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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-12-23

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 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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