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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-06-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 10, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] COURT RULES AGAINST IONIAN BANK EMPLOYEES' STRIKE
[02] KOSSOVO IS A TORPEDO FOR THE BALKANS, SAYS GREEK ALTERNATE FM
[03] GREECE, YUGOSLAVIA COOPERATE IN RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
[04] "PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE" MILITARY EXERCISE BEGINS FRIDAY
[05] POLAND'S MILITARY CHIEF IN ATHENS ON MONDAY
[06] SIR DAVID HANNAY IN ATHENS, MEETS WITH KRANIDIOTIS
[07] THE IONIAN BANK EMPLOYEES CONTINUE THEIR STRIKE
[08] GREEK INSTITUTE OF CULTURE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXHIBITION IN
ODESSA
[09] GREEKS MATERIALIZE A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN INDIA
[10] THREE FLIGHTS A WEEK WILL LINK THESSALONIKI WITH SOFIA
STARTING ON JUNE 29
[11] SIMITIS: GREECE'S DEVELOPMENT IS A NATIONAL AFFAIR
[12] CULTURE MINISTER REASSURES ALL MONEY OWED BY CULTURAL CAPITAL
WILL BE PAID
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] WORLD CUP BEGINS IN FRANCE
[14] PARLIAMENT CHIEF TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN FOR C OF E MEETING
[15] HEALTH MINISTER ADDRESSES UN's INTR/NAL SESSION ON DRUGS
[16] THREE GREEK PARLIAMENTARIANS IN WASHINGTON
[17] GREEK AMBASSADOR DEPARTS FROM US POST, ASSIGNED IN EU
[18] DRIFT NETS TO BE FULLY WITHDRAWN BY THE YEAR 2002
[19] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: KOSSOVO IS A TORPEDO FOR THE BALKANS
[20] THE WORLD CUP FIESTA OPENS IN FRANCE TODAY
[21] PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPRESSED INTEREST IN KOSSOVO
[22] 15.000 PEOPLE FROM KOSSOVO SOUGHT REFUGE IN ALBANIA
[23] RALLY FOR KOSOVO IN FYROM
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] COURT RULES AGAINST IONIAN BANK EMPLOYEES' STRIKE
The Athens First Circuit court has ruled that the month-long
strike conducted by the disgruntled employees at the state-run
Ionian Bank is illegal and has ordered that it be immediately
halted. In its ruling the Court also forbade the holding of a
future strike held on the grounds and, if the ruling is violated,
imposes a GRD500,000 per diem fine on each of the unions.
The strike at Ionian, which is due to undergo a majority
stake sale by its parent Commercial Bank this summer, has been
supported by the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the Union
of Bank Administrators and the Bank Employees Union.
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] KOSSOVO IS A TORPEDO FOR THE BALKANS, SAYS GREEK ALTERNATE FM
Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou has
characterized the situation in Kossovo as a "torpedo" for the
Balkans.
In an exclusive interview with the Macedonian Press Agency,
Mr. Papandreou said that the President of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic bears great responsibility for
the situation and stressed that the Kossovo crisis is not
Yugoslavia's internal affair since it concerns human rights and
stability in the region throughout.
[03] GREECE, YUGOSLAVIA COOPERATE IN RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
Eleven research projects will be funded and executed
mutually by Greece and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, within
the framework of a cooperation protocol signed recently by the two
sides.
The projects concern the sectors of agricultural economy,
environment, technology, medicine, tele-medicine, physics and
meteorology and will be executed by the year 2000.
While the Greek side will fund them with GRD30 million, the
remaining sum will be covered by European funds. The equivalent
amount of the funds submitted by Greece will be also provided by
the Yugoslav side.
[04] "PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE" MILITARY EXERCISE BEGINS FRIDAY
"Cooperative Partners '98", a multinational, two-week
military exercise held within the framework of "Partnership for
Peace", is to begin on Friday in the Black Sea region off of
Romania.
Taking part in the exercise will be planes, ships and troops from
Greece, France, Italy, Turkey, the US, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine
and Romania.
Greece will participate with the tank carrier "Samos", the
frigate "Macedonia", the minesweeper "Evniki", four F-16s and one
C-130 transport plane.
