Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-12-23
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, December 23, 1998
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES NORTHERN GREECE
[02] AMENDED REFORM DETESTED AND PROTESTED BY STUDENTS
[03] ONASSIS FOUNDATION TO ESTABLISH CULTURAL CENTER IN NEW YORK
[04] INTERIOR MINISTER INTRODUCES TOUGHER IMMIGRATION LAWS
[05] GREEK EXPORTS TO EASTERN EUROPE ARE ON THE RISE
[06] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS TO CAMPAIGN ON MACEDONIA'S
HISTORY
[07] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE UN SECURITY
COUNCIL DECISIONS ON CYPRUS
[08] THE STUDENT MOBILIZATIONS WILL CONTINUE
[09] ARSENIS: THE EDUCATION REFORM WILL MOVE AHEAD
[10] PAPAGEORGOPOULOS WAS SWORN-IN AS THE NEW MAYOR OF
THESSALONIKI
[11] 28 FIRES UP TO 15 METERS HIGH IN AN OLD CUSTOM STILL HONORED
IN FLORINA
[12] THE SALE OF "SOFTEX" WILL BE FINALIZED BY THE END OF JANUARY
[13] THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS TO THE
GREEKS LIVING ABROAD
[14] THE PRESIDENT OF PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF US-CANADA
APPLAUDS THE STANCE ADOPTED BY MR. PANGALOS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] SECURITY COUNCIL APPEALS FOR REDUCTION OF TENSION IN CYPRUS
[16] HELLENIC-AMERICAN NATIONAL COUNCIL SUPPORTS PAN-MACEDONIAN
[17] UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNFICYP MANDATE
[18] RUSSIA, INDIA TO FORMALIZE TIES AND INTENSIFY TRADE
[19] FIFTY JOURNALISTS SLAIN AROUND THE WORLD IN 1998, IFJ REPORTS
[20] C OF E: GREECE RATIFIES ACCORD AGAINST HUMAN CLONING
[21] THE UNITED STATES ARE READY TO DEAL WITH ANY THREAT COMING
FROM IRAQ
[22] RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION IS LIMITED IN GREECE COMPARED TO THE
REST EU STATES
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES NORTHERN GREECE
A new wave of adverse weather has stricken Northern Greece,
with dense snow fall, heavy rain and torrential winds, bringing on
an array of traffic-related problems.
Throughout the provincial-road network on western Macedonian
cars are required to be equipped with anti-skid chains.
Temperatures have fallen below the zero mark in
many areas.
[02] AMENDED REFORM DETESTED AND PROTESTED BY STUDENTS
Students continue to resist the academic reforms planned by
the Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, even after he proposed
slight changes to their enforcement in an effort to alleviate the
mounting tension.
The Federation of Secondary Education Teachers announced that
the changes are simply an effort at appeasement and do not
alleviate at the least the exhausting testing process established
by the new law. Meanwhile, the students continue to defy the cold
weather and thousands remain barricaded in occupied school
buildings.
[03] ONASSIS FOUNDATION TO ESTABLISH CULTURAL CENTER IN NEW YORK
The "Alexander Onassis Foundation" is to establish a cultural
center in New York City, whose activities will expand to various
US universities, in order to promote Greek culture.
The founding act of the center was signed yesterday by
Onassis Foundation President Stelios Papadimitriou at the
residence of US ambassador in Athens Nicholas Burns.
Mr. Papadimitriou said that the Onassis Foundation will
continue with its funding to three out of five US universities,
but will expand its activities in New York, including the
introduction of awards for books and other artistic activities.
[04] INTERIOR MINISTER INTRODUCES TOUGHER IMMIGRATION LAWS
The Minister of the Interior and Public Administration Alekos
Papadopoulos has introduced a draft bill, to be tabled in
Parliament next month, calling for tougher measures to combat
illegal immigration.
Mr. Papadopoulos stated that social agencies will be
established to facilitate the legalization of qualifying
immigrants and added that strict measures will be adopted for
illegal aliens, such as immediate deportation.
