Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-11-18
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 18, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TEMPERATURES DROP SIGNIFICANTLY IN NORTHERN GREECE
[02] ALMOST ALL OF USED TRUCKS HAVE FAKE OWNERSHIP TITLES, SAYS
MINISTRY
[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICA TOMORROW
[04] 1ST BALKAN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION
[05] 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLYTECHNIC U. UPRISING COMMEMORATED
PEACEFULLY
[06] DEPUTY FM MEETS KRANIDIOTIS WITH CUBAN COUNTERPART ALLIENDE
[07] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS OPPOSED TO HUMAN CLONING
[08] EVENT TO BE HELD IN COMMEMORATION OF NATIONAL RESISTANCE
[09] NATIONAL BANK TO UNVEIL AUTHENTIC COPY OF RIGAS' CHART
[10] 10TH PANHELLENIC AIDS CONFERENCE BEGINS TOMORROW IN ATHENS
[11] MEETING FOR PANEUROPEAN X AXIS TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI
TOMORROW
[12] EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURES IN NORTHERN GREECE
[13] THE GREEK CABINET MEETS ON FRIDAY
[14] GREECE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE OCALAN CASE
[15] NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ISSUE OF THE NAME OF FYROM
[16] HUNGER STRIKE BY KURDS IN THESSALONIKI
[17] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ISSUED A TOUGH RESPONSE TO THE
TURKISH ACCUSATIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] TURKEY WANTS TO BE NAMED AS EU CANDIDATE MEMBER
[19] GREEKS MAY SMOKE MORE, BUT THEY ARE LESS PRONE TO CANCER
[20] CHIEF OF GREEK ARMY ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES
[21] GREEK NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM IN TIRANA FOR EUROPEAN
CHAMPIONSHIP
[22] ANKARA EXERTS PRESSURES FOR THE EXTRADITION OF OCALAN
[23] TURKISH AIRCRAFT VIOLATED THE CYPRIOT AIR SPACE
[24] TURKISH WARSHIPS AND SUBMARINES HAVE ARRIVED AT THE PORT OF
KERINIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TEMPERATURES DROP SIGNIFICANTLY IN NORTHERN GREECE
Temperatures have drop significantly in Northern Greece,
reaching as low as zero degrees in many regions.
According to the National Weather Report, the cold wave is to
continue throughout the week in Macedonian and Thrace. Meanwhile,
the season's first snowfall made its appearance yesterday in the
mountain areas of Kozani, Florina and Kastoria where
transportation is feasible with anti-skid chains.
[02] ALMOST ALL OF USED TRUCKS HAVE FAKE OWNERSHIP TITLES, SAYS
MINISTRY
Ninety-five to 98% of the used trucks in Greece have
fraudulent titles of ownership, the Undersecretary of Economy
George Drys announced yesterday.
He further added that car owners who have paid for vehicles
that have not gone through customs check yet, will be able to
receive the monetary difference owed to them.
Meanwhile, staff at the country's customs checks points are
embarking today on a three-day strike.
[03] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICA TOMORROW
Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is to embark on
an official two-day visit to South Africa tomorrow.
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.
[04] 1ST BALKAN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION
The First Balkan Conference on "Education and Research
Within the Frame of Sustainable Development" will be inaugurated
in Thessaloniki tomorrow by the Undersecretary of Education
Yiannis Anthopoulos.
The three-day 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,
Romania, 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.
[05] 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLYTECHNIC U. UPRISING COMMEMORATED
PEACEFULLY
The annual march from the Athens Polytechnic University to
the US embassy was held peacefully yesterday, featuring the
participation of approximately ten thousand people who
commemorated the 25th anniversary of a student occupation of the
school's campus in protest against the military dictatorship.
In spite of the minor skirmishes between police and self-
styled anarchists, this year's march bore no resemblance to years'
past that were marked with serious act of vandalism and riots.
[06] DEPUTY FM MEETS KRANIDIOTIS WITH CUBAN COUNTERPART ALLIENDE
Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis met with
his Cuban counterpart Isabelle Alliende in Athens yesterday whom
he briefed on Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus problem and
developments in the Balkans.
In turn, Ms. Alliende briefed Mr. Kranidiotis on Havana's
role in Latin American and Caribbean regional integration, as well
as Cuba's progress in human rights issues and
efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Mr. Kranidiotis told Ms Alliende that Greece intended to
support Cuba's participation in the European Union - Latin America
- Caribbean summit meeting scheduled for June 1999 in Rio de
Janeiro.
The two officials also discussed bilateral economic and
commercial ties in the realm of an air transport agreement which
paves the way for a direct air link between the two countries.
A shipping agreement is also scheduled which will contain an
article on the avoidance of double taxation from shipping profits.
[07] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS OPPOSED TO HUMAN CLONING
The Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece Christodoulos is
opposed to human cloning as he fears that such scientific
progresses would be exceeding the boundaries ordained by nature.
