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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-11-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 13, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS TICKET TO EMU
[02] GREECE-ALBANIA COOPERATION
[03] FIRST INTER SOUTHEAST EUROPE FORUM BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI
TODAY
[04] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TO VISIT CYPRUS ON SUNDAY
[05] GREEK PM, FORMER PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPEAK IN
ATHENS
[06] CROATIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTH
[07] GREEK GOVERNMENT GRANTS AID TO VICTIMS OF HURRICANE "MITCH"
[08] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICA NEXT WEEK
[09] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC DEPARTS FOR VENICE TODAY
[10] SWEDISH FOREIGN AID MINISTER: GREECE BEHAVIOR TO ALBANIA IS
EXEMPLARY
[11] 1ST BALKAN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION
[12] BEAUTY OF WESTERN MACEDONIA TO BE DISPLAYED ABROAD
[13] SWITZERLAND'S "CAVALIER OF THE ROAD" AWARDS GREEK MAN FOR
BRAVERY
[14] ALBANIAN PM APOLOGIZES TO GREECE FOR HIS COUNTRY'S CRIMINALS
[15] REPPAS: MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY IS ONLY THE ONE BASED IN
THESSALONIKI
[16] KAKLAMANIS-MAJKO MEETING
[17] REPPAS: THE PROBLEM OF CRIME MUST BE DEALT WITH IN ITS RIGHT
DIMENSIONS
[18] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY CALLS FOR A REFERENDUM TO BE HELD
ON THE TREATY OF AMSTERDAM
[19] EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE MAGNUM AGENCY ARCHIVES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] DIMAS, KAHIASVILI VIE FOR THE GOLD MEDAL
[21] ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON MEETS WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OVER
CHALKI
[22] TURKISH OFFICERS ROBBED IN VLORE
[23] PIRROS DIMAS FIGHTS FOR THE GOLD MEDAL TODAY
[24] THE NEW PARLIAMENT OF FYROM CONVENES ON MONDAY
[25] ITALIAN POLICE CONFIRM THE ARREST OF PKK LEADER OCALAN
[26] THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CYPRUS CALLS FOR THE DISCUSSION OF
THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IN THE UN
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS TICKET TO EMU
The 1999 budget is the country's ticket to the Economic and
Monetary Union, according to officials from the ministry of
economy and finance. The budget allows for meager public sector
pay raises next year, and raises the income taxes of middle class
professionals and the self-employed by up to 20 per cent.
The main opposition party New Democracy has stressed that
government over-spending has increased while taxes are mounting,
and the Communist Party of Greece accused the government of having
adopted an anti-populist policy through its budget.
[02] GREECE-ALBANIA COOPERATION
Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis received his visiting
Albanian counterpart Panteli Majko in Athens yesterday and
discussed regional security matters, particularly the Kosovo
issue. Mr. Simitis stated that Greece wants to help Albania forge
closer links to NATO, the European Union and other international
organizations.
The two sides signed a 5 billion drachma loan agreement
within the framework of a bilateral agreement already signed which
provides aid to Albania in rebuilding its police force.
Mr. Simitis called his meeting with Majko a sign of growing
friendship and cooperation between their two peoples.
This marked Mr. Majko's first visit to Greece as Premier.
[03] FIRST INTER SOUTHEAST EUROPE FORUM BEGINS IN THESSALONIKI
TODAY
The 1st Inter-Southeast Europe Forum is to begin in
Thessaloniki today, featuring the participation of government
officials and representatives of private companies from
Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM, Bosnia, Croatia, Romania,
Turkey, Yugoslavia and Cyprus.
The participants will present the existing situation in
their countries and the prospects of inter-state alliances in
public sector informatics' application projects.
The Forum will close on Saturday.
[04] 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, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart, Spyros
Kyprianou.
He will be received by the President of Cyprus Glafkos
Clerides and other party leaders.
Mr. Kaklamanis will hold a series of meetings before his
return to Athens on Monday evening.
[05] GREEK PM, FORMER PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPEAK IN
ATHENS
Jacques Delors, the former president of the European
Commission, and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will be the keynote
speakers at a two-day international meeting on European identity,
beginning in Athens this evening.
The three basic items on the agenda are: Nation, sovereignty
and democracy; The state, the market and intermediate
organizations; and The society of citizens.
