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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-11-11
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 11, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CABINET MEETING TO APPROVE 1999 BUDGET TODAY
[02] SWEDISH FOREIGN AID MINISTER SCHORI IN ATHENS TOMORROW
[03] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TO VISIT CYPRUS ON SUNDAY
[04] GREEK FM TO SPEAK ON HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY AT PARLIAMENT
CEREMONY
[05] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER DETAINED TANJUNG
REPORTERS
[06] FOREIGN AND DEFENSE COUNCIL TO CONVENE TODAY
[07] NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF OVER 600
BILLION
[08] NATIONAL BANK ACQUIRES AUTHENTIC COPY OF RIGAS' CHART
[09] ATHENS TO HOST CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY
[10] TURKISH PATROL BOAT HARASSED GREEK FISHING BOAT IN NE AEGEAN
[11] THESSALONIKI BAR ASSOCIATION GIVES LEGAL AID TO REPATRIATING
GREEKS
[12] THE NEW BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED
[13] LIEUTENANT-GENERAL PARAGIOUDAKIS IS THE NEW NATIONAL DEFENSE
GENERAL STAFF CHIEF
[14] EUROPEAN COMMISSION INTEREST IN THE BYZANTINE MONUMENTS OF
N.SYRIA
[15] THE FIRST HYBRID CAR BY TOYOTA WILL BE PRESENTED IN
THESSALONIKI
[16] THE 17TH ARMED FORCES MEDICAL CONFERENCE OPENED IN
THESSALONIKI
[17] THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMISTICE WAS CELEBRATED IN
THESSALONIKI
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] AUSTRIAN FM: THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR CYPRUS
[19] ALBANIAN PREMIER TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW
[20] UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCLAIMS NEXT DECADE AS CULTURE OF PEACE
[21] THE UN OBSERVERS WERE RECALLED FROM IRAQ
[22] VASILIOU: THE EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE
[23] THE CLERIDES-SIMITIS MEETING WILL BE HELD IN ATHENS AT THE
END OF NOVEMBER
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CABINET MEETING TO APPROVE 1999 BUDGET TODAY
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will chair a Cabinet meeting
today, where the 1999 state budget is to be approved and submitted
to Parliament immediately thereafter. The new budget allows for
slight wage and pension increases, fixed public utilities rates as
well as a freeze on new hires.
The new budget does not contain any new taxes. According to
reports, the increases are to amount to approximately two percent
and will be effective as of January 1, 1999. The new budget also
allows for additional revenue from the State Telecommunications
Organization's shares.
[02] SWEDISH FOREIGN AID MINISTER SCHORI IN ATHENS TOMORROW
Swedish Foreign Aid Minister Pierre Schori is due to address
an event tomorrow evening at the Athens Concert Hall on the
subject of "Greece and Sweden in a United Europe".
Mr. Schori is best known in Greece for the solidarity he
showed to Greek democrats during the seven- year military
dictatorship (1967-74) and as a close friend and associate of late
Swedish premier Olaf Palme.
[03] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TO VISIT CYPRUS ON SUNDAY
The President of the Hellenic Parliament, Apostolos
Kaklamanis, will embark on a two-day official visit to Cyprus on
Sunday, November 15, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart,
Spyros Kyprianou.
Mr. Kaklamanis will hold a series of meetings before his
return to Athens on Monday evening.
[04] GREEK FM TO SPEAK ON HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY AT PARLIAMENT
CEREMONY
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will speak this
evening will
speak at a ceremony celebrating the 50-year anniversary since the
declaration of Human Rights around the world.
Mr. Pangalos' speech is titled " Greek Foreign Policy and
Human Rights" while the ceremony will be attended by President of
the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
[05] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER DETAINED TANJUNG
REPORTERS
Greece's Foreign Ministry has expressed its concern over the
continued detainment of two reporters from the Yugoslav press
agency Tanjug by armed Albanians in Kosovo.
In its statement, the Foreign Ministry stresses that the
detainment is linearly contrary to international law and
expresses the hope that the abductors will soon realize that their
act is uncalled for and will release the journalists.
[06] FOREIGN AND DEFENSE COUNCIL TO CONVENE TODAY
The Government's Foreign and Defense Council (KYSEA) is to
convene today, following the Cabinet's meeting over the 1999
budget.
According to reports, the KYSEA, will appoint a military
chief to take up duties early next year.
[07] NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF OVER 600
BILLION
The 1999 budget, which is expected to be tabled to Parliament
today, is to have additional revenue of at least GRD 650 billion,
while primary deficit will be increased by 5.5%.
Moreover, the new budget does not include any additional
taxes, nor reliefs, as the Ministry of economics will not proceed
to the indexation of the tax scale.
