Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-07-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 10, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO TOUR THE CYCLADES
[02] GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CONTAIN INFLATION AT 2% IN 1999
[03] GREECE IS PURCHASING 20 USED F-16 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FROM THE
US
[04] STATE EXPECTS MORE TOURISTS TO VISIT GREECE THIS YEAR
[05] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BUDAPEST'S INTERNATIONAL FOOD EXPO
[06] GROUP OF GREEK-ORIGIN YOUTH LIVING IN ARMENIA HOSTED IN
KOMOTINI
[07] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE LATEST STATEMENTS MADE BY YILMAZ
[08] THE 2ND CONFERENCE ON PEACE IN THE BALKANS WILL BE HELD IN
THESSALONIKI
[09] CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF NEW DEMOCRACY MEETING
[10] THE 3RD CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL ISSUES OPENS IN
ALEXANDROUPOLIS TOMORROW
[11] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF
CONSUMER GOODS IN MOSCOW
[12] PACKAGE OF ERGO BANK SHARES WAS TRANSFERRED TO EUROBANK
[13] FOOTBALL: ANASTASIADIS RESIGNED FROM PAOK - NEW FOREIGN
PLAYER FOR ARIS
[14] REPPAS SATISFIED OVER THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BANK SECTOR
[15] IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS OF GREEK TRANSPORTATION MINISTER IN
YUGOSLAVIA
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] DEFENSE MINISTER COMPLETES US VISIT, WILL TRAVEL DIRECTLY TO
MUNICH
[17] GREEK TRANSPORTATION MINISTER ON VISIT TO BELGRADE
[18] TURKISH GENERAL STAFF CHIEF TRAVELS TO CYPRUS' OCCUPIED
REGION
[19] RUSSIAN, US OFFICIALS DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE IN MOSCOW
[20] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT CONTINUES VISIT TO CHINA
[21] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES TO MEET WITH RUSSIA'S YELTSIN ON
MONDAY
[22] BOSNIA: US, EU HALT SARAJEVO PROJECTS OVER SLOW REFUGEE
RETURNS
[23] STUDENTS FROM BULGARIA TO BE HOSTED IN GREECE
[24] MALIAS: GREECE WILL SAFEGUARD FYROM'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
[25] HOLBROOKE: KOSSOVO IS A THREAT FOR GREECE AND TURKEY
[26] YELTSIN - CLERIDES MEETING
[27] THE S-300 MISSILES WILL BE IN CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER, ACCORDING
TO THE RUSSIAN PRESS
[28] BLOODY INCIDENT AT THE ALBANIAN-YUGOSLAV BORDERS
[29] BULGARIA-TURKEY-RUMANIA SUMMIT IN SOFIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO TOUR THE CYCLADES
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is to embark on a three day through the Cyclades today.
The islands the President is to visit are Amorgos, Santorini,
Theracia, Anafi and Ios.
This morning, President Stephanopoulos attended the swearing-
in ceremony of the second lieutenants at the Air Academy.
[02] GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CONTAIN INFLATION AT 2% IN 1999
The government is to undertake drastic measures in order to
de-escalate inflation and contain it at the 2% level, in order to
meet one of the basic terms for Greece's accession to the Economic
and Monetary Union.
There was a 0.1-point slip in consumer price inflation to 5.2
percent in June from 5.3 percent in May. The Ministry of
Development is to adopt a series of measures in the consuming
sector of foodstuff and automobile spare parts, which will lead to
lower prices on these goods.
[03] GREECE IS PURCHASING 20 USED F-16 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FROM THE
US
Greece is purchasing 20 used f-16 fighter aircraft from the
US, in a deal finalized by the Greek and American defense
secretaries, Akis Tsochatzopoulos and William Cohen respectively,
in Washington.
The 20 second-hand F-16s were purchased for 5 million dollars
apiece. These planes, like the F- 16s Greece already has, will be
upgraded.
Greece is also getting four US-made naval destroyers which
will replace the Greek navy's existing destroyers.
[04] STATE EXPECTS MORE TOURISTS TO VISIT GREECE THIS YEAR
The Greek Tourism Organization's Secretary-General Nikos
Skoulas stated yesterday that the state expects an increase of 10-
12% in the number of tourists who are to visit Greece this year.
The National Statistics Service said its latest data showed
a 9.20 percent rise in the arrival of charter flights.
