Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-09-07
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 7, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PREMIER: WE WILL CONTINUE WITH SAME POLICY FOR NEXT TWO
YEARS
[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH BOSNIA'S PREMIER IN
ATHENS TODAY
[03] PRIME MINISTER: GREEK ECONOMY SHOWS SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT
[04] US AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS BURNS ATTENDS THESSALONIKI'S TRADE
FAIR
[05] FRENCH PREMIER DENOUNCES DIVISION OF CYPRUS AS "DEPLORABLE"
[06] EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON EURO, ELECTRONIC TRADE TO BE HELD IN
ATHENS
[07] TOURISTS' COMPLAINTS FEWER THAN LAST YEAR'S, ESPECIALLY IN
PEAK SEASON
[08] NEW GREEK NATIONAL BANK BRANCH IN CHANNEL ISLANDS
[09] PANGALOS-DODIK MEETING
[10] THE STOCK MARKETS HAVE RECOVERED
[11] REPPAS: THE SOCIAL POLICY MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED
STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 1999
[12] GREAT NAMES OF THE INTERNATIONAL AND GREEK MUSIC SCENE IN THE
"GEA" FESTIVAL AT THESSALONIKI'S PORT
[13] SCENARIO ON THE DIVISION AND INDEPENDENCE OF KOSSOVO
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] RUSSIA'S DUMA TO VOTE TODAY OVER CERNOMYRDIN'S APPOINTMENT
[15] BLACK BOX OF SWISSAIR'S CRASHED FLIGHT RETRIEVED
[16] FOREIGN MINISTERS OF S.E. EUROPE TO MEET IN FYROM ON
SEPTEMBER 26
[17] YELTSIN: RUSSIA WILL OVERCOME THE CRISIS
[18] ONE IN TEN RUSSIANS SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORMS
[19] ARGENTINA SUPPORTS THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
[20] SELEZNIEV: CYPRUS HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE ON ITS DEFENSE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PREMIER: WE WILL CONTINUE WITH SAME POLICY FOR NEXT TWO
YEARS
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stressed the need for the
government to continue with the same policy for the following two
years in order to achieve Greece's accession to the Economic and
Monetary Union.
Speaking at a press conference held on the sidelines of
Thessaloniki's 63rd International Trade Fair, the Premier also
stated that the possibility of imposing additional taxes will
depend on the development of the global monetary crisis.
Meanwhile, the leader of the main opposition party New
Democracy and the Communist Party of Greece have not responded
favorably to the Premier's address.
New Democracy's president Kostas Karamanlis said that the
Premier is detached from reality while the Communist Party of
Greece stated that the Premier once more provokes the working
class, the poor farmers, the small incomes and the pensioners.
[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH BOSNIA'S PREMIER IN
ATHENS TODAY
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is to meet with the Prime
Minster of Bosnia-Herzegovina Milorad Dodik this afternoon in
Athens. The two men will discuss the latest developments in the
Balkans and the Kossovo crisis.
This evening, Mr. Dodik will be received by Greek Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis.
[03] PRIME MINISTER: GREEK ECONOMY SHOWS SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, in a press interview given on
the sidelines of the 63rd International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki
yesterday, stated that the guidelines of the government's policy
are the steadfast continuation of modernizing initiatives and the
structural changes in the economy, as well as the systematic
development of the new social state with the creation of a new
social insurance system for those who are truly in need.
Mr. Simitis also sent a message of confidence on the
country's national issues, saying that we "are stepping firmly
with our political arguments, with our alliances and with boosting
our defenses", adding that "we have nothing to fear if we rally
together and if we plan tomorrow and our strategy soberly,
defending peace and stability."
Mr. Simitis also stated that the state could reduce the
inflation rate to less than two
percent by the end of 1999 in order to join the Economic and
Monetary Union in January 2001.
``We consider the inflation target for 1999 feasible. We have
to fight hard to achieve this target because it is a criterion
that will put us into the European economic and monetary union
(EMU),'' Mr. Simitis stated.
``The leap that we have to take in slashing inflation until
the end of 1999 is big and difficult. I appeal to everyone for
self-constraint in price rises or even for price cuts to achieve
our national goal,'' he added.
[04] US AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS BURNS ATTENDS THESSALONIKI'S TRADE
FAIR
American business should invest in Greece since it is a
stable country, open to foreign investment, forging ahead with a
developing economy characterized by a constant improvement of its
economic indices, stated the United States Ambassador to Athens
Nicholas Burns during his visit at Thessaloniki's 63rd
International Trade Fair yesterday.
The US diplomat added that "one of the reasons that President
Clinton sent me here is to ensure that the US and Greece will
strengthen their relations and there is no better way for this
than by developing their economic relations. I believe this and I
advise American investors to invest in Greece which is a stable
country with a good economy, contrary to some Balkan states where
we have conflicts. There is stability in Greece," Mr. Burns said.