[05] POLAND'S MILITARY CHIEF IN ATHENS ON MONDAY
Poland's military chief Gen. Henryk Szumski is to arrive in
Athens on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of
his Greek counterpart, Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis.
The two military chiefs will discuss military issues of
common interest, while Gen. Szumski will also meet Defense
Undersecretary Dimitrios Apostolakis and will visit the Armor
Training Center at Avlona, Attica.
[06] SIR DAVID HANNAY IN ATHENS, MEETS WITH KRANIDIOTIS
Britain's special envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, was
received by the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos
Kranidiotis in Athens yesterday, part of the British EU
presidency's preparatory consultations with EU members in view of
the upcoming Cardiff Summit.
The two men discussed Cyprus issue, European-Turkish
relations, and the priorities of the British presidency.
According to reports, Sir David also reiterated his
country's position in favor of the unblocking of EU funds for
Turkey, which Greece has made conditional on progress in Greek-
Turkish relations, the Cyprus problem and human rights issues in
Turkey.
These issues will be the subject of a broad meeting at the
foreign ministry tomorrow, to be chaired by Prime Minister Kostas
Simitis, who will also discuss them with his British counterpart
Tony Blair in London on June 13.
[07] THE IONIAN BANK EMPLOYEES CONTINUE THEIR STRIKE
The Ionian Bank employees decided to continue their strike
until Friday. The Athens court ruling on the appeal submitted by
the bank management against the General Confederation of Labor for
its backing to the strikers will be issued today.
However, the Greek government appears determined to complete
the privatization program in the banking and the wider public
sector.
[08] GREEK INSTITUTE OF CULTURE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXHIBITION IN
ODESSA
An archaeological exhibition dedicated to the 2.500 years of
Belgrod in Ukraine (the ancient Greek colony of Tiras) will be
organized in Odessa on June 11 to July 31 by the Greek Institute
of Culture.
The exhibition includes findings of recent excavations held
there by the Archaeological Museum of Odessa among them gold and
silver jewelry, coins, etc. All the articles of the exhibition are
dated back to the golden years of the colony in this Black Sea
region in the period from the 6th to the 4th century BC.
Tiras was a typical Greek city-state that developed rapidly,
had its own gold coin and enjoyed great power. Its trade relations
covered the whole Black Sea region, to the northern Aegean island
of Thasos and Athens.
[09] GREEKS MATERIALIZE A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN INDIA
A three year program for the viable development of the South
Aroct region in India with a budget of 202.167 ECU will be
materialized next year by a Greek non profit institution, the
Athens based Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis Center,
assisted by European Commission General Directorate 8.
The program, which is materialized in cooperation with the
Indian partner ASSEFA (Association for Sarva Seva Farms) aims at
improving the living conditions of the people of India taking
under consideration their environmental, social and cultural
characteristics. Recipients are 855 five-member families living in
15 villages in the region of Kallakurichi Block in South Arcot in
the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
[10] THREE FLIGHTS A WEEK WILL LINK THESSALONIKI WITH SOFIA
STARTING ON JUNE 29
Three flights a week will link Thessaloniki with Sofia
starting on June 29. The flight is scheduled to leave the
Bulgarian capital every Monday at 7am, while the flight back from
Thessaloniki will depart on the same day at 8.45am.
On Tuesday, the airplane for Thessaloniki will depart from
Sofia at 11.30am and the trip back from Thessaloniki is scheduled
for 1.15pm. On Saturdays the flight from Sofia is scheduled for
10pm and the airplane that will make the return trip will depart
from Thessaloniki on Sunday at 9am.
[11] SIMITIS: GREECE'S DEVELOPMENT IS A NATIONAL AFFAIR
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis and minister of
Environment, Land Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis
visited the "Spata Airport" today.
The airport, which was founded two years ago, is due to be
into operation in March, 2001. Mr Simitis, in statements he made,
described the government's aims concerning a viable and balanced
development of the country as a national affair and underlined the
need for a creative effort of all social and political forces for
the modernization of the country.
He, also, stressed that the current development of the
airport project justifies the decision reached by Andreas
Papandreou after the elections of 1993.