``In April-May 1998 charter flight arrivals reached 851,111
persons compared to 779,379 in the same period last year,'' it
said in a statement.
Tourist arrivals at the airports of Athens, Rhodes, Corfu,
Iraklion and Thessaloniki, which represent about 70 percent of
total arrivals in the charter flights category, rose by 5.67
percent in May compared with a year earlier.
Tourism is one of the country's key industries, contributing
$7 billion a year to the economy, and making up about 12 percent
of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
[05] GREECE TO TAKE PART IN BUDAPEST'S INTERNATIONAL FOOD EXPO
The International Exhibition of Foods and Beverages and Food
Process (FOODAPEST) is to be held in Budapest in November 24-27,
1998, with the participation of Greece.
The event, held every two years, is considered the largest in
the field for the central-eastern European region.
It should be noted that Greek food and beverages exports to
Hungary are steadily on the rise.
The products to be exhibited will represent all the food and
beverage sectors of Greece, as well as related machinery and
process materials.
[06] GROUP OF GREEK-ORIGIN YOUTH LIVING IN ARMENIA HOSTED IN
KOMOTINI
A group of 37 youngsters of Greek origin, who live in
Armenia, are currently being hosted in Komotini's student center
in an effort to familiarize them with Greece, its language and
culture.
The hosting event is organized by the prefecture of Rodopi,
in cooperation with the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace, the Greek
Tourism Organization and various organizations related to Greeks
living abroad.
The students, aged 11-16, are to stay in Komotini until July
23.
[07] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE LATEST STATEMENTS MADE BY YILMAZ
The recent statements made by Turkish prime minister Mesut
Yilmaz to the French news agency were characterized as warlike by
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas. Mr. Yilmaz threatened
with an installation of missiles in the occupied territories of
northern Cyprus if the Russian S-300 missiles are installed in
Cyprus.
Mr. Reppas characterized Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash
as a puppet as all the decisions regarding Cyprus are being made
in Ankara.
[08] THE 2ND CONFERENCE ON PEACE IN THE BALKANS WILL BE HELD IN
THESSALONIKI
Five new organizations from Moldavia, FYROM and Croatia are
expected to be part of the Balkan Non Governmental Organizations
Federation (FEBANGO) in which participate 19 organizations from
Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Romania and Greece.
The expansion of the federation that will be announced
tomorrow takes place within the framework of the 2nd Conference on
Peace, Democracy and Cooperation in the Balkans, that is organized
in Thessaloniki by the Movement for Peace, Human Rights and
National Independence. In the federation participate peace
movements as well as, scientific, cultural and unionist
organizations.
President of the movement Christos Markopoulos pointed out
that the participation of non governmental organizations in the
settlement of the crisis in Kossovo is necessary as well as, their
contribution in handling the Turkish threat. He also suggested the
establishment of a committee that will act immediately in a
mediating and peaceful manner regarding the Kossovo issue.
Council of Europe secretary general representative Michel
Fluckinger stated that the organization makes efforts for the
Balkans to belong to Europe, adding that the Council of Europe has
undertaken commitments regarding the problems and crisis faced by
the south-eastern European countries.
[09] CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF NEW DEMOCRACY MEETING
Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader
Kostas Karamanlis called on his party officials to be in a state
of readiness speaking in the party Central Committee meeting.
The leader of ND presented the priorities of the party in
view of the municipal elections and underlined that the opening to
different social sectors should materialize. Mr. Karamanlis
stressed that the strategic invitation to participate in a
national course should be confirmed by the everyday behavior.
[10] THE 3RD CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL ISSUES OPENS IN
ALEXANDROUPOLIS TOMORROW
The proceedings of the 3rd Conference on National Issues
"Issues of minorities in Turkey and Thrace" opens in the northern
Greek city of Alexandroupolis tomorrow with the participation of
distinguished scientists and politicians. The conference is
organized by the Athens Association of Lawyers and the scientific
association ERGA OMNES.
In a press conference held today, representative of Young
Lawyers Association Dionisis Paraschos stated that the goal of the
conference is not to find solutions but to better inform young
lawyers on the issue of the minorities.
[11] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF
CONSUMER GOODS IN MOSCOW
The International Exhibition of Consumer Goods "CONSUMEXPO
‘99" will be held in Moscow next January. The exhibition which
targets Russian importers, wholesalers and store supply managers
is regarded as the most important in its field for the market of
Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States in general.
