Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-11-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, November 25, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER TO CONFER WITH FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS OVER
CYPRUS ISSUE
[02] DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TO UNVEIL NEW PRICE REDUCTIONS TODAY
[03] GREEK PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT GERMANY IN EARLY DECEMBER
[04] ATHENS TO HOST CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY
[05] BALKAN AUTHORS IN THESSALONIKI ON FRIDAY FOR LITERARY EVENTS
[06] CYPRIOT MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR IN ATHENS TODAY
[07] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT: GREECE SUPPORTS CROATIA'S EUROPEAN
ORIENTATION
[08] THESSALONIKI HOSTS BALKAN CONFERENCE OF CARTOGRAPHY
[09] ATHENS-THESSALONIKI TRAIN ROUTE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THREE DAYS
[10] FEW, YET BRAVE, TAXPAYERS DECLARE INCOME OF MORE THAN 10
MILLION GRD
[11] THE PRICES OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ARE REDUCED
[12] THE "MINI" SOCIAL SECURITY BILL HAS BEEN TABLED IN PARLIAMENT
[13] JOINT VENTURE FOUNDED BY "BALKAN EXPORT"
[14] GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTY M. MUSTAFA IS AGAINST THE EXTRADITION
OF OCALAN
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] GREECE TAKES PART IN BUDAPEST'S INTERNATIONAL FOOD EXPO
[16] INTERIOR MINISTER: GREECE WILL ACCEDE TO EMU IN THE ALLOTED
TIME
[17] TURKEY RETREATS ON ITS ITALIAN TRADE BOYCOTT
[18] CENSURE MOTION AGAINST TURKISH PREMIER TO BE HELD TODAY
[19] .NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL IN FYROM TOMORROW
[20] SIR DAVID DOES NOT EXPECT BREAKTHROUGH IN NEW ROUND OF TALKS
[21] SENIOR MOSSAD OFFICER RESIGNS OVER ISRAEL'S SPY FIASCO IN
CYPRUS
[22] D' ALEMA - SCHRODER MEETING
[23] CLERIDES: THE TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERSHIP AND TURKEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEADLOCK IN CYPRUS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER TO CONFER WITH FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS OVER
CYPRUS ISSUE
Prime Minster Kostas Simitis is to meet with the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Defense, Theodoros
Pangalos and Akis Tsochatzopoulos respectively, in order to
discuss the Cyprus issue.
Today's meetings is taking place in light of the Cypriot
President's imminent visit to Greece. Mr. Glafkos Clerides will
arrive in Athens on Friday, November 27, where he will be
received by the Greek Premier. Mr. Clerides met with the British
envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay in London yesterday,
where the latter briefed the Cypriot leader on his recent talks in
Turkey.
[02] DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TO UNVEIL NEW PRICE REDUCTIONS TODAY
New price reductions or freezes are to be presented today by
the Minister and Undersecretary of Development, Vaso Papandreou
and Michalis Chrysochoides respectively.
According to reports, the reductions concern twenty sectors
of goods and services, among them construction, electronics and
cellular phones.
The so-far price reductions have already had a positive
effect on inflation as the price index appears to have dropped to
4.3%.
[03] GREEK PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT GERMANY IN EARLY DECEMBER
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will be received by the new
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on December 7, during a visit
to Germany, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.
Mr. Simitis will also meet with the German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer, on December 4, while alternate Foreign Minister
George Papandreou will visit Germany on December 1, where he will
meet with the German Foreign Minister.
[04] 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.
The main focus of the conference is the further introduction
of renewable energy sources in the country's energy balance and
the shaping of an integrated national strategy on development of
these forms of energy.
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.
[05] BALKAN AUTHORS IN THESSALONIKI ON FRIDAY FOR LITERARY EVENTS
A number of renowned Balkan authors are to attend a two-day
literary event, set to begin in Thessaloniki on Friday, titled
"Literary landscapes of the Balkan nature and soul."
The event is held within the framework of the city's
"Dimitria" festivities and is co-organized by the Municipality of
Thessaloniki and the InterBalkan Center of Books and Culture.
Bulgaria's ambassador to Greece Kyril Topalov will speak on
the "Greek-Bulgarian literary ties in the 18th-19th century.