According to economists, the added revenue will be derived
from the recovering economy, the regulation of pending tax cases
and the curbing of tax evasion.
[08] NATIONAL BANK ACQUIRES AUTHENTIC COPY OF RIGAS' CHART
The Cultural Center of the National Bank of Greece in
Thessaloniki has acquired an authentic copy of the Chart of Rigas,
the great Greek revolutionary who envisioned Balkan friendship and
unity.
The document will be officially presented next Thursday,
November 19 and it will be placed on display.
The display is of great significance as it coincides with the
bicentennial anniversary since Rigas' death. The Chart was printed
in 1797 at Vienna and comprises 12 sheets that compose a map of
four square meters.
[09] ATHENS TO HOST CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY
Greek government officials and EU Commissioner Christos
Papoutsis are to address the conference "Application of Renewable
Sources of Energy, National Priorities and European Strategy"
which will be held in Athens on November 30- December 2.
Among the speakers at the conference will be the Minister of
Development, Vaso Papandreou, Minster of Environment, City
Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis, the Minister of the
Aegean Elisabeth Papazoi and the Eurodeputy of the Coalition for
the Left and Progress Michael Papayiannakis.
[10] TURKISH PATROL BOAT HARASSED GREEK FISHING BOAT IN NE AEGEAN
A Turkish patrol boat, guarding the sea region of Ainos,
approached and harassed a Greek trawler while it was fishing in
international waters at the northeastern section of the Aegean
Sea, near the island of Samothrace.
According to the Greek boat's captain, the patrol boat
approached the trawler, remained close by for approximately 15
minutes and suddenly sailed for the port of Ainos.
This is the second such incident taking place this month.
[11] THESSALONIKI BAR ASSOCIATION GIVES LEGAL AID TO REPATRIATING
GREEKS
The Thessaloniki Bar Association has begun granting free
legal aid to repatriating Greeks, especially those who have
returned to Greece from the former soviet Union.
The program, which is funded by the General Secretariat of
the New Generation, features the participation of 371 young
lawyers who will keep their clients advised of their rights
concerning employment, citizenship and other matters, as well as
provide them with legal defense in the country's lower courts.
[12] THE NEW BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED
The 1999 state budget was approved today by the Greek
cabinet. Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos
Papantoniou will present the proposed budget to parliament this
afternoon. Its revenues exceed the sum of 11 trillion drachmas,
while spending will reach 13 trillion drachmas.
The new budget does not include new taxes, while it provides
for additional revenues from the sale of Greek Telecommunications
Company, OTE, and Greek Petroleum Company shares. Also, it
provides for small increases in wages and pensions as well as, for
the "freezing" of the Public Services' bills and new hirings.
[13] LIEUTENANT-GENERAL PARAGIOUDAKIS IS THE NEW NATIONAL DEFENSE
GENERAL STAFF CHIEF
Lieutenant-general Manousos Paragioudakis, who was the
General Army Staff chief, is the new National Defense General
Staff chief. The decision was made by the Governmental Council of
Foreign Affairs and Defense, in its meeting today that was held
under the chairmanship of prime minister Kostas Simitis, as wing-
commander Athanasios Tzoganis has completed his three-year term in
the position of the National Defense General Staff chief.
In the next meeting of the Governmental Council of Foreign
Affairs and Defense decisions will be made on the changes in the
leadership of the rest armed forces. Most favourite for the post
of the General Army Staff chief are: Army Commander lieutenant-
general Konstantinos Panagiotakis and Army General Inspector
lieutenant-general Dimitris Arvanitis.
[14] EUROPEAN COMMISSION INTEREST IN THE BYZANTINE MONUMENTS OF
N.SYRIA
Greek Euro-deputy from the Coalition of the Left party Mr.
Alekos Alavanos requested assistance from the European Parliament
to save from destruction the Byzantine monuments in northern Syria
(2.000 churches and a number of settlements).
In a written response EU Commissioner Mr. Marin pointed out
that already the European Commission supports all efforts aimed at
the preservation of the historic and cultural heritage of Syria,
while on the specific issue raised by Mr. Alavanos it was stressed
that it can be discussed in the regular contacts the EU Commission
has with the Syrian authorities.
One of the best preserved zones of Byzantine monuments of
great historical and architectural value is found in northern
Syria. According to historians, in the region's 800 villages lived
thousands of people in the period between the 4th and 6th century
AD.
[15] THE FIRST HYBRID CAR BY TOYOTA WILL BE PRESENTED IN
THESSALONIKI
The presentation of TOYOTA Prius, the first hybrid car of the
Japanese car-maker, will take place in Thessaloniki next Monday.
The car is already in the Japanese market and it is expected to be
sold in Europe in the year 2000.
The TOYOTA Prius moves using electricity and gas and its goal
is the protection of the environment and the reduced gas
consumption.