"Our primary target as the US government is to promote
American enterprises in Greece to invest in Greece and to conclude
cooperations with Greek companies," he added.
"The main priority is for us to increase trade and our
investments," he said.
Referring to the SECI (Southeaster Corporation Initiative),
Mr. Burns stressed the particularly important role played by the
Greek government aimed at facilitating overseas trade and
transport in the region.
Mr. Burns reiterated that Greece and the US have been friends
and partners ever since Greece gained its independence and pointed
out that the issue of Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations do not
affect American investors.
[05] FRENCH PREMIER DENOUNCES DIVISION OF CYPRUS AS "DEPLORABLE"
French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has denounced the Turkish
occupation of Cyprus' northern part, by saying that it is a
"deplorable situation for international law".
In an interview with the Athens Sunday paper, "To Vima", Mr.
Jospin stated that "the real question" in Cyprus is the "division
of the island...which persists since nearly 25 years. "
"What France wishes, is to achieve putting an end to a
deplorable situation for international law," he said.
"Those who block the process of rapprochement of the two
communities and are opposed to any political settlement based on
United Nations resolutions, bare towards their people and to
history a grave responsibility, " Mr. Jospin added.
[06] EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON EURO, ELECTRONIC TRADE TO BE HELD IN
ATHENS
The annual "Partnership '98" conference, themed "European
spirit and business cooperation: the challenges of Euro and
electronic trade" is to take place on September 10-11 in Athens,
after an initiative taken by the European Commission.
European Commissioner Christos Papoutsis and Greek Minister
of
Development Vasso Papandreou will declare the opening of the
conference while the undersecretary of development Anna
Diamantopoulou will present the keynote speech.
[07] TOURISTS' COMPLAINTS FEWER THAN LAST YEAR'S, ESPECIALLY IN
PEAK SEASON
Fewer complaints were submitted by vacationers this year, in
comparison with the last, especially during the peak tourism
season and up until August 31.
The total filed complaints numbered 3,065, of which 2,082
were submitted by Greek vacationers.
Nightclubs, restaurants and taverns represented the
sector that disappointed most the tourists, having a rate, out of
the total complaints, of 9.95%, while product prices and product
quality were the next two areas that attracted complaints, having
a rate of 8.51% and 7.57%, respectively.
There were 57 complaint registration centers throughout the
country this year, posted by the Agency of Tourist Protection and
the General federation of Greek consumers, while the four-digit
number 1721 was a great help to both the locals and foreigners
frustrated over products and services.
[08] NEW GREEK NATIONAL BANK BRANCH IN CHANNEL ISLANDS
The National Bank of Greece in its effort to materialize its
expansion abroad program has founded a new branch in Guernsey,
Channel Islands aimed at conducting all the off-shore transactions
with the permission of the local monetary authorities.
The Channel Islands branch will be in close cooperation with
the Greek National Bank branch in London and will offer its
services to private individuals and companies inside and outside
Greece.
The Channel Islands belong to Britain and are not part of the
European Union enjoying a special economic and taxation status.
[09] PANGALOS-DODIK MEETING
Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos meets in Athens
today with Serb Republic of Bosnia prime minister Milorad Dodik.
Their talks will focus on the developments in the Balkans and the
crisis in Kosovo.
Mr. Dodik will meet in Athens this evening with prime
minister Kostas Simitis.
[10] THE STOCK MARKETS HAVE RECOVERED
The general price index of the Athens Stock Exchange showed a
rise of 1.87%. The international money markets also showed signs
of recovery.
The stock markets in Frankfurt, Milan, London and Tokyo
showed an upward trend in the opening of their transactions, while
the gains were notable in the stock markets of Hong-Kong,
Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
[11] REPPAS: THE SOCIAL POLICY MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED
STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 1999
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the
social policy measures that were announced by prime minister
Kostas Simitis will be implemented starting January 1st, 1999.
Mr. Reppas clarified that the reactions by different social
groups will not stop the country's course toward the European
economic and monetary union just to satisfy certain workers
unions' demands that run against the interests of other social
groups.
[12] GREAT NAMES OF THE INTERNATIONAL AND GREEK MUSIC SCENE IN THE
"GEA" FESTIVAL AT THESSALONIKI'S PORT
Great names of the Greek, Balkan and international music
scene among them, American singer Nina Simone, Armenian Djivan
Gasparian, Cesaria Evora from Cape Verde, bass player Jah Wobble
from Britain , Nikos Papazoglou and Savina Giannatou will
participate in this year's "Gea" Music Festival.
The festival will be held at the port of Thessaloniki on
September 17-20 and is organized by HELEXPO and "Milos" cultural
complex.
[13] SCENARIO ON THE DIVISION AND INDEPENDENCE OF KOSSOVO
The gradual disengagement in Kossovo that will have as a
result its division in a period of 5-6 years, the incorporation of
one part into Serbia and the independence of the other one, is
predicted in a scenario of the Greek Institute of European and
Foreign Policy included in the latest issue of the "International
Spectator" magazine published by the Italian Istituto Affari
Internazionali.