[06] CYPRIOT MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR IN ATHENS TODAY
Cyprus Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides is presently in
Athens to discuss matters of bilateral interest with Greek
government officials.
Discussions will focus on the Shengen Convention, European
Union issues, local administration and matters relating to
cooperation between the Greek Television and Cyprus Broadcasting
Corporation.
[07] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT: GREECE SUPPORTS CROATIA'S EUROPEAN
ORIENTATION
The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis
received the Croatian President Franco Tudjman yesterday, with who
he discussed problems in the wider region of the Balkans and
relations between the two countries.
Following the talks, Mr. Kaklamanis stated that Greece
supports Croatia's European orientation and extended an
invitation to the members of the Croatian parliament to visit
Greece.
President Tudjman called on the international community to take
immediate measures on the strife in the Yugoslav province of
Kosovo, saying that there would be "serious" consequences if peace
was not maintained. He further hailed Greece's positive and
constructive contribution to resolving the Balkan crisis.
[08] THESSALONIKI HOSTS BALKAN CONFERENCE OF CARTOGRAPHY
A Balkan and Black Sea cartography conference is to begin in
Thessaloniki today, where map experts are to trade experiences and
information on geography of rapidly-changing region.
The three-day conference will start with the official presentation
of three Braille maps of Thessaloniki, the first of their kind in
Greece, and will feature the participation cartographers from
universities in Turkey, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.
The conference is taking place under the aegis of the Council
of Europe and will focus on mapping of urban centers.
Also today, Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will open
the proceedings of the Fifth National Congress of Cartographers,
where the Hellenic Army Geographic Service, the Naval Hydrographic
Service and the chairman of the International Cartographic
Association, Aberdeen University professor Michael Wood, will be
presented with awards for their contribution to the science during
the congress.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is also scheduled to inaugurate the
exhibition of priceless 20th century maps of Greek port cities.
The International Cartographic Association will also hold its
regular meeting during the events, with the participation of
scientists from as far as Japan and Australia.
The inaugural meeting of the members of the European Union program
Cartotech for European cartographic heritage will also be held.
The Thessaloniki-based National Center for maps and Cartographic
Heritage - National Map Archive is the leader of the group.
[09] ATHENS-THESSALONIKI TRAIN ROUTE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THREE DAYS
The Athens-Thessaloniki rail link will be closed until
Friday, November 27, due to floods brought on by recent rains.
The Greek Railways Organization, (OSE) said in a statement
that damage had been noted to the tracks at a number of locations.
The Corinth- Tripoli link in the Peloponnese will also be
closed for the next two days to allow for repair work to be
completed. For more information, passengers may contact OSE at
529-7777.
[10] FEW, YET BRAVE, TAXPAYERS DECLARE INCOME OF MORE THAN 10
MILLION GRD
Very few Greek taxpayers declared an annual income of more
than ten million drachmas on their 1997 income tax returns, with
42,000 out of four million Greek households actually admitting
such income.
According to Finance Ministry data, more than three million
taxpayers declared an income of up to four million drachmas for
1997, while a mere one percent declares income of more than 14
million.
[11] THE PRICES OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ARE REDUCED
Minister of development Vaso Papandreou announced the
reduction of prices in household items, construction material,
electronic appliances and mobile phones. Ms. Papandreou pointed
out that those measures are placed within the framework of the
government's efforts to cut inflation in order to meet the
criteria for Greece's participation in the EMU.
The government has taken all necessary measures for the
strengthening of the consumers' income, said the development
minister, adding that with those measures the consumers' income
will be indirectly increased and the production cost of the
companies will be reduced.
[12] THE "MINI" SOCIAL SECURITY BILL HAS BEEN TABLED IN PARLIAMENT
The "mini" social security bill has been tabled in parliament
today. In a press conference minister of labor Miltiadis
Papaioannou announced the increase of the social solidarity
benefit by 50% for the low pension recipients, who will have to
pay for 20% of the value of their medicine instead of 25%.
Also, the journalists working in television and radio
stations will be covered by the printed media journalists' social
security fund. The bill also provides for unification and mergers
of different social security funds.
[13] JOINT VENTURE FOUNDED BY "BALKAN EXPORT"
The timber industry "Balkan Export" founded a joint venture
with a share capital of 2.5 billion drachmas. Among the investors
participating in the joint venture will be Greek and foreign
companies as well as Greek-American investor Theodoros
Spiropoulos.