Greece will present products of the wider consumer sector in
addition to the sectors of food, beverages and cigarettes.
[12] PACKAGE OF ERGO BANK SHARES WAS TRANSFERRED TO EUROBANK
The ERGOBANK shares package, owned by the bank's biggest
shareholder Lazaros Efremoglou, was transferred yesterday to the
banking group EFG EUROBANK through the Stock Exchange.
A total of 2.900.000 shares were transferred in three
installments at the price of 35.000 drachmas each share. The
transfer of the whole package was undertaken by Telexis AXE.
[13] FOOTBALL: ANASTASIADIS RESIGNED FROM PAOK - NEW FOREIGN
PLAYER FOR ARIS
Angelos Anastasiadis will continue to be the coach of PAOK
for 6 more days. Yesterday, he announced to the team's management
that he will resign. Anastasiadis appears displeased with the
handling of players transfers and the likelihood of Kostas
Frantzeskos to be transferred to the British Wimbleton. According
to information, Mr. Anastasiadis agreed to stay at Tria-Pente
Pigadia training camp in Naousa, northern Greece until Thursday
giving time to the team's management to find his successor.
Meanwhile, PAOK's Peruvian player Persi Olivares made it
clear that if he has no meeting with the management by Monday he
will leave the team.
ARIS has a new player. Lumir Mistr, the 29yearold from the
Czech Spartak Prague will be the team's fifth foreign player and
yesterday he signed a two-year contract. Meanwhile, the arrival of
Peruvian Carlos Flores was postponed until Sunday due to problems
with his passport.
Demis Nikolaidis became the highest paid football player in
Greece after signing a three-year contract with AEK yesterday
worth 750 million drachmas.
In PANATHINAIKOS, the team's management appears very
satisfied with the performance of Aliosa Asanovic in France's
World Cup, who plays with Croatia's national football team and
will join the Athens team in the new season.
[14] REPPAS SATISFIED OVER THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BANK SECTOR
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated today that
the recent business developments which include the dynamic entry
of the Latsis group in the bank system, constitute a vote of
confidence for the Greek economy and the future of the Greek
society.
Mr Reppas made that statement, referring to the flourishing
business activities which reveal confidence to the governmental
policy.
[15] IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS OF GREEK TRANSPORTATION MINISTER IN
YUGOSLAVIA
Greek minister of Transport and Communications Tassos
Mantelis, who is currently on an official visit to Yugoslavia, had
important contacts in Belgrade today.
During a meeting, mr Mantelis had with the Yugoslavian
minister of Transport, mr Drobnjakovic, the two officials agreed
to proceed to the withdrawal of restrictions concerning the issue
of passage licences for Greek lorries which transport goods
through Yugoslavia.
Mr Mantelis had talks with the Serbian president Milan
Milutinovic which focused on issues of bilateral cooperation as
well as on the construction of the motorway stretching from the
city of Nis to the Yugoslavian-FYROM borders under the EU
financing.
The Greek Transport minister, also, met with the Federal
Telecommunication minister of Yugoslavia Dojcilo Radoyevic, and
discussed the construction of the line Corfu-Bar, which is
expected to facilitate the communications between the two
countries, and the more active participation of the Greek
Telecommunications Organization in the telecommunication projects
in Serbia.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] DEFENSE MINISTER COMPLETES US VISIT, WILL TRAVEL DIRECTLY TO
MUNICH
National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to complete
his official visit to the United States today and will depart
directly for Munich in order to attend a joint meeting of PASOK
Eurodeputies and the German Social- democratic SDP Eurodeputies.
The meeting will focus on political, economic and social
relations between Greece and Germany as well as social
developments in the wake of the Cardiff EU summit.
[17] GREEK TRANSPORTATION MINISTER ON VISIT TO BELGRADE
Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis is
currently on an official visit to Belgrade in order to promote
cooperation between Greece and Yugoslavia in the sectors of
transport and communication.
Mr. Mantelis is heading a delegation of public utilities and
organizations executives. Today he is scheduled to hold talks
with Serb President Milan Milutinovic and Yugoslav federal Prime
Minister Momir Bulatovic, as well as the Yugoslav ministers of
transport and communications.
