Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-06-12
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 12, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] EPISODES ERUPT BETWEEN POLICE, PROTESTING TEACHERS
[02] GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AT TEACHERS EXAM CENTERS
[03] ALL BANKS WILL BE CLOSED TODAY, IN SPITE OF COURT RULING
[04] MAIN OPPOSITION DEPUTY STRIPPED OF PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY
[05] GREEK FM SAYS S-300 WILL ARRIVE AT CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER
[06] GREEK FM: LUXEMBOURG DESICIONS ON TURKEY SHOULD BE ADHERED TO
[07] NATIONAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTER; AUSTERITY WILL EASE UP
[08] GERMAN PUBLIC TV STATION EXALTS NORTHERN GREECE
[09] PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR LONDON THIS EVENING
[10] REPPAS COMMENTED ON GREECE'S STANCE IN THE CARDIFF SUMMIT
[11] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS DECIDED TO SPEED-UP THE ALLIANCE'S
MILITARY EXERCISES IN ALBANIA AND FYROM
[12] THE ARCHBISHOP OF GREECE WILL VISIT THE ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCHATE
[13] THE NEW DEMOCRACY LEADER WILL BE ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO
STRASBOURG
[14] PAPANDREOU'S INTERVIEW ON GREECE'S STANCE IN THE CARDIFF
SUMMIT
[15] BIG ABSTENTION IN THE TEACHERS' HIRING EXAMS
[16] SIMITIS-BLAIR MEETING IN LONDON TOMORROW
[17] VIOLENT RIOTS AND ARRESTS OF PROTESTING TEACHERS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] CONTACT GROUP TO EXAMINE DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSSOVO TODA Y
[19] NATO TO SIMULATE AIR RAIDS OVER FRY
[20] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH HIS RUSSIAN
COUNTERPART IN BRUSSELS
[21] PANGALOS' BBC INTERVIEW ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
[22] AN AMERICAN COLUMNIST SUPPORTS THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON
MARBLES TO GREECE
[23] THE G-8 DISCUSS THE DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO
[24] TRAKATELIS: THE DOORS ARE OPEN FOR ROMANIA'S ACCESSION INTO
THE EU UNDER CERTAIN PRE-CONDITIONS
[25] FATOS NANO CALLS ON NATO OVER THE KOSOVO CRISIS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] EPISODES ERUPT BETWEEN POLICE, PROTESTING TEACHERS
Violent episodes are continuing at examinations centers throughout
the country where SWAT teams are firing tear gas at protesting
teachers who have taken over the schools in an attempt to prevent
newly-instituted hiring exams to be held today and tomorrow.
Three teachers have been arrested for vandalism and hurling stones
at the police.
The government wants temporary and part-time state school teachers
to take exams before being hired permanently, reforming the
previous system of giving jobs to those who have been on the wait-
list (epetirida) the longest.
Some teachers have worked on a temporary basis for more than 10
years, awaiting permanent appointments.
[02] GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AT TEACHERS EXAM CENTERS
Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas, referring to the
clashes between police and protesting teachers, stated that the
violence is the work of a small group of educators who are a
dishonor to their vocation.
Mr. Reppas called on the civil servants umbrella association
ADEDY, the teachers' union OLME and all political parties to
condemn the incidents. "The government will not hand over society
to be held hostage to small groups and it is determined and has
the ability to implement its policies," he said.
[03] ALL BANKS WILL BE CLOSED TODAY, IN SPITE OF COURT RULING
The Federation of Greek Bank Employees (OTOE) has declared a
massive strike for today , in spite of the Athens First Circuit
court's ruling that found the month-long strike conducted by the
disgruntled employees at the state-run Ionian Bank as illegal and
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 OTOE, General Confederation of Greek Workers and
the Union of Bank Administrators.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has repeatedly 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.
[04] MAIN OPPOSITION DEPUTY STRIPPED OF PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY
The ethics council of the main opposition New Democracy
party will recommend to the Parliament that MP Kostas Karaminas,
be stripped of his parliamentary immunity in order to allow for
the investigation of a recent traffic accident which resulted in
the death of a 26-year old teacher.
On June 1, Mr. Karaminas was driving his Mercedes when the
young woman, riding in the back seat of the car was killed when
the vehicle collided with other parked cars. Another female
passenger in the car fled the scene unharmed but later appeared to
testify that she was also riding in the car.
Mr. Karaminas originally claimed he did not know the woman,
and had merely offered her a lift home. Later accounts and photos
showed the contrary. He also refused to take a breathalyzer test
after the crash, on the grounds of his immunity.