The basic goal of the joint venture is to move ahead with the
procedures necessary to increase the share capital of "Balkan
Export" and to pay off its bank debts.
[14] GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPUTY M. MUSTAFA IS AGAINST THE EXTRADITION
OF OCALAN
Greek Muslim parliament deputy Mustafa Mustafa, elected with
the Coalition of the Left party in the north-eastern prefecture of
Rodopi, stated to MPA that "our position and our sensitivity
toward human rights issues across the world can not be selective".
This way Mr. Mustafa distanced himself from the position adopted
by the rest of his colleagues elected in Thrace, Galip Galip and
Akifoglu Birol, who are against the granting of political asylum
to Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan by Italy and in favor of his
extradition to Turkey. Also, Mr. Mustafa is against the procedure
for the collection of signatures by Muslim minority circles
calling for the extradition of Ocalan to Turkey and for a boycott
of Italian products.
Mr. Mustafa, commenting on the statements and the initiatives
of his colleagues, stated that he felt regret and pity for his
fellow parliament members and stressed that Ocalan's presence in
Italy opens new doors for the peaceful solution of the Kurdish
problem, adding that all efforts should turn toward this direction
at a social, state, international relations and international
solidarity level.
Mr. Mustafa said that the Left has fought for ecumenical
values, stressing that a selective sensitivity will compromise the
Muslim minority. He also added that most of the Muslim minority
members, on the occasion of the recent developments, want the
wound of the Kurdish issue to close in a peaceful manner through a
political solution that will be based on the international
agreements for human rights and minority rights. Mr. Mustafa
stated that an international conference on the Kurdish issue could
be one solution.
Commenting on the stance of his colleague Mr. Akifoglu, who
is a member of the Greek parliament and accompanied the Turkish
ambassador in the meetings he had with officials in Xanthi during
his tour of Thrace, Mr. Mustafa stated that he wouldn't accompany
the Turkish ambassador to his meetings but he said that he met
with him for half an hour during a reception.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] GREECE TAKES PART IN BUDAPEST'S INTERNATIONAL FOOD EXPO
The International Exhibition of Foods and Beverages and Food
Process (FOODAPEST) is currently underway in Budapest, featuring
the participation of Greece.
The event, held every two years, is considered the largest in
the field for the central-eastern European region.
It should be noted that Greek food and beverages exports to
Hungary are steadily on the rise.
The exhibited products represent all the food and beverage sectors
of Greece, as well as related machinery and process materials.
[16] INTERIOR MINISTER: GREECE WILL ACCEDE TO EMU IN THE ALLOTED
TIME
Barring unforeseeable circumstances, Greece will achieve its
inflation-curbing targets and thus achieve the criteria for
accession to the Economic and Monetary Union, stated the Minister
of the Interior Alekos Papadopoulos who is presently in London.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Papadopoulos was called to comment
on the statements of Greek Minister of National Economy and
Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, who had stated on Monday that there
could a slight delay of a few months in meeting the targeted
inflation mark.
The Minister of the Interior said that "what I am aware of is
that Greece will submit its request (for accession) by the end of
the year 1999 and in March it will enter the EMU.
"From what it looks like, there is nothing that could hinder
this accession," he said, albeit adding that "of course, there is
always an element of the unexpected in politics."
[17] TURKEY RETREATS ON ITS ITALIAN TRADE BOYCOTT
Ankara has yet to officially enforce its threatened boycott
on imported Italian products, in spite of the ongoing dispute over
the extradition of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, according to a
Turkish government spokesperson.
"We have not decided on an official boycott against Italian
products and we bear no responsibility for the Turkish private
sector's reactions towards Italy," he stated, in response to the
relevant warning issued by the European Commission's President
Jacques Santer who has stated that Turkey could face retaliatory
sanctions if the Turkish government or state-owned companies
continue the boycott over Rome's refusal to hand over Mr. Ocalan
who is on trial in absentia in Turkey on charges of heading a
terrorist organization, threatening the country's territorial
integrity and ordering killings.
Following his meeting with the Italian Premier Massimo
D'Alema, Mr. Santer stated that the embargo is a "clear violation"
of accords signed between Turkey and the EU, such as the Turkey-EU
customs union signed in 1995.
