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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-06-10

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 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  • [18] DRIFT NETS TO BE FULLY WITHDRAWN BY THE YEAR 2002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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