Mr. Christodoulos, addressing the Panhellenic Surgeons
Conference which was held in Athens during the past weekend,
warned that cloning could result in the creation of a race of
human copies, amounting to a nightmare worse than Frankenstein's
monster.
He further added that he shudders at the thought of genetic
engineering going so far that it shows a disrespect for the laws
of nature which, he warned, avenges itself against those who fail
to respect it.
"This will create a race of human copies, just as the Nazis
and Soviets tried to do. Frankenstein and the Nazi genetics
researcher Joseph Mengele would pale by comparison," he stated.
He expressed the concern that the moral understanding of
those who wield the tools of science may be lacking, inadequate to
the task of assessing what kind of research and work is right and
what kind is wrong.
Nevertheless, he stressed that genetic research has provided
many benefits for mankind, albeit adding that there needs to be
stricter controls on it, regulated by sound moral and ethical
judgment.
[08] EVENT TO BE HELD IN COMMEMORATION OF NATIONAL RESISTANCE
The Prefecture of Thessaloniki is organizing an event to be
held this Sunday in memory those who lost their lives fighting
against the German occupation during the time period of 1941-1944.
A doxology will be performed at the city's St. Sophia church,
followed by a speech of Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos and a wreath-
laying ceremony at the National Resistance Monument.
[09] NATIONAL BANK TO UNVEIL 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 tomorrow, 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.
.
[10] 10TH PANHELLENIC AIDS CONFERENCE BEGINS TOMORROW IN ATHENS
The Tenth Panhellenic AIDS conference is to begin in Athens
tomorrow until November 21, featuring the participation of
physicians, nursing staff and medical school students.
According the a relevant news conference, the noted reduction
in AIDS outbreaks in developed countries is mostly due to the
emergence of new treatments, however new cases continue to appear
in groups that were not previously considered prone to the virus.
Meanwhile, AIDS continues to run rampant in Eastern European
countries, Africa and South-eastern Asia.
[11] MEETING FOR PANEUROPEAN X AXIS TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI
TOMORROW
The first session of the directing committee for the
Paneuropean X Axis, chaired by Greece, is to be held in
Thessaloniki tomorrow and Friday.
The meeting will feature the participation of
representatives from all the interested countries, namely Greece,
FYROM, the F.R. of Yugoslavia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary
and Bulgaria.
The participants, aside from documenting the present
infrastructure situation, are to tackle issues concerning the
increase of passenger and freight mobility between Central and
South Eastern Europe.
The development of the said axis is expected to provide a
boost to Greek exports towards Central Europe, thereby increasing
Northern Greece's role as a stopover for passenger and freight,
especially since the port of Thessaloniki will serve this very
purpose.
The X Axis begins in Thessaloniki and runs through Skopje,
Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubliana to end in Saltzburg, Austria. Sections
of the axis are being developed trough Grac, Budapest and Sofia.
[12] EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURES IN NORTHERN GREECE
The extremely low temperatures is the main weather
characteristic in northern Greece. In many regions of western
Macedonia the temperature is close to zero, while in Thessaloniki
will be between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.
According to the National Weather Bureau, the cold weather
will continue in northern Greece throughout the week. Yesterday,
fell the first snow in the mountainous regions of Florina,
Kastoria and Kozani in the north-west. Cars in the provincial road
linking Florina with Kastoria via Vigla must use non-skid chains.
[13] THE GREEK CABINET MEETS ON FRIDAY
The Greek cabinet will meet on Friday to examine among others
the establishment of new organizations and ministries.
Specifically, are expected mergers of state agencies,
abolition of departments and transference of state employees. The
cabinet will also discuss the measures that need to be taken to
deal with the problem that will appear to computers in the year
2000 due to the so-called millennium bug.
[14] GREECE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE OCALAN CASE
Greece is not involved in any way to the Ocalan case stated
acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou, adding that no
discussion was ever made on the likelihood of a political asylum
to be granted by Greece to the leader of PKK. Mr. Nikolaou
characterized as a "good novel" the article published by the
newspaper "Athinaiki" according to which, Ocalan made a stop at
the Athens Airport requested a political asylum but the Greek
government refused to grant it to him.
According to Mr. Nikolaou, undersecretary of foreign affairs
Yiannos Kranidiotis met at noon today with Turkey's ambassador to
Athens and protested against the accusations made by Ankara
against Greece over the Ocalan case. The Kurdish issue, said Mr.
Nikolaou, is not a Greek-Turkish problem, it is Turkey's political
problem which has an obligation to solve and not to export it.
[15] NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ISSUE OF THE NAME OF FYROM
There are no new developments in the United Nations
consultations between Greece and FYROM regarding the issue of the
name of FYROM, stated acting government spokesman Yiannis
Nikolaou.
