proposal for a solution that will not reproduce old discussions on the history or the legal basis of the issue.

    Meanwhile, the British Museum has pointed out, after the row that was caused, that the wrong techniques had been used for the preservation of the marbles 60 years ago and decided to call for the establishment of an international committee to examine the damage caused on the marbles.

    [06] PPEAL OF THE IONIAN BANK MANAGEMENT AGAINST THE EMPLOYEES WAS DISCUSSED IN COURT

    An Athens court discussed today the appeal of the Ionian Bank management against the bank employees requesting that their strike, which will continue until tomorrow, be characterized as illegal.

    The court is expected to issue its ruling tomorrow. The Ionian Bank employees will discuss this afternoon the proposal for the extension of the strike until June 19, when the general assembly meeting of the Commercial Bank shareholders will take place to decide the sale of the Ionian Bank.

    [07] LBANIANS LIVING IN GREECE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN PROTEST RALLIES

    The Albanians living in Greece will not participate in the protest rallies on the situation in Kosovo that will be held tomorrow, according to president of the Association of Albanians living in Greece Taki Dutsi. The decision was reached even though the State Protest Council of Albania has issued an appeal to make June 10 a World Protest Day.

    Protest rallies are scheduled to take place in Pristina, Tirana, Skopje and in other cities around the world where Albanians live, calling for the intervention of NATO to stop the bloodshed in Kosovo.

    [08] CHILDREN ARE THE MOST OBESE IN EUROPE

    The most obese children in Europe are found in Greece. They mostly eat fattening junk food and their diet lacks fruit, vegetables and a complete breakfast, based on a research conducted by Greek and foreign scientists.

    According to the same research, 100% of the children with obese parents become themselves obese, while the same happens to 8 out of 10 children with an overweight parent.

    Among the environmental factors that contribute to child obesity are the dietetic habits of the family and specifically, the consumption of sweets and pasta.

    [09] PANGALOS-CEM FORESEE A "QUIET SUMMER" IN THE AEGEAN SEA

    Foreign ministers of Greece, Theodoros Pangalos, and Turkey, Ismail Cem, expressed the hope, today at Instanbul, that Greek- Turkish relations, which- as they said- are already moving in a positive direction, will have a "quiet summer".

    Mr Pangalos stressed that bilateral relations have improved within the framework of NATO and the confidence-building measures, noting that this will ensure "quieter nights this summer, with less excitement".

    Mr Cem, while conceding problems between Greece and Turkey, underlined that bilateral relations are gradually improving and expressed the hope for "better days in the future".

    [10] PAPANDREOU TO MPA:KOSOVO IS A TORPEDO FOR THE BALKANS

    Greek Alternate Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, in an exclusive statement to the Macedonian Press Agency, stressed that the situation in Kosovo is a torpedo for the Balkans and the people of the area, adding that the person mainly responsible for the current developments in the Serbian province is the Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.

    Mr Papandreou underlined that the Kosovo problem is not an internal affair for Yugoslavia because it concerns human rights as well as stability in the wider Balkan area. Mr Papandreou, also, noted that the consequences for Greece, which strives to help the Balkans out of the deadlock, will be grave, as there will be a refugees' wave and a breakdown in the development of Northern Greece.

    Mr Papandreou underlined that Greece calls on all sides to abide by the ceasefire principle so that the dialogue will re-open and the delivery of humanitarian help for the refugees will be possible.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [11] UNITED STATES, EU SLAP SERBIA WITH INVESTMENT BAN

    After the European Union slapped an investment ban on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Monday over his use of force in Kossovo, the United States government has announced its own economic sanctions against Mr. Milosevic's government, in protest the use of violence by the Serb authorities against the province's ethnic Albanians.

    ``We do believe sanctions can have an influence,'' State Department spokesman James Rubin said. ``Being able to impose and suspend them at will is a way to influence President Milosevic.''

    European Union Foreign Ministers have agreed to a ban on new investments in Serbia, and a freeze on the republic's assets abroad, while NATO defense ministers are to weigh military options on Thursday, including the possible dispatch of a preventative force to Kossovo's external borders. The six-power Contact Group is also due to discuss Kossovo at a meeting in London on Friday.

    [12] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN ISTANBUL

    The two-day conference of Balkan Foreign Ministers started in Istanbul yesterday, where top diplomats from nine Balkan countries have gathered for talks dominated by the Kossovo crisis. With Greece being represented by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, the Foreign Ministers participating at the conference are from Albania. Bulgaria, FYUROM, The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Romania and Turkey.

    Delegations from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia are also attending the conference under observer-status.

    In his address, Mr. Pangalos stated that the issue of human rights is not an internal affair of any country and, referring to Kossovo, added that human rights need to be respected in the region,. Albeit stressing his opposition on imposing sanctions on Yugoslavia.

    "The best thing (to happen) would be to allow this country (Yugoslavia) in the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," he stated. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem condemned violence by all sides and said the flow of refugees was causing ``serious problems'' for neighboring countries. But Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, in an apparent reference to Kossovo, said his country opposed any interference in its internal affairs.

    ``The Albanians of Kossovo are threatened by a massacre similar to that of Bosnia,'' Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo told the meeting.

    ``Many villages are demolished, hundreds of innocent women and children have been killed and thousands of terrorized refugees have abandoned their houses.''

    [13] DELEGATION OF DIPLOMATS VISITS WESTERN KOSSOVO

    Sixty diplomats - supervised by Yugoslav authorities- visited western Kossovo on Sunday and reported evidence of heavy clashes but cautioned against premature judgment of what happened.