The ethics council's decision was unanimous. The members also
decided that in case the deputy does not resign, he will then be
referred to ND's disciplinary council with the question of his
dismissal from the party.
The deputy will be barred from the party's committees until
his Parliamentary immunity is lifted.
[05] GREEK FM SAYS S-300 WILL ARRIVE AT CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday
that the Russian- built S-300 anti-aircraft missiles purchased by
Cyprus will not be ready until November.
"The missiles are not there (in Cyprus) because they are not
ready," Pangalos told Reuters in Athens. "They will be ready in
autumn, some time in November."
But a Russian news agency reported yesterday that their
delivery will proceed as planned in the summer.
Turkey has threatened to stop deployment of the missiles,
which it sees as disrupting the balance of power on the island.
Greece has said such any military intervention would be a cause
for war.
The head of Russia's state arms-trading company said
yesterday that the missiles will be delivered this summer as
scheduled.
Yevgeny Ananyev, head of the Rosvooruzheniye arms-trading
monopoly, said the missiles are scheduled to be shipped some time
between mid- July and mid-August, the Interfax news agency
reported in Moscow.
Russian Air Force chief General Anatoly Kornukov said on
Wednesday that the Cyprus National Guard is scheduled to test the
missiles at a range near the city of Astrakhan in southern Russia.
[06] GREEK FM: LUXEMBOURG DESICIONS ON TURKEY SHOULD BE ADHERED TO
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos dismissed
efforts by the British-held presidency of the European Union to
find a way to ease Turkey's disgruntlement at being left off a
list of EU candidates at a summit held in Luxembourg last
December.
``I don't see why a very successful summit like Luxembourg
has to be revived or reformulated just because Turkey has a
problem with our decision,'' Mr. Pangalos told Reuters in an
interview.
He added that Turkey had done nothing but engage in
``insults, blackmail and threats'' against the EU since being left
off the new-members list.
Greece would block any move to change the EU's official
position even if it meant being isolated from the 14 other nations
in the Community, Mr. Pangalos said.
Moreover, he pointed out that the EU faced numerous internal
problems - from farm funding to constitutional issues- and should
move on.
``We are not in the Union to talk all the time
about...Turkey,'' he said.
"The EU makes respect for democracy and human rights a starting
point in its relations with other countries.
"The Turks do not accept that. By making further offers we
would accept that situation,'' he added. ``We have the Luxembourg
decisions. We should stick to them.'
[07] NATIONAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTER; AUSTERITY WILL EASE UP
National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou
stated yesterday that if the tight 1998 budget is met, the
government will be able to lighten up on the belt-tightening in
the coming years.
However, Mr. Papantoniou did add that there will be small pay
raises this year and in an effort to meet the GDP 3.5% growth
target, the government is also placing a public utility charges.
With lower inflation, the government expects to see lower interest
rates.
"Four years have not gone to waste, and we have gained much ground
and time. Developments in 1998 are setting the scene for positive
policies in 1999," Mr. Papantoniou said.
Mr. Papantoniou was speaking after a meeting of the country's
economic leadership chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.
[08] GERMAN PUBLIC TV STATION EXALTS NORTHERN GREECE
A documentary recently filmed by Germany's state-owned
television station ZDF is certain to catch the attention of would-
be visitors to northern Greece once it's broadcast.
The station's three-member filming crew that visited
northern Greece and Central Macedonian in May stated that they
were amazed by the scenery, tradition and culture in the region.
The station plans to embark on the filming of another
documentary on the life of Alexander the Great.
The documentaries are expected to be sold by the German TV to
other European television stations as well.
[09] PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR LONDON THIS EVENING
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to meet his British
counterpart Tony Blair in London tomorrow, in light of Monday's
summit in Cardiff, Wales.
The leaders of the EU's 15 member-states are to discuss
"agenda 2000", the course of the Economic and Monetary Union
following the accession of 11 member-states in its first phase,
the economic and social reforms needed for the support of the
unified currency "Euro", Turkey-EU relations, and a series of
other matters.
European leaders are proposing that Turkey be accepted into
the EU as a "special candidate member" in exchange for a timetable
given to Ankara to improve its human rights record and its
democratic institutions.
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has informed his
British counterpart Robin Cook not to attempt to center the
Cardiff Summit around Turkey and points out that there is a score
of more pressing matters which the EU must tackle, such
unemployment, agricultural policy, and drug combat.