Moreover, the Interior Minister stared that criminal
sanctions will be imposed on not only those who facilitate the
illegal stay of immigrants or obstruct related police
investigations, but also whoever assists in their unlawful hiring.
[05] GREEK EXPORTS TO EASTERN EUROPE ARE ON THE RISE
Greek food exports to eastern European countries are on the
rise, following the trend of other sectors of economic activities,
including consumer and industrial goods, and raw materials.
Greek investment projects in the Balkan region exceeded 3,500, of
which 1, 000 were considered significant.
Greek exports in the Balkans (excluding Turkey) increased by
2.3 times in the period 1992-96, while imports rose 1.3 times.
The country's trade surplus rose 6 times in the same period
to 546.2 million US dollars in 1996, sharply up from 71.1 million
in 1992.
Based on 1997 figures, there were 200 Greek businesses
operating in Albania with invested capital totaling 52 million US
dollars.
Greece ranked second, behind Italy, in foreign capital
investments in the country. Investments focused in manufacturing,
industry and services.
Greek investments in Bulgaria accounted for 10 percent of
foreign investments in the country. Some 450 Greek businesses have
invested 120 million US dollars in various sectors of the economy.
Greek exports totaled 41.39 million dollars.
This is due to the fact that certain companies have
established plants into Bulgaria, and, hence, no longer export.
Among biggest investors were 3E, Intracom, Delta Dairy, Chipita,
Vardinoyiannis Group, Thrace Paper mill, Nikas, Fanco, Goody's and
Best Foods. Greek companies in Bulgaria employ 22,000 workers.
In Romania, Greek business interests totaled 1,679 with a
combined value of 58.06 million US dollars, holding the 12th place
among foreign investors in the country excluding, however,
investments in the shipping sector.
Bilateral trade totaled 255.2 million dollars in the first
nine months of 1997, down from 317.2 million the same period in
1996. Greek exports accounted for 53.3 percent of total trade.
Greek-Yugoslav trade volume totaled 234.1 million US dollars
in the first nine months of 1997,with Greek exports accounting for
60.49 percent of the total.
Greece's major investment project in Yugoslavia was the
purchase of a 49 percent stake in Serbia Telecom by a Hellenic
Telecom and Italy's STET for 675,000 DMarks. The deal offered to
buyers monopoly rights on fixed telephone for eight years and a 20-
year operation of a mobile phone network.
Greek investments in FYROM were rapidly increasing following
an intermediate agreement signed in 1995 in New York.
Greece ranked third among foreign investors in FYROM after
Yugoslavia and Germany. Bilateral trade totaled 241.7 million
dollars, with Greek exports accounting for 81.68 percent.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greek contractors have undertaken
construction of two school buildings and a hospital in Sarajevo.
Bilateral trade totaled 3.4 million dollars in the first nine
months of 1997, up from 1.9 million in 1996, with Greek exports
accounting for 88.23 percent of the total.
[06] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS TO CAMPAIGN ON MACEDONIA'S
HISTORY
The three-member delegation from the Pan-Macedonian
Association of the United States - Canada, has completed its
series of contacts with Greece's state and political leaders.
Mgrs. Evangelos Michalopoulos, the Association's chairman,
Fotis Ikonomou, secretary and Antonis Ikonomou, chairman of the
National Affairs Committee, were received yesterday by
Thessaloniki's interim Mayor Dimitris Dimitriades and the Minster
of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis with whom they discussed the
course of the FYROM name issue, as well as the establishment of
various programs for and communication channels with Greeks
living abroad.
Yesterday evening the delegates met with the alternate
Foreign Minister George Papandreou with whom hey discussed the
concerns shared by the Greek community living abroad on the name
issue.
Earlier, during the course of a conference held by deputies
elected in prefectures of Macedonia and Thrace and the
Parliament's Permanent cross-Party Committee for Greeks Abroad,
the following matters were decided upon:
1. To hold a conference between the parliament's Foreign
Affairs Committee, with the participation of the Foreign Minister,
and the Pan-Macedonian Associations from all continents in order
to examine all aspects of the name issue.