[18] TURKISH GENERAL STAFF CHIEF TRAVELS TO CYPRUS' OCCUPIED
REGION
Turkish general staff chief Haki Karadayi is to travel to the
occupied region of Cyprus today where he will meet with the
leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash and the self-called
"prime minister" Darvis Eroglou.
Turkish Premier Mesut Yilmaz is to travel to the occupied
region on July, while Turkish President Suleiman Demirel will
travel to the occupied region at the end of the month.
[19] RUSSIAN, US OFFICIALS DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE IN MOSCOW
Russia and the United States view the status quo in Cyprus as
unacceptable and have reiterated their support to UN efforts for a
solution to the Cyprus problem.
According to the CNA, the latest developments in the Cyprus
question were discussed in Moscow yesterday evening, during a
meeting between Russian envoy for Cyprus, Vladimir Tchizov, and
the US State Department's Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Vladimir Rahmanin, told
Russia's "Novosti" news agency that the two sides reaffirmed their
interest and readiness to help promote bicommunal gatherings, that
would facilitate the restoration of trust and cooperation between
the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
The spokesman said both Russia and the US believe that there
should be action towards the Turkish Cypriot leadership in order
to create the conditions which would allow communication between
the two communities.
According to Mr. Rahmanin, the two sides reconfirmed their
support to the UN Secretary-General's mission of good offices and
efforts made by Kofi Annan's Special Advisor, Diego Cordovez, to
resume direct talks between the two sides in Cyprus.
Both Messrs. Tchizov and Miller welcomed the recent UN
Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.
They also stressed the need to continue their contacts and
exchange of views, in order to achieve the greatest possible
coordination between Russia and the US in the search for an
acceptable Cyprus settlement, under UN auspices.
[20] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT CONTINUES VISIT TO CHINA
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos
Kaklamanis, continues his official visit to the People's Republic
of China, having visited the city of Chengdu yesterday.
Mr. Kaklamanis addressed the Chengdu Popular National
Assembly presidium and referred to the Turkish intransigence on
the Cyprus issue as well as the Turkish provocations against
Greece.
Today, he is expected at the city of Lhasa in Tibet. Mr.
Kaklamanis is on a series of visits to local legislatures in the
world's most populous country.
[21] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES TO MEET WITH RUSSIA'S YELTSIN ON
MONDAY
Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides is to be received by his
Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin in Moscow on Monday.
The news was confirmed by Kremlin, one day after the first
test-firing of the ground-to- air S-300 missiles, which took place
before political and military leaders of the Cypriot Ministry of
Defense.
The United States continue to pressure Nicosia into calling
off the deal and, instead, propose the purchase of a smaller-
scale system.
This solution is rejected by Cyprus, which says it would be
willing to discuss the matter only in the case of the island's
demilitarization or of positive developments in the overall issue.
[22] BOSNIA: US, EU HALT SARAJEVO PROJECTS OVER SLOW REFUGEE
RETURNS
The United States and European Union have suspended aid
projects in Sarajevo to protest the slow pace of non-Moslem
refugee returns to the Bosnian capital, international officials
said Thursday.
"Whilst there has been some movement in the Sarajevo returns,
clearly there have been many deadlines that have been missed,"
said Simon Haselock, spokesman for the top international mediator
in Bosnia, Carlos Westendorp.
Westendorp fully supported the US and EU decisions to suspend
projects, he said, adding that a "definitive judgment" on the
question of refugee returns would be made this month.
Projects worth several million dollars have been halted by
the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and by the
European Union, the biggest donor of post-war aid to Bosnia-
Herzegovina, the Oslobodjenje newspaper reported.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says that only
around 800 non-Moslems have come back to Sarajevo since February,
when local authorities pledged at a major conference to speed up
returns.
The conference had set a target of 20,000 non-Moslem returns
this year to Sarajevo.
[23] STUDENTS FROM BULGARIA TO BE HOSTED IN GREECE
Sixteen high school students from the Bulgarian city of
Hissar are to be hosted in Greek homes between July 17-23, under
the youth exchange program organized by the Municipality of the
Greek city Kozani.
The boys and girls, aged 16-18, will have the opportunity to
tour archaeological sites in the region, as well as museums.
They will be accompanied by the deputy mayor of Hissar Penka
Rahova, two professors and two interpreters. The students will
also be received by the secretary general of the Western Macedonia
Region, the Prefect of Kozani and the chairman of the Inter-Balkan
Cooperation Center.