The meeting will be opened today by Foreign Minister
Theodoros Pangalos and will close tomorrow with discussion and
addresses by Mgrs. Simitis and Delors.
[06] CROATIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT GREECE THIS MONTH
Croatia's president Franjo Tudjman will pay an official
visit to Greece from November 23 to 25, at the invitation of his
Greek counterpart, the office of President of the Hellenic
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos announced.
[07] GREEK GOVERNMENT GRANTS AID TO VICTIMS OF HURRICANE "MITCH"
The Greek foreign ministry has announced that it will donate
US$125,000 to four Latin American countries which have been
devastated by last' week's hurricane "Mitch".
According to the Ministry's announcement, Athens grants this
emergency aid as a symbolic gesture of solidarity to the suffering
people of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
In addition, $35,000 will be allocated to the disaster's
victims through the group "Doctors of the World".
[08] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICA NEXT WEEK
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is to embark on
an official two-day visit to South Africa on Thursday, November
19.
Famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis will accompany the FM
on his visit and will conduct his musical adaptation of Odysseus
Elytis' epic "Axion Esti".
Mr. Pangalos has said that proceeds from the concert would be
donated to South African President Nelson Mandela's charity to
help impoverished children.
Mr. Mandela has said he will attend the Greek composer's
concert.
[09] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC DEPARTS FOR VENICE TODAY
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is departing for Venice today in order to attend the festivities
celebrating the 500-year anniversary of the city's Greek
community.
President Stephanopoulos will be accompanied by the Minister
of Education Gerasimos Arsenis and the alternate Foreign Minister
George Papandreou.
[10] SWEDISH FOREIGN AID MINISTER: GREECE BEHAVIOR TO ALBANIA IS
EXEMPLARY
Swedish Foreign Aid Minister Pierre Schori is presently in
Athens where he addressed an event on the subject of "Greece and
Sweden in a United Europe" yesterday evening.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Schori stated that there was much
Greece could do to "unblock" the difficult situation which has
been created with Turkey.
Reluctant to appear as one who touts advice, Mr. Schori
limited himself to saying that Turkey had the right to participate
in the European Union but first had to fulfill certain
prerequisites, such as respect for human rights.
He also welcomed the beginning of accession talks between the
EU and Cyprus, expressing a view that this would assist in the
solution of the Cyprus problem.
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.
Shortly before speaking at the news conference, Mr. Schori
met briefly with Albanian Premier Pandeli Majko who is staying at
the same hotel. The main subject of discussion was Mr. Schori's
forthcoming visit to Tirana.
"Albania needs our solidarity and the truth is that Greece's
behavior towards Albania has been an example to us all," Mr.
Schori said.
[11] 1ST BALKAN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION
The First Balkan Conference on "Education and Research
Within the Frame of Sustainable Development" will be held in
Thessaloniki next week, between November19-21.
The Conference's basic idea is to introduce new education
systems, like the "Open University or the Selective Studies", as
powerful instruments of knowledge within the frame of the social -
economical development of any country.
Scientists, politicians, reporters, industrial and commerce
representatives from Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM, Serbia, Montenegro,
Rumania, and Turkey will participate in the Conference.
The event is being held under the auspices of the Ministries
of Education and Culture and it is also supported by the Ministry
of Macedonia and Thrace.
[12] BEAUTY OF WESTERN MACEDONIA TO BE DISPLAYED ABROAD
The development and investment opportunities of western
Macedonia are to be presented abroad through a mission organized
by the Association of Northern Greece's Industries (SVVE) to the
cities of Florina, Kozani, Kastoria and Ptolemaida.
The delegation, headed by the chairman of SVVE, will feature
the participation of the consul-generals of Bulgaria, Cyprus,
Germany, Italy, Turkey, Canada,. Liberia, Lithuania, Malta,
Mexico, Philippines, Spain, Switzerland and Uruguay,
The participants will attend a seminar in Florina concerning
the municipalities development opportunities and will also visit
the fur exhibition-auction center of Kastoria.
[13] SWITZERLAND'S "CAVALIER OF THE ROAD" AWARDS GREEK MAN FOR
BRAVERY
A Greek man, Petros Drakakis of Crete, has been awarded by
the Swiss organization Cavalier of the Road for saving the lives
of a Swiss national and another Greek who were victims of a
traffic accident, the Swiss embassy in Athens announced yesterday.