2. To organize a world-wide information campaign against
the forgery of the history of Macedonia, with the key
contribution of Greek intellectuals living in Greece and abroad,
aiming at providing the foreigner with precise information on the
synonymous terms Hellenism and Macedonia.
[07] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE UN SECURITY
COUNCIL DECISIONS ON CYPRUS
The Greek government is satisfied with the adoption of two
decisions on Cyprus by the UN Security Council and welcomes the
statements made on the issue by US president Bill Clinton and the
European Union, stated Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos.
According to Mr. Pangalos, the adoption of the two decisions
by the UN Security Council is a proof that the international
community is interested in the Cyprus issue and that the Security
Council realizes the risks in case the problem continues to be
unresolved. It is the first time that the UN Security Council uses
new powerful expressions and gives specific orders and directions
appearing determined to seek not only a short-term easing of the
tension on the island but to deal essentially with the crucial
problem of security as well, while at the same time it moves
decisively toward the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Pangalos pointed out that the Greek government realizes
the great significance of the commitments undertaken by president
Clinton and the European Union but awaits for their
materialization through concrete initiatives. He also speculated
that the combination of the UN Security Council decision with the
statements of foreign leaders creates well-founded hopes that the
international community will assume the responsibility of
implementing the international legality in Cyprus.
Responding to the question if Turkey will accept the UN
Security Council decisions, Mr. Pangalos said that Greece's policy
will not be dictated by Ankara.
[08] THE STUDENT MOBILIZATIONS WILL CONTINUE
The students remain firm in their positions after the
announcements made yesterday by the minister of education
regarding the changes in the student evaluation system.
Representatives of the school buildings occupation coordinating
committee announced that a decision has been reached to continue
the mobilizations.
The students characterized the regulations announced by
Gerasimos Arsenis as an evasive move by the ministry of education.
As they said "the minister of education is not negotiating with us
and we are not negotiating with him".
[09] ARSENIS: THE EDUCATION REFORM WILL MOVE AHEAD
The education reform will move ahead, said minister of
education Gerasimos Arsenis in a press conference he gave today
during which he presented examples of questions similar to those
on which the students will be tested in June.
Mr. Arsenis said that the gestures made by the ministry of
education were aimed at helping the students to overcome the heavy
psychological climate that has been created. He also said that
this year's examination will not be harder than the previous ones
and that the topics on which the students will be tested will come
from the chapters they have been taught.
Undersecretary to the prime minister's office Giorgos
Paschalidis pointed out that the corrective interventions
announced yesterday by the minister of education improve the
course of the education reform and spoke of a good will gesture
toward the students and the teachers who must contribute to the
creation of an upgraded and more effective education system.
[10] PAPAGEORGOPOULOS WAS SWORN-IN AS THE NEW MAYOR OF
THESSALONIKI
Vasilis Papageorgopoulos was sworn-in today as the new mayor
of Thessaloniki. In a message to the government he called for an
end to the effort aimed at shrinking the local administration by
cutting its economic resources and responsibilities.
Mr. Papageorgopoulos stressed that the central authority can
not dictate to a city mayor how a city square can be rebuilt,
while it is inexcusable for a municipality to be informed from the
newspapers about the government's plans for the privatization of
HELEXPO. Present in the swearing-in ceremony were the minister of
Macedonia-Thrace, the prefect of Thessaloniki and parliament
deputies.
[11] 28 FIRES UP TO 15 METERS HIGH IN AN OLD CUSTOM STILL HONORED
IN FLORINA
Twenty eight fires of up to 15 meters high will light up the
skies in the north-western city of Florina, within the framework
of an old Christmas custom that is still honored each year and
takes place at midnight of the 23rd to the 24th of December.
The "fires" are a unique custom which represents the fire lit
by the shepherds on the eve of the birth of Jesus.
No one knows how old is this tradition, said to MPA Florina
mayor Dimitris Stilou. According to this custom, the children from
each neighborhood light a fire and around it gather the people
singing and dancing until the morning in celebration for the birth
of Jesus.
