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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-08-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 10, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GOVERNMENT CABINET CONVENES OVER FIRES
[02] YUGOSLAVIA WINS WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN ATHENS
[03] MANY ELDERLY PERSONS SUCCUMB TO HIGH TEMPERATURES IN GREECE,
CYPRUS
[04] GREECE, ALBANIA TO SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL TODAY
[05] FAYUM'S PORTRAITS COLLECTION PRESENTED AT THESSALONIKI'S
MUSEUM
[06] PRICES TO DROP IN MANY FOODSTUFFS AS OF TODAY
[07] ISLAND OF LESVOS TO BE REPRESENTED AT IZMIR TRADE EXHIBITION
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] CONFLICT MOUNTS IN KOSSOVO, DEATH TOLL RISES
[09] TURKISH PM TO VISIT ISRAEL, JORDAN AND PALESTINE
[10] CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT HAS SENT ITS MESSAGE TO EUROPE
[11] PASSENGERS QUIZZED AFTER HIJACK OF RUSSIAN JET
[12] BULGARIA BIDS FAREWELL TO DEPOSED COMMUNIST LEADER TODOR
ZHIVKOV
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GOVERNMENT CABINET CONVENES OVER FIRES
The ministers of the Interior, Environment, Agriculture and
the undersecretary of Finance participated in a Cabinet meeting
today in order to tackle fire-related issues, such as the
compensation to be granted to those damaged by the blazes.
The Minister of Public Order George Romeos said that the
fires were largely a result of organized arson, while the Minster
of Agriculture Stephanos Tzoumakas refuted rumors wanting him to
resign.
[02] YUGOSLAVIA WINS WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN ATHENS
Yugoslavia won the 13th World Basketball Championship in
Athens last night, beating Russia 64-62. The United States placed
third after defeating Greece 84-61.
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis forwarded a telegram congratulating
the Greek national basketball team for its success in coming
fourth in the world.
"I congratulate you for the successful course in the 13th
World Basketball Championship, " Mr. Simitis stated in his
message. "Your performance, your methodical system and your
fighting spirit, your tempo and your organizing have placed you in
the four best teams in the world."
Main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Kostas
Karamanlis also sent a congratulatory telegram to the Greek
national team, along with other political party leaders.
[03] MANY ELDERLY PERSONS SUCCUMB TO HIGH TEMPERATURES IN GREECE,
CYPRUS
Tens of senior citizens have died in Greece and Cyprus over
the recent days, by causes related to heatstroke that was brought
on by the scorching temperatures, which at certain days soared to
40C and were combined with high humidity levels.
The health agencies of both countries are on a campaign to
inform the public on preventive measures that should be taken in
order to alleviate the suffering, especially targeting those
elderly persons who live alone.
[04] GREECE, ALBANIA TO SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL TODAY
A cooperation protocol is to be signed today between Greece
and Albania, foreseeing joint patrols along the two countries'
common sea border.
The protocol is aimed at policing the region more effectively,
such as combating illegal immigration, drug trafficking and
unlawful fishing.
A special ceremony will be held at the island of Corfu, which
will be attended by Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis and
Albanian Interior Minister Neritan Ceka.
[05] FAYUM'S PORTRAITS COLLECTION PRESENTED AT THESSALONIKI'S
MUSEUM
The famous series of Fayum's portraits is currently on
display at Thessaloniki's Museum of Byzantine Civilization.
The portraits, dating back to the 1st and 4th centuries A.D.
are characterized by an intense realism, the artist having
employed a method that wavers between impressionism and
naturalism.
The exhibit will last until the end of August.
[06] PRICES TO DROP IN MANY FOODSTUFFS AS OF TODAY
Following an agreement reached between the Undersecretary of
Development Michalis Chrysochoides and the owners of Greek
supermarkets, prices are to drop in a great number of basic
foodstuffs as of today.
Prices are to be up to 10% lower in rice, pasta, legumes and
other foods.
This is part of a plan to further reduce the inflation rate by the
end of the year.