The Greek Institute of European and Foreign Policy has been
studying the issue of Kossovo since 1995 implementing a research
programme that lasted 3 years. Within the framework of this
programme it has issued the one-volume book "Kossovo: Avoiding
another Balkan War" written by the institute's president Thanos
Veremis and the institute's special adviser on Balkan issues
Evangelos Kofos.
Speaking to MPA, prof.Veremis pointed out that a gradual
autonomy in the region can lead even to the independence of part
of Kossovo and the incorporation of the other part into the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Mr. Veremis expressed the view
that this scenario will become a reality in the next 5-6 years.
Mr. Veremis said that it is possible to have a transition
from a state of temporary autonomy to the establishment of Serb
cantons in the regions with Serb population. Later, those regions
will vote in a plebiscite to decide on their allegiance and this
is how a division will take place.
Mr. Veremis stated that the current situation in Kossovo is
not to the interest of the Serbs as due to their demographic
growth the Albanians soon will be the majority of the population
in Serbia.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] RUSSIA'S DUMA TO VOTE TODAY OVER CERNOMYRDIN'S APPOINTMENT
Russia's lower house of parliament (Duma) is to vote today on
prime minister-designate Victor Cernomyrdin.
Last week, Mr. Cernomyrdin secured only 94 votes in the 450-
seat Duma where his adversaries, that is communists and liberals,
have made clear their overwhelming rejection. In order to be
elected, he needs at least 226 votes.
Communist Party leader Gennadi Zuganov produced a list of
five alternative candidates,
including the unexpected choice of acting Foreign Minister Yevgeni
Primakov.
[15] BLACK BOX OF SWISSAIR'S CRASHED FLIGHT RETRIEVED
One of the two black boxes of Swissair's crashed flight 111
has been located by a submarine five miles off the Canadian
coastline and is expected to shed light into the tragedy that cost
the lives of 229 individuals.
The box will be examined by an international experts team in
Ottawa, which also features the participation of a Greek
scientist.
The pilot's last conversation with the control tower, which
took place a mere seven minutes before the crash, were publicized
yesterday. The pilot stated that there was smoke in the cockpit
and requested directions for landing at the nearest airport.
[16] FOREIGN MINISTERS OF S.E. EUROPE TO MEET IN FYROM ON
SEPTEMBER 26
The Foreign Ministers of Southeastern European countries are
to meet in FYROM on September 26, where the agreement for the
formation of a multinational peacekeeping force will be signed.
Meanwhile, the five-day conference of S.E. European
countries' experts started in Rome today, where the participants
are to review the details of the aforementioned force's creation.
.
[17] YELTSIN: RUSSIA WILL OVERCOME THE CRISIS
Russian president Boris Yeltsin appeared confident that his
country will overcome the crisis. The crucial vote in the Lower
House of Parliament for the approval of Victor Chernomyrdin to the
post of the prime minister will take place this afternoon. Mr.
Yeltsin continues to support the candidature of Mr. Chernomyrdin,
while the Communists refuse to vote for him.
Meanwhile, the president of the Central Bank of Russia handed
in his resignation to Mr. Yeltsin. The opposition had repeatedly
requested for his removal from office.
[18] ONE IN TEN RUSSIANS SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORMS
Only one in ten Russians supports the implementation of
reforms, while 40% want deep changes in the economic policy "in
favor of the country's interests", according to the results of an
opinion poll published in the newspaper "Vremya".
Based on the outcome of the opinion poll, only 10% of those
asked support the return of Communism, while 30% want the state to
play a more active role in the economy.
Meanwhile, 1/3 of the Russians believe that president Yeltsin
made a mistake by firing prime minister Sergei Kirienko, while 60%
of those asked blame president Yeltsin for the crisis in the
country and the rest believe that the responsibility belongs to
Chernomyrdin, who served as head of the cabinet from December 1992
to last March.
[19] ARGENTINA SUPPORTS THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM
The support of Argentina to the solution of the Cyprus
problem, within the framework of the UN resolutions and
principles, was expressed by the country's president Carlos Menem
in the ceremony during which Cypriot ambassador to Madrid Christos
Psilogenis presented his credentials to become Cypriot ambassador
to Buenos Aires.
Mr. Psilogenis briefed Mr. Menem on the developments in the
Cyprus issue and laid a wreath at the monument of Argentina's
national hero San Marten.
[20] SELEZNIEV: CYPRUS HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE ON ITS DEFENSE
Cyprus has the right to decide on the means it will use for
the strengthening of its defense, stated Russian Lower House of
Parliament president Genadi Selezniev in a meeting he had
yesterday with the Cypriot parliamentary delegation which
participates in the 100th Inter-Parliamentary Association Summit
meeting in Moscow.
Mr. Selezniev referred to the close relations between Russia
and Greece and mentioned that all the political parties in the
Duma, or Lower House of Parliament, support the case of Cyprus.
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