[12] CULTURE MINISTER REASSURES ALL MONEY OWED BY CULTURAL CAPITAL
WILL BE PAID
Greek Culture minister Evangelos Venizelos, in statements he
made today, referred to the current unrest concerning the
confiscation of real property belonging to the Organization of the
Cultural Capital of Europe-Thessaloniki '97 by an advertising
company.
Mr Venizelos stressed that his colleagues and himself gave
specific directions regarding the way creditors should be paid
back, but-as he noted- the distribution of necessary allocations
depends on the ministry of National Economy.
However, mr Venizelos added that this does not mean that
whoever claims money form the Organization is right.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] WORLD CUP BEGINS IN FRANCE
The 16th world Cup Mudial) is to begin in France today,
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.
This evening, Brazil will play against Scotland at 6:30
p.m., while at 10 p.m. Morocco will play against Norway.
Twelve thousand journalists from all over the world have
arrived in France, along with 840 photojournalists.
[14] PARLIAMENT CHIEF TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN FOR C OF E MEETING
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
is to travel to Stockholm on Friday in order to attend the Council
of Europe's assembly of national parliament presidents, to be
held June 12-13.
The assembly will examine the challenges faced by national
parliaments as more democratic institutions are being established
in Europe and the various ways national parliaments can
contribute to the United Nations.
The assembly, held every two years, will be attended by
representatives from 40 countries.
Greece presently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the
Council of Europe.
[15] HEALTH MINISTER ADDRESSES UN's INTR/NAL SESSION ON DRUGS
Greece's Health Minister Kostas Geitonas yesterday addressed
a special session of the United Nations' general assembly
regarding the international drug problem, which ends today with
the adoption of a political declaration.
In his address, Mr. Geitonas stated that "the fight against
drugs is an issue of high priority on the political agenda of the
Greek government. We consider drugs to be a
social evil of the most serious proportion as it mainly threatens
our youth, our country's most valuable asset."
He added that there is a national approach vis-à-vis the
drugs problem in Greece.
"Therefore, at the initiative of the Greek premier, Mr.
Kostas Simitis, a
permanent parliamentary Committee on drugs has been established,
in which all political parties in the Greek Parliament are
represented.".
"Greece, due to its geographical position in the sensitive
region of southeastern Europe, its extended coastline and its
almost 3,000 islands, suffers consequences such as increase of
illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs," he added.
Mr. Geitonas added that "we are at a crossroads in the fight
against drug control. The challenge is before us and we should
meet it. This time, there would be no excuse if we failed. We do
not have the right to disappoint our children and grandchildren,
who are looking forward to hearing from us, back home, not only
that we have laid the foundation stone of the building, during
this historic gathering, but that we are, indeed, resolved to
build worldwide a drug-free society."
Moreover, Mr. Geitonas stressed that "we also believe that
drugs' problem cannot be successfully tackled if socio-economic
ills, such as poverty, unemployment, racial discrimination,
xenophobia, social exclusion and other are not combated and
eradicated."
[16] THREE GREEK PARLIAMENTARIANS IN WASHINGTON
Two parliamentarians from the ruling PASOK party, namely
Lefteris Veryvakis and Stelios Papathemelis, along with main
opposition New Democracy deputy Vassilis Manginas are presently in
Washington where they have had a series of contacts with US
officials on the Cyprus problem.
They will also attend a one-day conference on Cyprus, to be
held at the US Congress and organized by the American-Hellenic
Institute.
Yesterday, the three parliamentarians met with US Assistant
State Secretary Mark Grossman and special US coordinator for the
Cyprus problem Thomas Miller, while on Monday they were received
by Sen. Paul Sarbanes.
[17] GREEK AMBASSADOR DEPARTS FROM US POST, ASSIGNED IN EU
Greece's ambassador to the United States Lucas Tsilas hosted
a reception in Washington yesterday on the occasion of his
departure for his next posting in Brussels.
Mr. Tsilas will leave the US capital on June 30 for Brussels,
where he will assume the post of Athens' permanent European Union
representative.