On July 14 along the national road between the cities of
Chania and Iraklion, Mr. Drakakis rescued Swiss national Willy
Gantner and Kostas Badouvas from a burning vehicle despite the
dangers he faced.
Although Cavalier of the Road usually limits its awards to
exemplary acts occurring on Swiss territory, the organization
decided to make a first-time exception.
[14] ALBANIAN PM APOLOGIZES TO GREECE FOR HIS COUNTRY'S CRIMINALS
Albania's Premier Panteli Majko, who is currently on an
official visit to Athens, issued an apology towards the Greek
people for the alarms caused by Albanian criminals active in
Greece.
Following his meeting with the President of the Hellenic
parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis, Mr. Majko asked the Greek
citizens not to associate these criminals with all Albanians who
work and live in Greece. Perhaps they appear disheveled, but they
are civilized, he stated characteristically, adding that the
Albanian people have a rich civilization.
In turn, Mr. Kaklamanis stated that Greece supports Albania's
efforts to adjust tot he modern parliamentary democracy and
expressed the conviction that through the cooperation of the two
countries the criminal conduct of some Albanians in Greece will be
eradicated.
[15] REPPAS: MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY IS ONLY THE ONE BASED IN
THESSALONIKI
There is no other news agency named "Macedonian Press Agency"
but the one based in Thessaloniki, stated Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas when called to comment on the likelihood
of another news agency to appear under the same name in the Balkan
News Agencies' Meeting that will be held in Sofia next Thursday.
The minister of press and government spokesman stated
characteristically that it is not possible for a news agency under
a false name to participate in the meeting.
It should be noted that in the eve of the FYROM elections the
then Chrvenkofski government had put in operation a new news
agency under the name "Macedonian Information Agency" (MIA)
clearly for pre-election purposes. Its name coincides with the
name of Macedonian Press Agency (MPA) which was founded in
Thessaloniki in 1991, long before the creation of the state of
FYROM itself.
As it has been stressed in a statement issued by the MPA
Board of Directors, the use of the name "Macedonian Agency"
constitutes a misappropriation of its own name as it is
internationally recognized since 1991 and undoubtedly causes a
moral and material damage to Macedonian Press Agency as a result
of the confusion that is being created regarding the origin of the
news items. The MPA Board of Directors has announced that it will
take all necessary measures to safeguard its name and its
interests.
[16] KAKLAMANIS-MAJKO MEETING
Albanian prime minister Pandeli Majko apologised for the
behavior of certain of his fellow countrymen in Greece during the
meeting he had with Greek parliament president Apostolos
Kaklamanis today.
Mr. Majko stressed that the Greeks should not be biased
toward all Albanians, who live and work in Greece, influenced by
the criminal behavior displayed by certain of them. Mr. Kaklamanis
stated that Greece backs the efforts of Albania to become a modern
parliamentary republic and characterized as isolated the negative
incidents involving Albanian immigrants that will not be able to
poison the good relations between the two countries.
[17] REPPAS: THE PROBLEM OF CRIME MUST BE DEALT WITH IN ITS RIGHT
DIMENSIONS
The problem of crime must be dealt with in its right
dimensions, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
When asked to comment on the apology offered to the Greek
people by Albanian prime minister Pandeli Majko for the concern
caused in the country by certain criminal elements who came to
Greece from Albania, Mr. Reppas pointed out that the statement
made by Mr. Majko shows that he admits there is a problem. Mr.
Reppas added that crime is not a problem caused by all Albanians
neither a problem that concerns only the Albanian immigrants and
underlined the need for cooperation between the two countries in
order for the phenomenon to cease to exist.
[18] THE GREEK COMMUNIST PARTY CALLS FOR A REFERENDUM TO BE HELD
ON THE TREATY OF AMSTERDAM
Greek Communist Party general secretary Ms. Aleka Papariga
with a letter addressed to prime minister Kostas Simitis calls for
a referendum to be held on the Treaty of Amsterdam.
Ms. Papariga points out in her letter that the Greek people
must be informed in every possible way on such a crucial issue and
regardless of the government's intentions toward a referendum.
[19] EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE MAGNUM AGENCY ARCHIVES
Classic scenes from the different "fronts" opened in a very
turbulent and much discussed era which were immortalised by the
cameras of the international photo news agency Magnum are being
displayed to the public in an exhibition held in Thessaloniki
under the title: "1968: The year that was going to change the
world". The exhibition, which opened yesterday and will remain
open until November 28, has toured much of Europe and on December
7 it will be brought to Athens.
