Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-10-24

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

Last Update: 23:27 GMT+2

SECTIONS

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

[C] EUROPE

[D] WORLD

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

[C] EUROPE

[D] WORLD

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] GREECE

[01] THE GREEK PRESIDENT AND THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WILL BE IN MOUNT ATHOS

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

The celebrations will also be attended by parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, minister of culture Evangelos Venizelos, minister of environment, land planning and public works Kostas Laliotis, and leader of main opposition party New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis. Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece is in the monastic community of Mount Athos since Wednesday.

The festivities will be attended by over 1.000 distinguished guests. The Ecumenical Patriarch is scheduled to meet tomorrow with president Stephanopoulos and with prime minister Simitis on Monday.

[02] THE GREEK INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION HAS INCREASED

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

The increase of the industrial output is confirmed by the statistical analysis made on behalf of the European Statistics Agency, Eurostat. According to the data provided by Eurostat, in the trimester of May-July 1998 there was an increase of 2.3% compared to the trimester of February- April 1998. The agency mentions that it is the biggest increase observed among all the EU member-states in this period.

[03] THE POLICE OFFICER WHO KILLED THE YOUNG SERB IN THESSALONIKI APPEARS BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR TODAY

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

Thessaloniki's police department in a formal statement mentions that the victim and his friends exerted pressure on 32yearold police officer Kiriakos Vandoulis and as a result his gun accidentally went off.

The police officer has been suspended based on a public order ministry decision and minister Giorgos Romeos called for the clearing up of the case as soon as possible.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized the incident as regrettable.

The parents of the victim will be in Thessaloniki tomorrow and according to information, the Yugoslav consulate authorities have requested to be briefed in detail on the case.

Meanwhile, 18yearold Slobodan Matinovic, who was kept in police custody during the night and was brought before the prosecutor's office accused of stealing a wallet, has been released and is with his fellow students.

Many of the friends and fellow students of Matinovic, who were waiting for him outside Thessaloniki's Court House Building, fainted because of the tension and the stress and they were taken to hospitals where they received medical treatment and were later released.

[04] THE INDIRECT TAXES WILL BE CUT IN 1999

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

National Economy and Finance minister Yiannos Papantoniou reiterated that the main goal of the economic policy for 1999 is to meet the pre-conditions for Greece to join the EMU which will be achieved by curbing inflation. For this purpose, said Mr. Papantoniou, the indirect taxes that will be cut will amount to 180 billion drachmas.

[B] BALKANS

[05] US LAW ON THE PROTECTION OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

The US Congress in its text on the law in question points out that the United States must use their influence on the Turkish government to protect the Ecumenical Patriarchate based on International Law and the Turkish legislation.

Also, it is mentioned that the United States must call on Turkey to offer the right protection and security to the Patriarchate and its personnel and to reopen the Theology School of Halki.

[06] ALL SERB FORCES SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN FROM KOSOVO

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

The withdrawal of the Serb forces is necessary in order for the OSCE observers to take over.

Russia continues to oppose the implementation of the activation order for the launch of air strikes against Yugoslavia and sets the lifting of the activation order for the alliance's air strikes as a pre-condition for its participation in NATO's air patrols over Kosovo.

[C] EUROPE

[07] EU SUMMIT MEETING IN AUSTRIA

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

The Greek prime minister will call for the drawing up of a new prospect for the European Union aimed at limiting unemployment and accelerating the political unification of Europe through the promotion of a common foreign and defense policy.

In the extraordinary summit meeting will also be discussed the global economic developments as well as the situation in Kosovo.

[08] VICTOR KLIMA: TURKEY DOES NOT MEET THE PRE-CONDITIONS FOR EU ACCESSION

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

Referring to the relations of Turkey with the European Union, the Austrian chancellor stated that Ankara does not meet the Copenhagen criteria in spite of the fact that its European prospect has been repeatedly stressed publicly.

On the prospect of Cyprus's full accession into the EU, Mr. Klima said that the fact that the European Union decided to open negotiations with the candidate states for EU membership, including Cyprus, is a big success for the Austrian EU presidency.

[D] WORLD

[09] THE US TELEVISION CHANNEL ABC PROMOTED THE HEALTHY WAY OF LIFE IN CRETE

Web Posted: 14:57 GMT+2

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/

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article