Alexandros Filon, the current secretary-general of the Greek
foreign ministry will be assigned as the new Greek ambassador to
Washington.
[18] DRIFT NETS TO BE FULLY WITHDRAWN BY THE YEAR 2002
The use of drift nets in fishery is to be gradually phased
out until the year 2002 when it will have become completely
obsolete in all of the European Union's member-states, according
to a decision drawn by the EU's Council of Ministries of Fishery,
recently held in Luxembourg.
Drift nets , which often stretch to fifty mile-long
distances, are deadly for the larger fish, such as dolphins and
whales, when caught.
Greece was among the first countries to abandon the use of
these nets.
Undersecretary of Agriculture Vasilis Geranides stated that
since 1994, Greece had taken national measures in line with the
United Nations directives.
[19] GIORGOS PAPANDREOU: KOSSOVO IS A TORPEDO FOR THE BALKANS
Greek deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou in an
exclusive statement to MPA stressed that the situation in Kossovo
is a torpedo for the Balkans and the peoples of the region and
that greatly responsible for the situation is Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia president Slobodan Milosevic.
Mr. Papandreou responding to MPA questions stated that
Kossovo is not a domestic affair of FRY and that it concerns human
rights and stability in the whole region. Therefore, he said, the
responsibility of Mr. Milosevic is wider at a time when the
Balkans try to heal the wounds of the war in Bosnia and while the
region is making steps toward its economic recovery,
democratization, mutual cooperation and security.
Mr. Papandreou stated that for Greece, which tries to bring
the Balkan region out of its problems, the effects will be
considerable as it will receive a wave of refugees blocking the
development of the northern part of the country. He said that
Greece calls on all sides to respect the ceasefire principle and
stop the hostilities in order for the dialogue to resume and to be
able to offer humanitarian aid to the refugees.
Mr. Papandreou stated that Mr. Milosevic must implement
reforms in Kossovo, strengthen the democratic institutions and
give greater autonomy to Kossovo within the framework of the FRY.
Mr. Milosevic's inability to proceed with reforms, said Mr.
Papandreou, puts the Serb people in more hardship, radicalizes the
Albanians and destabilizes the wider Balkan region.
The Greek deputy foreign minister said that investments will
be blocked, while the tension will strengthen extreme nationalism
in the wider region. Greece will have one more problem at a time
when it gives a hard battle to enter the EMU, said Mr. Papandreou
and added that the country is ready to assume its responsibilities
and contribute in every way to the restoration of peace and
stability in the region.
[20] THE WORLD CUP FIESTA OPENS IN FRANCE TODAY
The 16th Soccer World Cup, the biggest soccer event, opens in
France today. The venues held within the framework of the World
Cup will be watched by millions of people across the world.
In the event, that opens this afternoon with the Brazil
versus Scotland match, participate 32 national soccer teams. The
opening ceremony took place last night in the streets of Paris.
The World Cup will last 32 days and will end on July 12.
[21] PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPRESSED INTEREST IN KOSSOVO
US president Bill Clinton stated that he is determined to do
everything in his power to stop the bloodshed in Kossovo. Mr.
Clinton stressed that Washington cooperates with Britain in an
effort to win the issuing of the toughest possible United Nations
decision.
French president Jacques Chirac stated from Paris that NATO
must take under consideration the likelihood of a military
intervention.
[22] 15.000 PEOPLE FROM KOSSOVO SOUGHT REFUGE IN ALBANIA
About 15.000 refugees from Kossovo, of whom only 8.500 have
been registered, have sought refuge in Albania, according to the
local authorities of the Tropoje region in the northern part of
the country.
The local council president stated that significant
assistance in food, clothing and medicine has been offered by the
government and by Kossovo and Albanian businessmen.
[23] RALLY FOR KOSOVO IN FYROM
A rally took place today at the central place of Skopje as a
token of support for Kosovo Albanians as well as for the Kosovo
Liberation Army.
The rally was organized by the Albanian parties, the PDP,
which participates in the FYROM government, and the PDP-A, and
ended peacefully.
The demonstrators were chanting the slogan "NATO in Kosovo,
not along the borders", and marched from the Skopje central place
to the US embassy.
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/
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