[12] THE SALE OF "SOFTEX" WILL BE FINALIZED BY THE END OF JANUARY
The sale of the paper industry "Softex" to the US joint
venture formed by Lochridge will be completed by the end of
January, according to the statements made by undersecretary of
development Anna Diamantopoulou and special secretary on
privatization Mr. Paraskevas, who announced yesterday the signing
of the draft agreement for the sale of the company.
The price for the sale of "Softex" was set at 120 million US
dollars of which 26 million will be given as a deposit and the
rest 94 million will be paid off in a period of 10 years.
Very positive is the fact that 1.275 employees will remain at
their posts for 3 years, while the agreement also provides that
the company will be maintained for a 3-year period.
The company "New Co" that will take over "Softex" is an
affiliate of the Luxembourg based company "Lux Co" formed by
Lochridge and its partners in order to claim "Softex". The main
shareholder of the joint venture that will buy "Softex" is the
industry group Bolton Group International with a 50% share.
[13] THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS TO THE
GREEKS LIVING ABROAD
The Greeks abroad live and prosper in organized communities
under the shelter of the Church, preserving the language and the
traditions of the Greek nation, underlines president Kostis
Stephanopoulos in his Christmas message to the Greeks living
abroad, stressing that united within the World Council of Hellenes
Abroad are a great power of hope for Hellenism.
Mr. Stephanopoulos mentions that all the Greeks united will
overcome successfully the difficulties and the challenges of the
times. The Greek president concluded wishing Merry Christmas and a
creative New Year, with health, prosperity and family happiness.
[14] THE PRESIDENT OF PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF US-CANADA
APPLAUDS THE STANCE ADOPTED BY MR. PANGALOS
President of the Pan-Macedonian Association of US-Canada
Evangelos Michalopoulos stated that foreign minister Theodoros
Pangalos correctly adopted a negative stance on the alleged
existence of a Macedonian minority in Greece as there is no
Macedonian nation, adding that both Albania and Bulgaria have
referred to the non existence of a Macedonian nation. Mr.
Michalopoulos made the statement to MPA commenting on the results
of Mr. Pangalos' visit to Skopje.
Mr. Michalopoulos stated that the nationalist government of
FYROM will continue to raise claims over Greece and therefore, the
Greek government and the country's political leadership should re-
consider Greece's "good relations" strategy toward FYROM given the
historically unfounded claims of Skopje which were presented in a
provocative and insulting manner during the first formal visit by
a Greek foreign minister to FYROM.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] SECURITY COUNCIL APPEALS FOR REDUCTION OF TENSION IN CYPRUS
The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution
wherein it appeals that efforts to reduce tension on the island of
Cyprus be intensified.
Nevertheless, the resolution does not adopt verbatim the
proposal of Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides for full
demilitarization of the island.
According to reports, the Cypriot government has associated its
stance on the S-300 missiles with the fate of the said proposal.
[16] HELLENIC-AMERICAN NATIONAL COUNCIL SUPPORTS PAN-MACEDONIAN
The Hellenic-American National Council (HANC) has adopted a
resolution wherein it expresses its support to the Pan-
Macedonian Association of the United States - Canada, regarding
the latest developments surrounding the FYROM name issue.
Specifically, in its resolution HANC requests that the Greek
government not recognize FYROM with the name "Macedonia".
Furthermore, the resolution reads that the name Macedonia is
indisputably Greece's historic and cultural heritage.
The history of Macedonia, and especially its name, is
unnegotiable and, as heritage granted by the nation's forefathers
centuries ago, cannot be lent or ceded to foreigners.
Lastly, it requests that the Greek government and the
country's political leaders take into consideration the relevant
view of Greeks abroad before proceeding to taking any decision on
the matter.
"Any whatsoever concession on this matter on behalf of the
Greek government shall create a serious problem for Greeks living
abroad," the resolution reads.
[17] UN SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNFICYP MANDATE
The Security Council on Tuesday extended the mandate of the
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a
further six-month period. The Council took this action by
unanimously adopting resolution 1217.
Noting with concern that restrictions to the freedom of
movement of UNFICYP continued, the Council reminded both sides of
their obligations to prevent any violence against UNFICYP
personnel, and to cooperate fully with UNFICYP and ensure its
complete freedom of movement.