Greece is to present specific and thoroughly reviewed
positions of issued to be discussed at the Summit, specifically
the EU's expansion and the cost thereof.
Greece supports that the expenses to be allocated between the
years 2000-2006 (1.37% of the EU GNP) are not sufficient to cover
the Euyropean community's cohesion and expansion.
In regards to the Common Agricultural Policy, Greece will
request that the Mediterranean products be granted the same
treatment as the northern European ones.
On Monday evening, the "15" are to be guests at a formal
dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth.
On Tuesday, the second day of the Summit, the participants
will review the results of the "Agenda 2000" council, the EU's
expansion, the EU-Turkey relations and other pressing matters.
[10] REPPAS COMMENTED ON GREECE'S STANCE IN THE CARDIFF SUMMIT
Athens is satisfied with the Luxembourg Summit meeting
decision regarding the EU-Turkish relations, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referring to the stance that
will be adopted by Greece in the Cardiff EU Summit meeting.
Mr. Reppas stated that the Luxembourg decisions outline the
framework of Turkey's relations with the European Union and called
on Turkey to accept and implement them. The same view was
expressed by Greek deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou.
[11] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS DECIDED TO SPEED-UP THE ALLIANCE'S
MILITARY EXERCISES IN ALBANIA AND FYROM
NATO defense ministers decided in their meeting in Brussels
to speed-up the alliance's air exercises in Albania and FYROM.
Referring to that decision Greek government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas stated that Athens participated in the decision
and will participate in its implementation also but awaits for the
UN general assembly meeting.
[12] THE ARCHBISHOP OF GREECE WILL VISIT THE ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCHATE
Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece will be
at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul tomorrow and his visit
will last until next Wednesday.
The Head of the Greek Church will meet with Ecumenical
Patriarch Vartholomeos.
[13] THE NEW DEMOCRACY LEADER WILL BE ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO
STRASBOURG
Leader of right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy
Kostas Karamanlis will be on a three-day visit to Strasbourg
starting on Tuesday.
Mr. Karamanlis will meet with the presidents of the European
Commission, the European Popular Party and the European Parliament
as well as, with the general secretary of the Council of Europe.
[14] PAPANDREOU'S INTERVIEW ON GREECE'S STANCE IN THE CARDIFF
SUMMIT
Greek deputy foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou, in a press
conference on Greece's position in the Cardiff EU Summit meeting,
underlined that there is no change in the positions adopted by
Greece on Turkey's funding by the European Union.
He added that it would be a mistake to give to Ankara the
impression that it can gain something from the Cardiff Summit
because it will not. The Greek deputy foreign minister stated that
the decisions of the "15" for the strengthening of the ties with
Turkey as they have been formed in the Luxembourg Summit will not
be altered.
[15] BIG ABSTENTION IN THE TEACHERS' HIRING EXAMS
The violent incidents, the delay in the presentation of the
test questions and the abstention that reached 50%, characterized
the first phase of the newly instituted hiring exams for part-time
teachers to become state employed full-time.
The first phase of the exam ended at noon today and later in
the afternoon the second phase will take place.
Violent incidents erupted this morning in many examination
centers. Small-scale incidents occurred in Thessaloniki and 5
demonstrators were arrested and later released.
[16] SIMITIS-BLAIR MEETING IN LONDON TOMORROW
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in London
tomorrow with his British counterpart Tony Blair to examine the
issues that will be discussed in the EU Summit meeting that will
be held in Cardiff, Wales on June 15 and 16.
The Cardiff Summit will become a reference point for the
Greek-Turkish relations, the European and the European-Turkish
relations, while the European leaders are expected to suggest that
Turkey be accepted in the EU as a special candidate member.
[17] VIOLENT RIOTS AND ARRESTS OF PROTESTING TEACHERS
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas strongly critisized two
deputies of the Greek Communist Party, Orestis Kolozof and Stratis
Korakas, whom he accused of inciting the riots between teachers
and the police, which took place today.
However, the Communist Party described mr Reppas' accusations as
libelous, inadmissible and distorting.
Violent incidents erupted today in many examination centres of the
country. In Thessaloniki, five demonstrators were arrested and
later released following the prosecutor's order.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] CONTACT GROUP TO EXAMINE DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSSOVO TODA Y
The latest developments in the Kossovo crisis are to be
discussed during the Contact Group meeting to be held today in
London.
The participating countries, the world's seven wealthiest,
are expected to propose that pressure be exerted on the Serbs to
restart talks with the leaders of Kossovo.
