Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-01-27
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, January 27, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TEACHERS UNION DECIDES TO CONDUCT ANOTHER 48-HOUR STRIKE
[02] MOODY'S SEES PROGRESS IN GREEK ECONOMY
[03] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS TO ATTEND ESP SUMMIT IN VIENNA ON
FRIDAY
[04] SAE PRESIDENT TO VISIT GREECE AND EGYPT
[05] SVVE TO PROMOTE THESSALONIKI AS "INTERNATIONAL CITY"
[06] MISSING AMERICAN DISCOVERED MURDERED, BOYFRIEND CONFESSES
[07] MEETING ON LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, PYGMY CORMORANT
[08] 15TH AGROTICA FAIR IS INUAGURATED TONIGHT
[09] AGRICULTURE MINISTER TO INAUGURATE "AGROTICA"'S FIRST
CONFERENCE
[10] PAPANTONIOU COMMENTED ON THE COURSE OF THE GREEK ECONOMY
[11] REPPAS: TURKEY WANTS TO DRAW GREECE INTO A DIALOGOE
[12] SIMITIS' STATEMENTS ON THE SITUATION IN THE SECTOR OF
EDUCATION
[13] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN THE ROUTE OF CONSULTATION
FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION
[14] OCALAN IS SAFE AND CONTINUES HIS STRUGGLE
[15] THE ROAD TO THE EMU IS NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTIES
[16] NEW MEETING OF ARSENIS WITH THE TEACHERS' UNION
[17] DIGNITY LESSON BY TWO GREEK SAILORS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] NATO OFFICIALS MEET IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS KOSOVO
[19] VOLLEBAEK TO MPA: POLITICAL SOLUTION TO KOSOVO IS PRIORITY
[20] MS. PAPANDREOU'S INTERVIEW WITH CNN
[21] THE POLITICAL SOLUTION IS A PRIORITY FOR KOSOVO
[22] TWO GREEK TOURISTS ARE AMONG THE FIVE DEAD FROM A HELICOPTER
CRASH IN MALDIVES
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TEACHERS UNION DECIDES TO CONDUCT ANOTHER 48-HOUR STRIKE
The Secondary Education Teachers Federation (OLME) has
decided on another 48-hour strike tomorrow and Friday, while
students, who continue to protest the educational reforms, are to
conduct massive rallies tomorrow.
The marathon talks held yesterday between Education Minister
Gerasimos Arsenis an OLME representatives led to an impasse, in
spite of the glimpse of hope for a breakthrough.
Mr. Arsenis expressed his disappointment at OLME for not
making the slightest concession and vowed to proceed with his
reforms.
The OLME chairman said that the Mister's proposal did not
help alleviate the crisis.
[02] MOODY'S SEES PROGRESS IN GREEK ECONOMY
Moody's sees marked progress in the course of Greece's
economy and notes that the real and nominative convergence that
has already been achieved was largely due to the reduction of
interest rates on state bonds.
Furthermore, the Moody's report attributes the reduction of
primary deficit to the Greek Premier's stringent tax measures.
[03] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS TO ATTEND ESP SUMMIT IN VIENNA ON
FRIDAY
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to attend the European
Socialist Party summit, to begin in Vienna on Friday, according to
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
This morning Mr. Simitis visited the offices of National Bank
of Greece where he was briefed on the operation of the state's
largest bank and spoke about the government's economic policy. He
is the first Premier to visit the National Bank after 40 years.
[04] SAE PRESIDENT TO VISIT GREECE AND EGYPT
The President of the council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) is to
embark on a series of contacts and meetings when he arrives in
Greece on Friday.
On Saturday, January 30, the University of Ioannina is to
bestow an award upon Mr. Athens for his contribution to world
Hellenism.
On Monday Mr. Athens will meet with the country's political
and state leaders while on Friday, February 30 he will depart for
Alexandria, Egypt, where he will attend the three-day conference
of the youth committee of the SAE Africa-Asia SAE chapter.
Upon his return to Greece, Mr. Athens will join the
delegation of the Archbishop of America Spyridon who is to conduct
an official visit to Greece between February 9-14.