The Council also called on the military authorities of both
sides to refrain from any action which would exacerbate tensions,
particularly in the vicinity of the buffer zone. It reiterated its
grave concern at the continuing excessive levels of military
forces and armaments on the island and the rate at which they were
being expanded, upgraded and modernized.
The Council called upon all concerned to commit themselves to
a reduction in defense spending and a reduction in the number of
foreign troops in the Republic of Cyprus to help restore
confidence between the parties and as a first step towards the
withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces.
It also stressed the importance of eventual demilitarization
of the Republic of Cyprus as an objective in the context of an
overall comprehensive settlement and encouraged the Secretary-
General to continue to promote efforts in that direction.
[18] RUSSIA, INDIA TO FORMALIZE TIES AND INTENSIFY TRADE
India and Russia plan to sign a "strategic friendship"
agreement next year that will reflect their close ties, according
to a joint declaration issued by the two countries yesterday.
According to an Indian Foreign Ministry official, the
agreement will be the first of its kind to be concluded between
Russia and any other country.
Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who completed his
visit to India yesterday, stated that it will be signed during a
planned visit by President Boris Yeltsin to India sometime in
1999.
Moreover, Russia and India signed seven agreements to boost
trade,
air services, diplomatic interaction and extradition of criminals.
Russia has been one of India's largest trade partners, but
Russia's economic crisis has hit bilateral trade that has been
dwindling since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Trade between the
two countries has fallen from a high of $5.5 billion in 1990 to
$1.5 billion in 1998.
[19] FIFTY JOURNALISTS SLAIN AROUND THE WORLD IN 1998, IFJ REPORTS
In a report published yesterday, the International
Federation of Journalists states that fifty journalists -among
them a photographer- were slain this year around the world, thirty
of whom were killed for reasons tied to their on-going
investigations.
According to IFJ general secretary Aidan White, the highest
death rate was in Colombia, where 10 journalists were killed in
1998, followed by Mexico and Russia, where six and five
journalists were slain, respectively.
Central and South America remained the most dangerous
regions,
with a total of 22 journalists killed in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico,
Peru and Guatemala.
In some countries, the situation is improving, as in the case
of Algeria where, for the first time in several years, there were
no casualties among the
press.
Last year, as in 1996, 47 journalists were killed in the
world.
[20] C OF E: GREECE RATIFIES ACCORD AGAINST HUMAN CLONING
At a time when the dangers of genetic engineering are rising
throughout the world, Greece, along with other European countries
is contributing to the symbolic principle of a tough battle, by
ratifying the Council of Europe's protocol of Bio-ethics and human
rights which bans human cloning.
Following the ratification, Greek Professor Dimitris Kosntas,
ambassador and permanent representative to the Council of Europe,
speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, referred to human
cloning, the exact reproduction of a human being, by stating that
"everyone need to draw a decisions on as to whether or not cloning
degrades and debases the human existence."
The C of E's secretary-general Daniel Tarschys, also speaking
to the MPA, as among those who saluted Greece's implementation of
the protocol.
[21] THE UNITED STATES ARE READY TO DEAL WITH ANY THREAT COMING
FROM IRAQ
The UN humanitarian organizations' employees have returned to
Baghdad. They had abandoned the Iraqi capital last week during
the US-British air strikes.
US Secretary of Defense William Cohen announced that he will
withdraw a large part of the US forces deployed at the Persian
Gulf and stressed that the United States are ready for a direct
response in any new threat coming from Iraq.
[22] RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION IS LIMITED IN GREECE COMPARED TO THE
REST EU STATES
The national and international railway transportation is
limited in Greece when in the rest EU member-states the train is
among the most popular ways to travel. In the six-year period of
1990-1996, when most EU states increased their railway
transportation considerably, Greece reduced it by 7.90%.
A similar reduction, of 5.38% annually, was noted and in the
products that were carried by train inside the country, both in
weight and in kilometers. The above mentioned data, concerning the
national and international transportation in 9 EU member-states,
came from the European Statistics Agency (Eurostat).
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