In response to these views, the Turkish government
spokesperson said that his country is aware of its obligations."
[18] CENSURE MOTION AGAINST TURKISH PREMIER TO BE HELD TODAY
The Turkish Parliament is to hold a vote of confidence this
evening, which will determine whether or not Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz and his coalition government will remain in power.
The censure vote was initiated by the True Path and
Republican People's Party
If more than 275 parliamentarians vote in favor of the censure,
then the government will fall.
[19] .NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL IN FYROM TOMORROW
NATO's secretary-general Javier Solana and the Alliance's
military chief Wesley Clark are to travel to FYROM tomorrow where
they will be received by President Kiro Gligorov, the outgoing
Prime Minister Branco Cervenkovski and the Premier by proxy Lupco
Georgievski.
Mr.Gligorov stated that his country is ready to allow the
deployment of a NATO rapid intervention force in FYROM.
[20] SIR DAVID DOES NOT EXPECT BREAKTHROUGH IN NEW ROUND OF TALKS
The British government's and European Union's envoy for the
Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay is not optimistic that immediate
breakthroughs will arise in the new round of UN talks conducted
over the occupied island's issue.
Following an hour-long meeting with Cypriot President Glafkos
Clerides in London yesterday, Sir David said: "I think at the
moment it's a period of quiet diplomacy. I hope our talks will
contribute to that."
When asked to comment on his recent visit to Turkey, Sir
David replied that he did not wish to draw any conclusions from
the visit.
"It is a very rapidly moving situation in Ankara with the
prospect of elections in April," he said.
Sir David said he had talks with ministers and officials in
Ankara. "I was able to cover a wide range of issues," he said,
adding that ways to help the UN shuttle talks were also discussed.
"It is a procedure to which we give our full support," he
said. "We do not anticipate a great and immediate breakthrough in
every issue, but we hope that steady progress can be made through
it."
[21] SENIOR MOSSAD OFFICER RESIGNS OVER ISRAEL'S SPY FIASCO IN
CYPRUS
A senior officer in Israel's Mossad has resigned following
the arrest in Cyprus of two of its suspected agents, according to
Israeli newspaper reports.
According to Reuters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's spokesman had declined to comment on the report.
The Israeli nationals who were apprehended in Cyprus earlier
this month suspected of spying, have been charged with three
counts of espionage by the Larnaca court. and, if found guilty,
face ten years in jail. The charges concern spying against the
National Guard and the Cyprus Republic, not only in Zygi but also
in other parts of the island between October 15 and November 6.
Udi Hargov, 37 and Ig'al Damari 49 were arrested on November
7 and their presence in Cyprus coincided with major National
Guard activities on the island. Cypriot police found sophisticated
surveillance equipment in the apartment they were renting in Zygi,
the planned site for the island's first ever naval base.
[22] D' ALEMA - SCHRODER MEETING
Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema will meet today with
German chancellor Gerhard Schroder to discuss Turkey's boycott of
Italian products made in protest to the Italian court decision not
to extradite Kurdish PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
Yesterday, European Commission president Jacques Santer,
after meeting with Mr. D'Alema, stated that if Turkey formally
decides to boycott the Italian products it will be a violation of
the Turkey-EU association agreement and can lead to
countermeasures.
[23] CLERIDES: THE TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADERSHIP AND TURKEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEADLOCK IN CYPRUS
Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides attributed the political
deadlock in the Cyprus issue to the persistence of Turkey and the
Turkish Cypriot side aimed at wining the international recognition
of the Turkish Cypriot regime in the Turkish occupied northern
Cyprus.
In a speech at the "London School of Economics", that was
delivered in the presence of Sir David Hannay, the representative
of Britain in Cyprus, Mr. Clerides referred to the importance of
Cyprus' accession into the European Union and the way it can
affect the Cyprus issue.
Mr. Clerides underlined that Cyprus' accession into the EU
will relax the fears of the two communities in Cyprus over their
intentions toward each other.
The Cypriot president referred to the background of the
decision concerning the installation of the Russian S-300 anti-
aircraft missiles in Cyprus, stating that the decision was made
because this defense system will bring a balance of power in the
region, adding that Nicosia turned to Russia only after the West's
refusal to sell long range missiles to Cyprus.
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