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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-01-09Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 23:27 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECENEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] THE THIRD BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE HAS OPENED IN KORITSAWeb Posted: 16:27 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 09.01.1999 (MPA) The third branch of the National Bank of Greece opened in Koritsa yesterday, while already in operation are the branches in Tirana and Durres. The new branch is at the city's commercial center and it is equipped with modern computer systems to conduct all bank transactions.The new branch of the National Bank of Greece is expected to consolidate the bank's role in the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean as a powerful regional force in the banking sector. [02] REPPAS: GREECE IS ON CYPRUS'S SIDEWeb Posted: 16:27 GMT+2Athens, 09.01.1999 (MPA) Greece is on Cyprus's side said Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday, adding that this is not a theoretical stance but it is a stance with practical consequences.The government spokesman characterized the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus as continuous and essential but he avoided to give specific details on the issue. He said that all the issues concerning Cyprus's defense are being handled with the necessary responsibility in order to be effective without creating false impressions. [03] NEW TENSION IN KOSOVOWeb Posted: 15:27 GMT+2Belgrade, 09/01/1999 (MPA) The gradual withdrawal of the Serb forces from Pristina has started according to statements made by the representative of the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).Meanwhile yesterday, there was new tension in north-eastern Kossovo when in an exchange of fire three Serb police officers were killed while three civilians and another police officer were injured. Leader of the ethnic Albanians in Kossovo, Ibrahim Rugova requested again yesterday the intervention of NATO in the Serb province. [04] THE PROBLEMS IN OLYMPIC AIRWAYS CONTINUEWeb Posted: 15:27 GMT+2Athens, 09/01/1999 (MPA) The problems in the state-run airline Olympic Airways continue due to the pilots' refusal to work overtime and as a result the passengers remain at the airports due to flight cancellations.The OA management re-scheduled the company's flights and as a result two to five flights will be canceled daily until January 31. Prime minister Kostas Simitis accused the pilots of taking advantage of their positions to impose their views without taking under consideration the social cost. Minister of transportation Tasos Mandelis stressed that already the procedures have started for the participation of Olympic Airways in strategic alliances with other airlines. [05] THE STUDENT SIT-INS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS CONTINUEWeb Posted: 15:27 GMT+2Athens, 09/01/1999 (MPA) The government disagrees with the teachers' union over the number of school buildings under student occupation.Yesterday, most schools opened across the country but the Coordinating Committee of the students announced new sit-ins starting on Monday. The teachers' union maintains that across the country there are 850 schools under occupation but according to the minister of education, only in 70 out of 1.680 schools no classes were held yesterday. Prime minister Kostas Simitis expressed his strong concern over the situation in the sector of education and stressed that if the sit-ins continue then things will be very serious. [06] THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED TAX EXEMPTIONSWeb Posted: 15:27 GMT+2Athens, 09/01/1999 (MPA) Prime minister Kostas Simitis announced tax exemptions and the revision of the objective criteria taxation system in 1999, adding that Greece's participation in the EMU will not solve every problem.Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou announced that for the first time since the return of democracy in Greece there is a surplus in revenues by 180 billion drachmas and added that the government expects inflation to drop to 2% by the end of the year. Referring to the bank interest rates, Mr. Papantoniou speculated that there will be a gradual reduction. On the Ionian Bank issue, he said that the procedure of its sale will be completed by the end of March at the latest. [07] PASOK'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEEETING CONTINUESWeb Posted: 15:27 GMT+2Athens, 09/01/1999 (MPA) The proceedings of the Central Committee of the governing socialist party of PASOK continue for a second day in Athens. Prime minister Kostas Simitis stressed that the upcoming party congress should not deal exclusively with in-party problems.At the same time, he launched an attack against the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy saying characteristically that PASOK has the worst kind of opposition to deal with which is ignorance. In response, New Democracy stated that Mr. Simitis has panicked and uses insults and obsolete methods. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |