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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-12-15

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.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, December 15, 1998

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE HALBROOKE VISIT
  • [02] THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE WAS COMPLETED
  • [03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL
  • [04] THE COUNTRY WAS PARALYZED BY THE STRIKE OF THE WORKERS UNIONS
  • [05] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL OPEN BY NEXT JUNE
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [06] HALBROOKE IS ON A VISIT TO PRISTINA
  • [07] COOPERATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GREEK CYPRIOT AND THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE HALBROOKE VISIT

    No new facts came up during the contacts US special envoy Richard Halbrooke had with Greek government officials, stressed Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, adding that a useful exchange of views took place and that communication will continue.

    When asked to comment on the visit of Mr. Halbrooke to Belgrade, Mr. Reppas stated that the visit shows that the United States are interested in maintaining the calm in the region.

    [02] THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE WAS COMPLETED

    The meeting of the governmental council of foreign affairs and defense, which was chaired by prime minister Kostas Simitis, was completed today.

    The purchase of airplanes and flying radar was the main subject of today's meeting, while the course toward the materialization of the armed forces armaments program was also discussed. The issue of the armaments program was presented by minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

    [03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL

    The governmental council of foreign affairs and defense decided the purchase of 4 Swedish-made flying radar units. According to Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, the delivery will be made in 40 months and the cost of the purchase will be 570 million US dollars, including the training of the pilots, spare parts and other support material.

    Responding to the question why the flying radar are being purchased at this particular time, Mr. Reppas stated that the decision on the armaments programme has been made a long time ago and added that the budget will not be burdened as the payments will be made in a long period of time. Mr. Reppas added that the conditions created as a result of the policy followed by Turkey make it imperative to secure the integrity of the country this way.

    In the governmental council meeting was also discussed the issue of the replacement of the C-130 aircraft by others with lower cost of operation.

    [04] THE COUNTRY WAS PARALYZED BY THE STRIKE OF THE WORKERS UNIONS

    Protest rallies and marches in all the big cities were held today by the workers unions within the framework of the 24hour strike that was organized by the public employees' unions and the general confederation of labor.

    Serious problems were created in the operation of the city bus transportation, trains, the state airline Olympic Airways, public agencies, hospitals and state banks. In Thessaloniki there were two separate protest rallies.

    The strikers demand measures to counter unemployment and the adoption of the 35hour week without any cuts in their wages.

    [05] THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL OPEN BY NEXT JUNE

    The Black Sea Bank, that was inaugurated in Thessaloniki in early 1998, is expected to be in full operation by next June, according to its Bulgarian vice-president Ms. Daniela Bobeva, former minister of commerce.

    In view of the bank's full operation significant steps have been made aimed at appointing the right personnel. Already, the executive positions have been covered, while at least 30 lower ranking employees have also been selected and will assume their duties in early 1999.

    The bank's budget, which is expected to be 150 million dollars in 1999, will finance projects and programs funded jointly with other credit organizations such as, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

    The shareholders of the Black Sea Bank are the 11 member- states of the Black Sea Organization of Economic Cooperation specifically, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Azerbaidjan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia and Albania.

    The idea for the creation of the Black Sea Bank was adopted by the founding members of the Organization six years ago in the Istanbul summit meeting and its purpose is to assist in the transition of its member-states to the market economy.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [06] HALBROOKE IS ON A VISIT TO PRISTINA

    US mediator Richard Halbrooke is in Pristina today and later in the evening is scheduled to meet in Belgrade with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.

    The talks concern the lifting of the existing deadlock to reach a political solution to the problem of Kosovo. In the meeting will be present US ambassador Christopher Hill.

    [07] COOPERATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GREEK CYPRIOT AND THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE

    Cooperation agreements in the areas of culture, communications, trade and the environment management were reached by Greeks, Cypriots and Turkish Cypriot businessmen in the meeting they had in Istanbul that was held with the participation of US mediator Richard Halbrooke and US State Department special coordinator on Cyprus Thomas Miller.

    According to US State Department spokesman Jim Foley, in the meeting was discussed the problem of limited water reserves in Cyprus which can be dealt with through the cooperation of the two sides. Also, it was agreed that working groups should be established that will examine certain plans before future meetings. Another meeting of businessmen was agreed to be held in 1999 but no exact date was set.


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