[16] THE 17TH ARMED FORCES MEDICAL CONFERENCE OPENED IN
THESSALONIKI
Minor injuries, respiratory infections and gastro-enteritis
were the main problems faced by the first mission of Greek
officers sent to Albania to restore order after the March unrest
last year. This was announced in the 17th Armed Forces Medical
Conference that opened in Thessaloniki today and will continue
until November 14.
The intense activity due to construction work in the army
camps, where the Greek force was based, was the cause of the minor
injuries regularly recorded during the first days of the force's
deployment, while the living conditions were the cause of
respiratory infections and gastro-enteritis.
During the three-month presence of the Greek medical officers
in Albania there was a steady increase in dental problems among
the members of the Greek force. Also, many members of the local
population in the Albanian capital of Tirana sought the dental
medical assistance offered by the Greek army doctors when it was
made known that they were willing to care for the people living in
the region.
[17] THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMISTICE WAS CELEBRATED IN
THESSALONIKI
Eighty years ago on November 11, 1918 Germany signed the
peace agreement putting an end to World War I. Greece's military
and political authorities commemorated the anniversary with wreath
laying ceremonies at the cemeteries of the allied forces in
Thessaloniki.
In a ceremony held at the 3rd Army Corps monument wreaths
were laid by representatives of the local authorities as well as,
by the general consuls of Germany, Russia, Italy, France, Cyprus,
Yugoslavia and Britain.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] AUSTRIAN FM: THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR CYPRUS
The negotiations or Cyprus's accession to the European Union
successfully got under way in Brussels yesterday.
The President of the Council of the EU, Austrian Foreign
Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, said "it represents a historical
moment when the accession train is picking up speed".
He also expressed hope that "as a result of these
negotiations, the political negotiations will receive a new
impulse." Furthermore, he downgraded the recent statement issued
by Germany, France, ?the Netherlands (and approved by Italy) by
stating that there is no hurdle for Cyprus.
Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met
with his counterparts from Germany, Finland and Sweden.
[19] ALBANIAN PREMIER TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROW
Albania's Prime Minster Panteli Majko is to be in Athens
tomorrow on an official visit. The Albanian Premier will be
received by his Greek counterpart Kostas Simitis with whom he will
discuss matters of mutual interest.
Moreover, Mr. Majko will hold talks with the leaders of
Greece's opposition parties and with leading businessmen..
[20] UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCLAIMS NEXT DECADE AS CULTURE OF PEACE
Emphasizing values that inspire social interaction based on
the principles of tolerance, the United Nations General Assembly
has proclaimed the period 2001- 2010 as the International Decade
for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the
World.
The Assembly took this action in the conviction that such a
decade, at the beginning of the new millennium, would \greatly
assist efforts of the international community to foster peace,
harmony, all human rights, democracy and development throughout
the world.
By a resolution adopted without a vote, the General Assembly
called on United Nations bodies, particularly the Economic and
Social Council and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), as
well as non- governmental organizations, religious bodies and
groups, educational institutions, artists and the media to
actively support the Decade for the benefit of every child of
the world. The Assembly also invited Member States to take the
necessary steps to ensure that the practice of peace and non-
violence is taught at all levels in their respective societies,
including in educational institutions.
[21] THE UN OBSERVERS WERE RECALLED FROM IRAQ
The United Nations observers were recalled from Baghdad as
the tension in the relations between UN and Iraq escalates.
Baghdad remains firm in its position and does not allow for
further UN investigations to take place before the lifting of the
embargo against it. Washington warns for new air strikes in the
region. It is believed that over 100 members of the UN mission
have already abandoned the Iraqi capital.
[22] VASILIOU: THE EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE
Head of the Cypriot negotiating team Giorgos Vasiliou upon
his return from Brussels expressed satisfaction for the opening of
the EU accession negotiations between Cyprus and the European
Union.
Referring to the joint statement signed by France, Germany
and Holland which was backed by Italy and linked the solution of
the Cyprus problem with the island's accession into the EU, Mr.
Vasiliou underlined that it should not cause any concerns because
it has no legal basis.
Mr. Vasiliou stated that the European Union knew that no
solution had been found to the problem when Cyprus submitted its
application for EU membership in 1990, adding that the EU was also
aware of the situation on the island in 1995 when a decision was
reached for the opening of the accession dialogue as well as, this
year when a decision for the promotion of the dialogue was made.
[23] THE CLERIDES-SIMITIS MEETING WILL BE HELD IN ATHENS AT THE
END OF NOVEMBER
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis and Cypriot president
Glafkos Clerides will meet in Athens at the end of November,
according to Cypriot government spokesman Christos Stilianidis.
Mr. Stilianidis mentioned that the two leaders will discuss the
current developments in the Cyprus issue as well as, issues of
bilateral cooperation.
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