[07] ISLAND OF LESVOS TO BE REPRESENTED AT IZMIR TRADE EXHIBITION
The Lesvos Chamber of Commerce and the Foreign Trade
Organization are cooperating to organize the island's presence at
the Izmir international trade exhibition set for August 27 to 29.
The island will be represented by about 40 businessmen in an
effort to promote trade between the Greek islands of the eastern
Aegean and the Asia Minor coastal region. The chambers of Izmir
and Lesvos are working toward this goal with the Young Turkish
Businessmen's Union.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] CONFLICT MOUNTS IN KOSSOVO, DEATH TOLL RISES
Tens of lives have been lost over the weekend in the strife-
torn region of Kossovo, according to Albanian press reports, while
hundreds of others are reported as missing.
According to the same reports, 450 persons were killed until
August 5, while approximately 317,000 were forced to abandon their
homes. Damages are estimated at reaching DM three million.
Meanwhile, United Nations humanitarian missions are reporting a
series of obstacles in terms of delivering the aid to the stricken
region.
[09] TURKISH PM TO VISIT ISRAEL, JORDAN AND PALESTINE
Turkish Prime Minster Mesut Yilmaz is to conduct official
visits to Israel, Jordan and Palestine between September 5-8.
Mr. Yilmaz, who is to be accompanied by a large delegation
of Turkish businessmen, is expected to be received by King Hussein
in Jordan, as well as with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin
Netaniahu and Israeli President Ezer Weissman.
Lastly, the Turkish Premier is to be received by the
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at the Gaza Strip.
[10] CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT HAS SENT ITS MESSAGE TO EUROPE
The Cypriot government has submitted a specific proposal
concerning the island's demilitarization, which also provides
solutions to the rising tension and the arms pile-up, stated
government spokesperson Christos Stylianides.
Mr. Stylianides addressed yesterday's memorial service held
in honor of Tasos Isaak and Solomos Solomou who were killed by the
Turkish occupation forces.
Moreover, Mr. Stylianides stressed the need for the Greek
people to support the Cyprus issue.
[11] PASSENGERS QUIZZED AFTER HIJACK OF RUSSIAN JET
Russian security officials have questioned 97 passengers of
an airliner that appeared to have been hijacked on a domestic
flight, the BBC has reported.
The TU-154 jet from the Siberian city of Ust-Ilimsk was held
up after touching down at
Domodedovo airport in Moscow shortly before 11am local time on
Sunday.
The crew found a note threatening to detonate a bomb unless a
$100,000 ransom was paid.
The note demanded that the money should be paid in roubles and
placed in the plane's toilet.
It also said that the plane should stay at least three hours at
Domodedovo airport and that all passengers be allowed to leave
without any checks. It is not known who left the note.
The passengers were eventually escorted off and the plane was
searched. No explosive
device was found.
The BBC correspondent in Moscow said it is not clear whether
the incident
amounted to a serious hijacking attempt, or was a hoax. Other
airport traffic was unaffected by the incident. The BBC's
correspondent says security at many of Russia's provincial
airports is poor and
internal flights are frequently the targets of hijack attempts.
Most end peacefully with the hijacker surrendering to police.
[12] BULGARIA BIDS FAREWELL TO DEPOSED COMMUNIST LEADER TODOR
ZHIVKOV
Several thousand Bulgarians took part in a funeral procession
through the center of Sofia, in order to honor the former
Communist ruler, Todor Zhivkov.
The funeral procession was organized by the opposition
Socialists after Bulgaria's center-right government refused to
give Mr. Zhivkov a state funeral.
Mourners paid their last respects as his coffin stood in
Batenberg Square at the steps of the former Royal Palace in the
Bulgarian capital before being moved to his final resting place.
The procession ended in the main city cemetery where Mr. Zhivkov
was buried in a non-religious family ceremony alongside his wife
Mara Maleeva.
Mr. Zhivkov, who died on Thursday aged 86, headed the
Bulgarian Communist Party for 35
years until he was ousted as Communism collapsed in Eastern
Europe.
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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