[24] MALIAS: GREECE WILL SAFEGUARD FYROM'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
Greece will safeguard FYROM's independence and territorial
integrity not only at a bilateral level but as a member of the
European Union, the Western European Union and NATO and will use
all the means at its disposal toward that purpose, stated head of
the Greek liaison office in FYROM Alexandros Malias in an
interview with the Skopje weekly magazine "M.Expres".
Commenting on the course of the consultations between Greece
and FYROM for the solution of the issue of the name, Mr. Malias
stressed that Greece supports a solution that will make both sides
the winners. "We live together and no one wants its neighbor to
feel defeated", said Mr. Malias, adding that in case one side
feels defeated the victory of the other side will be short lived.
The head of the Greek Liaison Office in FYROM maintained that
one of the Greek foreign policy priorities is the stabilization of
the Balkans and the close cooperation of the neighboring states,
pointing out that the inter-Balkan cooperation will contribute to
the strengthening of the Balkan states' security.
Referring to the latest developments in Kossovo, Mr. Malias
expressed satisfaction over the total coincidence of views between
Athens and Skopje for the peaceful solution of the dispute within
the Yugoslav borders rejecting the use of force.
[25] HOLBROOKE: KOSSOVO IS A THREAT FOR GREECE AND TURKEY
US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke
characterized as very dangerous the situation in Kossovo and in
statements to the American television channel CNN he stressed that
the escalation of the clashes could affect Greece and Turkey
bringing the two countries close to an armed conflict or even a
war.
The US diplomat stated that the situation in Kossovo, even
though it is compared by many to the situation in Bosnia, in
reality is totally different as Bosnia was an independent state.
At the same time, he underlined that a common factor in both cases
is the same individual namely, Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic.
Commenting on the action of the Kossovo Liberation Army, Mr.
Holbrooke said that the biggest problem faced by the United States
and the international community in general is who and in what way
controls the armed members of the organization.
[26] YELTSIN - CLERIDES MEETING
The presidents of Russia and Cyprus Boris Yeltsin and Glafkos
Clerides will meet in Moscow on Monday. According to the Russian
news agency Itar-Tass, Mr. Clerides will have contacts with
Russian foreign minister Gevgeni Primakov and Patriarch Alexios of
Moscow.
Meanwhile, Cypriot minister of defense Yiannakis Omirou will
have talks today with his Russian counterpart Igor Sergeyev.
[27] THE S-300 MISSILES WILL BE IN CYPRUS IN NOVEMBER, ACCORDING
TO THE RUSSIAN PRESS
New testing of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles took
place for a second day in Russia in the presence of Cypriot
minister of defense Yiannakis Omirou, according to Russian press
reports.
According to the newspaper "Kommersant", yesterday's testing
of the missile system was held at the military base of Empa in
Astrakan. Based on the same newspaper, the Russians expect that
Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides will request from his Russian
counterpart to have the missiles delivered in November with the
argument that their earlier installation in the island will have
tragic consequences to the tourism in Cyprus and will become a
point of friction between Greece and Turkey that can lead to an
armed conflict.
[28] BLOODY INCIDENT AT THE ALBANIAN-YUGOSLAV BORDERS
A bloody incident with victims three Albanians occurred at
the Albanian-Yugoslav borders yesterday.
According to the newspaper "Gazeta Skiptare", the incident
occurred a few kilometers from the town of Kukes during the visit
of German foreign minister Klaus Kinkel to the region. The
newspaper writes that according to reliable sources and eye
witnesses, the Serbs killed the Albanians on Albanian territory
while they took three villagers as hostages. The information has
not been confirmed yet by the Albanian authorities.
[29] BULGARIA-TURKEY-RUMANIA SUMMIT IN SOFIA
Prime ministers of Boulgaria, Ivan Kostov, Turkey, Mesut
Yilmaz, and Rumania, Radu Vasile, will hold a meeting tomorrow in
Sofia.
The summit will take place at the initiative of mr Kostof and
will focus on issues of trilateral interest, NATO expansion and
the Kosovo crisis.
The Turkish prime minister will be in Sofia tomorrow on a
scheduled working visit, during which he is expected to sign the
agreement on free trade between Turkey and Bulgaria.
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