[05] SVVE TO PROMOTE THESSALONIKI AS "INTERNATIONAL CITY"
The Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SVVE) aims
to contribute to the industrial and regional development of
northern Greece, promote economic cooperation with countries in
southeastern Europe and establish Thessaloniki as an
"international city."
In a press conference held yesterday in Thessaloniki, the
chairman of SVVE Vassilis Takas presented the federation's targets
and planning and referred to the introduction of the euro and the
utilization of business opportunities created by the unified
European currency.
On a regular basis, SVVE organizes relevant seminars and
provides printed material on the euro .
[06] MISSING AMERICAN DISCOVERED MURDERED, BOYFRIEND CONFESSES
The Greek boyfriend of a missing American woman has confessed
to her murder, after leading investigators to her dismembered body
in a ravine, on the hills of northern Greece.
Following a lengthy interrogation, twenty-four-year-old
George Skiadopoulos confessed last night that he murdered July
Marie Scully, a 30-year-old former model from New Jersey, 20 days
ago, hacked her to pieces and dumped her remains outside the city
of Kavala, about 165 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of
Thessaloniki.
Ms. Scully met Skiadopoulos in 1997 on a Caribbean cruise
ship, where he served as petty officer. She had moved to Kavala
last month and they planned to marry. According to reports, she
apparently had changed her mind and planned to return to the
United States where she has a three-year-old daughter from her
previous marriage. She had recently been awarded about $600,000
in a divorce settlement and had given up custody of the child.
On January 11 Skiadopoulos returned to Athens and reported
his girlfriend missing. He claimed that she left him after a
quarrel.
[07] MEETING ON LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, PYGMY CORMORANT
The results of the LIFE program for the protection of the
Lesser White-fronted Goose and the Pygmy Cormorant are to be
presented during a meeting organized by the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF), in association with the Hellenic Ornithological Society and
the Society for the Protection of Lake Prespes, on February 5.
The meeting will examine the course of the Life program, as
well as the state's action plans, for the protection of these two
bird species.
Greece is the only European Union member-state where the
Lesser White-fronted Goose and the Pygmy Cormorant nest during
the winter.
The Greek Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of
Environment have co-signed a relevant proposal tabled with the
European Union, in order to participate in the said program's
observation committee.
The program's aim is to protect these two bird species and
enable them to proliferate through the waterlands protection act.
[08] 15TH AGROTICA FAIR IS INUAGURATED TONIGHT
The 15th exhibition of agricultural products and machinery,
SAgrotica", is to be inaugurated in Thessaloniki this evening,
featuring the participation of 1,218 exhibitors from Greece and
abroad.
The event is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors, a
certain increase from last year's exhibition, from 56 countries.
[09] AGRICULTURE MINISTER TO INAUGURATE "AGROTICA"'S FIRST
CONFERENCE
Agriculture Minster George Anomeritis is to declare the
opening of the first conference at the Thessaloniki-held
"Agrotica" on Saturday, while the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace
Yiannis Magriotis is to also present a salutation.
The event, titled "Globalization and the Greek market", will
focus on the challenge presented to Greece's agricultural economy
by the Economic and Monetary Union. Moreover, emphasis will be
granted to the changes expected to occur in the sector due to
GATT.
[10] PAPANTONIOU COMMENTED ON THE COURSE OF THE GREEK ECONOMY
Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou
referred to the course of the Greek economy speaking in a foreign
press correspondents event.
Mr. Papantoniou stressed that the fight to limit inflation
has not been won yet and stressed that extra care is needed in the
following period. He reiterated that elections will be held in the
year 2000 and observed that the confusion that has been created in
the country's political scene can put at risk the stability of the
political system.
[11] REPPAS: TURKEY WANTS TO DRAW GREECE INTO A DIALOGOE
Turkey wants to draw Greece into a dialogue stressed Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas and explained that a dialogue
can not be held through announcements and statements or in the
case of issues on which no discussion can be made.
Mr. Reppas said that Turkey makes announcements and
statements, it talks too much and Greece has no reason to follow
its example.
[12] SIMITIS' STATEMENTS ON THE SITUATION IN THE SECTOR OF
EDUCATION
Prime minister Kostas Simitis commenting on the developments
in the sector of education said that the government and minister
of education Gerasimos Arsenis have showed flexibility but
unfortunately small politics prevailed.