Acting Greek government spokesman reiterated the Greek
government's firm positions aimed at safeguarding good neighbourly
relations with FYROM.
[16] HUNGER STRIKE BY KURDS IN THESSALONIKI
A young Kurd with symptoms of exhaustion due to hunger strike
was taken to a Thessaloniki hospital today.
About 30 Kurds, most of them university students, are on a
hunger strike since Friday in protest to Ankara's request for
Ocalan's extradition from Italy. According to information, the
young Kurd was exhausted by hunger and also by the extreme cold.
[17] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY ISSUED A TOUGH RESPONSE TO THE
TURKISH ACCUSATIONS
The Greek foreign ministry issued a tough response to the
Turkish accusations against Greece and Cyprus over the Ocalan
case, speaking about an unprovoked attack against Greece.
Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis
characterized as unfounded and shameful the accusations made by
Ankara according to which, Greece and Cyprus allegedly offer
protection to the Kurdish PKK rebels, adding that no one can
ignore the fact that the Kurdish issue is a true political problem
that must be solved with peaceful means and based on the respect
of human rights.
The Greek foreign ministry also underlined that Ankara has
chosen a course that further distances it from the civilised
democratic states.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Italian newspapers "La
Republica" and "Unita", PKK leader Abdulah Ocalan requested
Italy's mediation for the solution of the Kurdish problem and at
the same time he stressed that the "annihilation of the Kurds is
similar to that of the Greeks in Asia Minor and Cyprus".
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] TURKEY WANTS TO BE NAMED AS EU CANDIDATE MEMBER
Turkish President Suleiman Demirel told his Austrian
counterpart that Turkey wants to be named as a candidate member of
the European Union during the upcoming Summit Meeting , to be held
at Vienna in December.
Meanwhile, Ankara is pressuring the Italian government to
hand over the leader of the PKK Abdullah Ocalan.
[19] GREEKS MAY SMOKE MORE, BUT THEY ARE LESS PRONE TO CANCER
Greeks may smoke more than the average European, but they are
less prone to cancer according to a social profile study conducted
by the European Commission throughout the European Union's member-
states.
According to the other findings, most Greeks are homeowners
but live in crowded conditions and show less preference for part-
time employment, while they increasingly send their children to
universities.
The survey revealed that although two out of three Europeans
generally stated that they "feel well", official data reflected
that one in three men and one in four women were suffering from
cancer before they reached the age of 75.
[20] CHIEF OF GREEK ARMY ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES
The chief of the Greek Army, Lt-Gen. Manoussos Paragioudakis,
has embarked on an official five-day visit to the United States at
the invitation of his counterpart Gen. Dennis Reimer.
The two officers are to meet at the US Pentagon today to discuss
prospects for the purchase of US-made weapons systems by Greek
forces.
Lt-Gen. Paragioudakis yesterday had a brief meeting with the
US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Henry Shelton,
focusing mainly on developments in the Balkans.
During his visit, Lt-Gen. Paragioudakis will tour various
military facilities in the US and will have talks with top US
officers on issues of mutual interest. Additionally, there are
planned visits to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and several army
commands.
Lt-Gen. Paragioudakis has recently been promoted to chief of
staff and will be assuming his duties on Feb. 15, 1999.
[21] GREEK NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM IN TIRANA FOR EUROPEAN
CHAMPIONSHIP
Greece's national soccer team is presently in Tirana for
today's European championship qualifier against Albania.
This will be the first men's international soccer match to
be played in Albania since 1996.
All international sporting events in Albania were stopped
last year, when riots against the government erupted after
thousands of families lost their life savings in a huge investment
scandal.
[22] ANKARA EXERTS PRESSURES FOR THE EXTRADITION OF OCALAN
Turkey continues to exert pressures on the Italian government
trying to persuade it not to grant political asylum to Kurdish PKK
leader Abdullah Ocalan.
Rome has made it clear that Ocalan meets the minimum of the
pre-conditions necessary to receive political asylum after he
denounced terrorism before Italian judges.
[23] TURKISH AIRCRAFT VIOLATED THE CYPRIOT AIR SPACE
Two Turkish F4 military planes specializing in aerial
photography violated the Cypriot air space yesterday.
The aircraft entered the region of Kormakitis, flew over the
regions of Kerinia and Apostle Andreas and later turned toward
Famagusta, Larnaka and Limassol and returned to Turkey.
[24] TURKISH WARSHIPS AND SUBMARINES HAVE ARRIVED AT THE PORT OF
KERINIA
Two Turkish Navy frigates and two submarines participating in
the military exercise "Determination at sea" have sailed into the
closed port of the Turkish occupied Kerinia in Cyprus today.
They will remain in Kerinia for 48 hours to prepare for the
military exercise "Toros" that will start as soon as the warships
will leave the port of Kerinia. Part of the exercise will take
place off the coasts of Kormakitis.
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