In the exhibition are being presented samples of the work by
famous photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Joseph
Koudelka, Dennis Stock, Pruno Barbey, Marc Ribooud, Konstantinos
Manos and many others.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[20] DIMAS, KAHIASVILI VIE FOR THE GOLD MEDAL
After Leonidas Sabanis came away from the world weight-
lifting championships in Finland with new world record and three
gold medals, another two of Greece's gold medalists are to vie for
the gold, Pyros Dimas in the 85-kilo category and Kahi Kahiasvili
- Leonidas Kokkas in the 94 kilo category.
Lifting in the 69-kilo category, George Tzelilis won the
silver medal in the overall and the bronze in the jerk.
[21] ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON MEETS WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OVER
CHALKI
The Archbishop of America Spyridon met with the director of
Amnesty International USA, Steve Rickard yesterday, in order to
discuss the Turkish persecution of the Theological School of
Chalki and the firing of its board of trustees.
According to reports, Amnesty International expressed its
concern and indicated its intention to pursue these issues as well
as the broader matter of religious freedom for minorities in
Turkey.
After the Archbishop invited AI representatives to visit the
Patriarchate and Chalki, the AI's advocacy director Maureen
Greenwood will travel to Istanbul next week and will meet with
representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
[22] TURKISH OFFICERS ROBBED IN VLORE
Two high-ranking Turkish officers, assigned to the
restoration works of the "Pashaliman" port, were robbed by two
armed youths in Vlore yesterday.
According to the Albanian daily "Koha Jon", the two officers
were robbed of $1,000, their pass ports and all of their personal
belongings.
[23] PIRROS DIMAS FIGHTS FOR THE GOLD MEDAL TODAY
Olympic champion in weight-lifting Pirros Dimas fights this
evening for the gold medal in the World Championship held in
Lahti, Finland. Greek champions Kahi Kahiasvili and Leonidas
Kokkas will compete tomorrow in the 94 kilos category.
The successes of the Greek champions continued yesterday.
Giorgos Tzelilis won a silver and bronze medal, Valerios Leonidis
won a bronze medal, while Victoras Mitrou also won a bronze.
[24] THE NEW PARLIAMENT OF FYROM CONVENES ON MONDAY
The opening session of the parliament in FYROM will be held
on Monday if the center-right coalition VMRO-DPMNE - Alternative
Solution Party announces the members of the new government by
tomorrow, stated parliament president Tito Petkovski.
In the session will participate 112 deputies, while 8 more
deputies will be elected on Sunday in the poll that will be held
in certain districts where the results of the second round were
annulled due to irregularities.
[25] ITALIAN POLICE CONFIRM THE ARREST OF PKK LEADER OCALAN
Italian authorities confirmed reports from Ankara that
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan was under arrest in Rome,
according to AFP news agency.
Ocalan, head of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is
seeking an autonomous homeland for south-east Turkey's mainly
Kurdish population, was arrested at Rome's airport last night and
according to information, he is currently in a Rome clinic under
Italian surveillance.
Meanwhile, according to the pro-PKK television channel Med-
TV, Ocalan has requested political asylum in Italy. In a written
statement by Ocalan, broadcast by the Kurdish television channel,
it is maintained that the Italian government was aware of his
presence in the country.
Based on information from Turkey, Ocalan came to Rome from
Moscow where he went after leaving Syria as a persona non grata
following intense pressure on Damascus by the Turkish authorities.
The PKK has been waging an armed struggle against the Turkish
army since 1984 and over 31.000 people have been killed in the
conflict.
[26] THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CYPRUS CALLS FOR THE DISCUSSION OF
THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IN THE UN
The National Council of Cyprus that met in Nicosia today
decided to request that the Cyprus issue be discussed in the UN
General Assembly meeting that will be held next May. Also, in the
meeting of the Cypriot National Council a detailed briefing was
made on the developments in Cyprus's EU accession course.
When asked to comment on the issue of the Russian S-300 anti-
aircraft missile system, Cypriot government spokesman Christos
Stilianidis stated that nothing has come up that would have
justified a decision to reconsider the earlier National Council
decision for the installation of the missiles' system on the
island. However, he confirmed that consultations are taking place
on the issue and the government does not wish to make any
revelations.
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