NATO's defense ministers have agreed to put the alliance's troops
at a state of readiness in light of the possibility of military
intervention.
[19] NATO TO SIMULATE AIR RAIDS OVER FRY
NATO will stage simulated air raids and bombing runs over
Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic in order to intimidate
the Serbs to end their operations in neighboring Kossovo, but
Yugoslavia's response has been to warn the Alliance it will not
tolerate any NATO actions on its territory.
A spokesman from Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic's
ruling Socialist Party stated that Yugoslavia is a sovereign
state.
As such, he explained, no actions can be carried out on
Yugoslav territory - including in Kosovo - without Belgrade's
consent.
[20] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH HIS RUSSIAN
COUNTERPART IN BRUSSELS
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos had a meting
with his Russian counterpart Igor Sergeyev in Brussels. The
meeting was held on the sidelines of the spring NATO summit. The
main issue of the meeting was the installation of the Russian S-
300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus. Meanwhile, Cypriot foreign
minister Yiannakis Kasoulides stated that a possible hot incident
as a result of the installation of the missiles will be
uncontrollable.
A public opinion poll in Nicosia showed that every Cypriot
supports the installation of the S-300 missiles on their island.
[21] PANGALOS' BBC INTERVIEW ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview to
the BBC radio will be referred to the Greek-Turkish relations,
Cyprus's EU accession course and the Greek foreign policy in the
European Union.
The interview will be broadcast tomorrow by the Greek service
of the BBC radio, together with the interviews of NATO secretary-
general Javier Solana and former British foreign secretary Douglas
Hurd.
Part of the taped interview was broadcast today and Mr.
Pangalos, responding to the question if Greece feels protected
toward Turkey as a member of the European Union, he stressed that
there is no protection in a form of a military alliance, adding
that the European Union is not NATO and even NATO has a disputed
approach to problems that exist among its members.
Mr. Pangalos added that the European Union protects Greece in
the sense that Europe imposes and makes necessary the form of the
dialogue selected by Greece namely, the approach that leaves no
room for a show of military force.
[22] AN AMERICAN COLUMNIST SUPPORTS THE RETURN OF THE PARTHENON
MARBLES TO GREECE
A former columnist for the US newspaper "Baltimore Sun",
Guinn Owens is in favor of the return of the Parthenon Marbles to
Greece.
Commenting on the book by Christopher Hichens "The Elgin
Marbles must be returned to Greece", stresses that this is not a
legal issue but it is a matter of respect among nations.
He also characterizes as scandalous vandalism the decision of
Lord Elgin to take the Parthenon Marbles.
[23] THE G-8 DISCUSS THE DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO
The developments in Kosovo are to be discussed in the meeting
of the delegations of the seven richest countries, including
Russia, which take place in London today.
Those countries will suggest that pressures should be exerted
on Serbia for the resumption of the talks on Kosovo. NATO
ministers of defense decided to put the alliance's military forces
in a state alert in case of a military intervention.
[24] TRAKATELIS: THE DOORS ARE OPEN FOR ROMANIA'S ACCESSION INTO
THE EU UNDER CERTAIN PRE-CONDITIONS
Greek Euro-deputy from the party of New Democracy Antonis
Trakatelis called on the Romanian government to give back to its
rightful owners the property seized in 1945 by the dictatorial
regime. Under the authority of the EU - Romania parliamentary
committee president Mr. Trakatelis pointed out that the situation
formed hurts Romania's image abroad.
In the meeting the expanded presiding board of the European
Popular Party parliamentary group had with the Romanian
government, Mr. Trakatelis stated that Romania must implement
radical reforms regardless of the political cost involved if it
wants to become an EU member.
According to Mr. Trakatelis, the visa requirement imposed on
Romania by the EU should be abolished and stated that it is a
discriminatory treatment adopted toward the country.
[25] FATOS NANO CALLS ON NATO OVER THE KOSOVO CRISIS
Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano expressed his concern, today,
over the deterioration of the situation in Kosovo, through a
letter he sent to NATO's secretary-general Javier Solana.
According to his letter, mr Nano stressed that the deployment of
NATO military forces to Albania, near the borders with Kosovo,
will defend the stability and security in his country and halt the
violence policy implemented by the Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic.
Mr Nano underlined that the clashes in Kosovo and the increase in
the number of ethnic Albanians fleeing the area to seek refuge in
Albania will probably lead to crime, violent acts and stealing of
ammunition, which would comprise a serious threat for his country.
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