|
|
|
Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-08-05
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 5, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER MEETS WITH AGRICULTURE MINISTER TO REVIEW FIRE
CONSEQUENCES
[02] GREECE TO PLAY AGAINST SPAIN ON FRIDAY'S GAME OF WORLDBASKET
'98
[03] FIRES RAGE ALL OVER COUNTRY, PM INTERRUPTS HOLIDAY, RETURNS
TO ATHENS
[04] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ON
FRIDAY
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[05] CONFLICT CONTINUES IN KOSSOVO
[06] PENTAGON OKS MISSILE SALE TO GREECE
[07] UN REPORTS: VIOLATIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CONTINUE
[08] US SENATE COMMEMORATES 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS'S INVASION
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER MEETS WITH AGRICULTURE MINISTER TO REVIEW FIRE
CONSEQUENCES
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met with the Minster of
Agriculture Stephanos Tzoumakas this afternoon and the two men
reviewed the measures that will be taken in order to prevent
floods that may occur as a results of the devastating fires that
have ravaged thousands of acres throughout the country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Order George Romeos said
that the state mechanism moved ably in combating the fires which
he contributed to arson.
[02] GREECE TO PLAY AGAINST SPAIN ON FRIDAY'S GAME OF WORLDBASKET
'98
Greece will play against Spain during Friday's game of the
ongoing WorldBasket '98 championship in Athens, having finished
third in Group E.
The Greek team yesterday was beat by Yugoslavia, the score
being 70-56. If Greece manages to beat Spain, then it will face
the winner of the Yugoslavia-Argentina match.
The Championships are being held at the capital's Peace and
Friendship stadium.
[03] FIRES RAGE ALL OVER COUNTRY, PM INTERRUPTS HOLIDAY, RETURNS
TO ATHENS
Tens of forest fires are raging throughout the country, while
the eastern region of Attica has been declared an emergency state.
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis interrupted his summer holiday
and returned to Athens yesterday where he chaired an emergency
meeting on the blaze on Mount Pendeli.
No casualties have been reported from the fire. The Minister
of Public Order George Romeos has stated that the fires are likely
the work of arsonists.
More than 600 firemen have been battling the blaze, which has
razed thousands of acres (hectares) of pine woods.
[04] DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ON
FRIDAY
Greece's deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis is to
exchange points of view on the Cyprus issue with the President of
the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides during their meeting in
Nicosia on Friday.
Speaking to RIK, Mr. Kranidiotis stated that he does not plan
to relays the US formula for the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.
Also present at the Clerides-Kranidiotis meeting will be the
Cypriot Foreign Minister Yannakis Kasoulides.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[05] CONFLICT CONTINUES IN KOSSOVO
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
reported yesterday that more people are fleeing shelling in
Kossovo, with over 70,000 persons having fled their homes.
UNHCR Spokesman Kris Janowski said that the road between
Srbica and Giogovac was "packed with people on the move in horse
carts, tractors and private vehicles." He added that houses were
burning and smoke was rising from the west of the road.
In the villages of Vrbovci and Ceres, some 3,000 people are
being accommodated by villagers or taking refuge in a nearby
forest. "We hope to deliver basic supplies to these people as soon
as possible, but the ongoing conflict and the constant movement of
people make it difficult for us to provide them with adequate
aid," said Mr. Janowski.
[06] PENTAGON OKS MISSILE SALE TO GREECE
The United States Department of Defense has approved the
potential sale of 1,322 Stinger missiles, 188 launchers and
support equipment to Greece at an estimated cost of $150 million.
According to the Associated Press, the Pentagon stated
that ``this proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy
and national security of the United States by improving the
military capabilities of Greece'' and the ability of NATO
militaries to cooperate with common weaponry. It will not affect
the military balance of the region, the statement added.
Greece already has this type of Stinger RMP Block 1 missiles
in its inventory, the statement said. The prime contractor for the
sale will be Raytheon of Tucson, Ariz., the
statement said.
The Stinger is a short-range air defense missile that can be
used to defend troops against threats posed by cruise missiles,
unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft and
helicopters.
[07] UN REPORTS: VIOLATIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CONTINUE
A senior United Nations human rights official on Tuesday said
violations of indigenous people's rights continue, despite the
increased international attention to their plight.
Speaking to reporters as the United Nations prepared to
commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous People
later this week, the Deputy Director of the New York Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Elsa Stamatopoulou, expressed
concern about threats to indigenous cultures. "Ethnocide is the
major plight facing indigenous communities, by which we mean the
denial by the mainstream society to grant them the chances to live
within and through their
cultures."
Ms. Stamatopoulou cited three major controversial issues that
she said were crucial for the survival of indigenous people,
namely land and natural resources, the right to self-determination
and the right to culture, language and education.
Nina Sibal, the Director of the New York Office of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), described her agency's work to benefit indigenous people
through multilingual education. She stressed the importance of
raising awareness, in particular through international appeals and
declarations, such as the 1992 Declaration on the Rights of
Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities. These pronouncements drew attention to the conditions
of extreme poverty and political marginality faced by the majority
of indigenous people, and invited political leaders to listen to
the many voices clamoring for dignity, justice and solidarity for
all.
In response to a question, Ms. Stamatopoulou described the
process underway to draft a declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples. Representatives of indigenous groups had
considered it to be an extremely good draft, she said, noting that
the text was now being reviewed by a working group of the
Commission on Human Rights, which was making slow progress. At
best, the General Assembly would adopt the draft by the year 2004,
she observed.
[08] US SENATE COMMEMORATES 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS'S INVASION
The answer to resolving the Cyprus problem lies with Turkey,
according to US senators, who stressed Ankara's intransigence
during the senatorial session on the commemoration of the 24th
anniversary since the Turkish invasion of the island.
The special session was initiated by Greek-origin senator
Mike Bilirakis. The attending senators called on the Clinton
administration to intensify its efforts in ending the occupation
of northern Cyprus.
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/
|