    The UN High Commissioner for Refugees liaison office in Tirana said about 10,000 refugees had arrived from Kossovo over the past 10 days, although international institutions said the flood had begun to tail off.

    [14] RICHARD HOLBROOKE: TURKISH SIDE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CYPRUS ISSUE

    In an interview with the "Los Angeles Times", U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke stated that the Turkish side bears full responsibility for the Cyprus crisis.

    In the article, the Mr. Holbrooke stressed that the current situation at the island does not contribute to peace, characterized the ongoing issue of the island as a dangerous problem and stressed that the matter must be resolved.

    Moreover, Mr. Holbrooke holds the Turkish side as responsible for the failure of talks between the two sides, since it refused to take up in dialogue unless the occupied territory was recognized and demanded that the Cypriot government withdraw its accession bid from the European Union.

    When asked if peace in Cyprus is better ensured through barbed wire, Mr. Holbrooke responded "No, because Cyprus is not a quite and peaceful place. One spark, a flight, a rock concert, a misunderstanding is enough to create conflict."

    [15] UNITED NATIONS HOLDS DRUG SUMMIT

    The manufacture, trafficking and abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants is one of six core issues being addressed in New York at the currently-held United Nations drug summit.

    The other core issues on the agenda of the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem are money laundering, precursor chemicals, reducing demand, reduction of illicit crops and alternative development, and enhanced judicial cooperation.

    World leaders, among them United States President Bill Clinton and UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, are to adopt an action plan to be implemented by 2003 to reduce supply and demand for these drugs within the following five years by 2008.

    Easy to produce, cheap to buy and hard to control, synthetic drugs, which include methamphetamine and "Ecstasy", are abused by an estimated 30 million people around the world, according to the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP).

    "Through the 1990s, we have evidence that the growth rate in illicit manufacturing, trafficking and the spread of abuse has been greater for amphetamine-type stimulants than it has been for heroin and cocaine", said Pino Arlacchi, UNDCP Executive Director.

    [16] S-300 MISSILES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED IN CYPRUS, RUSSIAN PRESS REPORTS

    Russia has already delivered -in secret- the anti-aircraft S- 300 missiles to Cyprus, according to an article published today in the Russian daily "Sevdonia" which does not reveal its sources.

    According to the article, over 200 Russian experts are already at the island in order to assist in deploying the system, while the Cypriot staff handling the missile-facilities are being trained by the Russian officials.

    According to the AFP, neither the missile-making company nor the Russian Foreign Ministry are confirming the information.

    [17] WORLD CUP BEGINS IN FRANCE TOMORROW

    The 16th world Cup (Mudial) is to begin in France tomorrow, featuring the participation of the world's 32 best national soccer teams.

    The 702 ball players are ready to begin the 63 matches that will be held in ten French stadiums.

    Tomorrow Brazil will play against Scotland at 6:30 pm, while at 10 pm Morocco will play against Norway.

    Twelve thousand journalists from all over the world have arrived in France, along with 840 photojournalists.

    [18] THE GREEK AIRPORTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PILOTS' "BLACK LIST"

    The Greek airports are not included in the "black list" which was drawn up by the International Confederation of Pilots' Unions during its World Conference that was held in Montreal, Canada.

    The British newspaper "Sunday Times" mentions that in spite of the complaints expressed in the past on the state of the Greek airports, the pilots avoided to include them in their "black list" but they stressed that the problem of flights in Greece must be examined in depth.

    [19] TURKEY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRISIS IN CYPRUS

    The full responsibility for the crisis in Cyprus belongs to the Turkish side. This was stressed by US presidential envoy Richard Halbrooke in an interview to the US newspaper "Los Angeles Times".

    Mr. Halbrooke stressed that the situation on the island does not contribute to peace, while he described the Cyprus issue as a dangerous problem and stressed that it must be resolved.

    [20] THE BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS SUMMIT ENDED WITHOUT A RESOLUTION ON KOSSOVO

    No final decision on how to deal with the crisis in Kossovo was reached in the Balkan foreign ministers Summit that ended in Istanbul today.

    Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem stated that even though no consensus was included in the final declaration concerning the issue of Kossovo, an open and honest exchange of views took place among the summit participants.

    The Istanbul meeting was attended by the ministers of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, FYROM, Romania, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Turkey, while Bosnia and Croatia attended as observers.

    [21] A SERB SOLDIER WAS KILLED IN KOSSOVO

    A Serb soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an attack launched yesterday against Yugoslav army forces by armed ethnic Albanians.

    According to a statement issued by the Yugoslav 3rd Army Corps, which is responsible for the region of Kossovo, the attack took place west of Jakovica, near the border outpost of Morina, at the borders of Kossovo with Albania.

    [22] EVENTUALITY OF A NATO INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO

    The situation in Kosovo is still tense. NATO's Department of Strategic Planning presented, today, to the leadership of the member-states of the Alliance, four proposals aiming at the settlement of the crisis.

    Meanwhile, Russia did not consent to the implementation of these proposals and the Russian Defence minister Igor Sergeyev stressed that his country would never accept the deployment of NATO troops in Kosovo. A delegation of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly will hold visits to Belgrade, Podgorica and Pristina, starting from tomorrow.


    Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/


    Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    mpegr2html v1.01 run on Tuesday, 9 June 1998 - 21:23:42 UTC