However, he said that there is always room for dialogue in
order to find solutions. Responding to the question on when a
solution will be found to the deadlock in education, the prime
minister responded characteristically "tomorrow or the day after".
[13] REPPAS: THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN THE ROUTE OF CONSULTATION
FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION
The government has chosen the route of consultation in order
to find a solution to the problems in education, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas and accused the teachers'
union of not keeping a responsible stance in the talks with
education minister Gerasimos Arsenis.
Responding to the question on whether the students are at
risk of losing their school year he said that the time limit is
crucial and a solution to the problem must be found now.
On the street blockades shown daily on television, he said
that they are reprehensible and punishable acts adding that the
government stays away from all this but this does not mean that it
is a neutral observer.
[14] OCALAN IS SAFE AND CONTINUES HIS STRUGGLE
Abdullah Ocalan is safe and he will continue his policy,
stated in a press conference Kurdistan's National Liberation Front
(ERNK) representative Rodi Avras avoiding to reveal where is the
leader of PKK while at the same time, he pointed out that the
Kurdish rebels will continue their struggle. Mr. Avras blamed the
EU, the United States, Israel and NATO because they formed the
basis of the Turkish propaganda aimed at weakening the armed
Kurdish movement.
"If no solution is found to the Kurdish issue every Kurd will
become a bomb. The Turks have turned our lives into hell and we
are ready to turn their lives into hell too", he added. He accused
Europe of not only being unprepared for a solution but of going
along with the Turkish propaganda when Ocalan was in Italy and was
looking for a political solution. Europe is big but in the case of
Ocalan appeared to be very small, said Rodi Avras.
Greek parliament deputy elected in Evros, north-eastern
Greece Christos Kipouros speaking on behalf of the Greek-Kurdish
Friendship and Solidarity Committee stressed that Greece can
follow a policy that could put big issues like the Kurdish issue
in the European and the UN agenda, while at the same time he
criticised the Greek government for refusing to host Ocalan.
Greek-Kurdish Friendship and Solidarity Committee
representatives Ilias Theodoridis and Giorgos Akritas stressed
that in Thessaloniki alone the signatures collected in favor of
Ocalan since last December are 15.000 and called on the Greek
government, the political parties, the parliament and the city
mayors to assume an active role for the solution of the Kurdish
issue and the reorganization of the Asia Minor region.
[15] THE ROAD TO THE EMU IS NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTIES
Greece's road to the Economic and Monetary Union is not
without difficulties reiterated prime minister Kostas Simitis
during his visit to the National Bank of Greece pointing out that
the efforts of the country toward this direction will continue.
Mr. Simitis praised the modernization and the achievements of
the National Bank in the last three years stating that it played a
leading part in the modernization of the banking system.
[16] NEW MEETING OF ARSENIS WITH THE TEACHERS' UNION
The leadership of the ministry of education responded
positively to the proposal of the teachers' union president for
the resumption of dialogue. Teachers' union president Nikos
Tsoulias stated that he is willing to meet with minister of
education Gerasimos Arsenis as soon as today. The students will
hold protest rallies in all the big cities tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the students continued the street blockades
causing minor incidents and traffic chaos. Six students, who were
arrested yesterday for using and dealing hashish in a school
building under student occupation, are in police custody in the
central city of Volos.
[17] DIGNITY LESSON BY TWO GREEK SAILORS
The two Greek sailors, who are accused of being responsible
for an extensive oil slick in the Pacific Ocean, have returned to
California, USA determined to prove their innocence. The two gave
themselves up spite of the fact that they are facing a prison term
of 13 years and a fine of 750.000 US dollars in case they are
found guilty.
They are captain of the oil-tanker "Command" Dimitrios
Georgantas and 1st mechanic Lambros Kraganis who will appear in a
Federal Court today.
Their decision to return to the United States and face
charges needed courage as they could have stayed in Greece with
their families and avoid the trouble and the consequences of such
a procedure, said Mr. Georgantas' attorney, adding that the two
men know they are innocent and they want to prove it in an
American court.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] NATO OFFICIALS MEET IN BRUSSELS TO DISCUSS KOSOVO
The permanent representatives of NATO member-states are to
meet in Brussels today in order to discuss the proposals of the
Alliance's secretary-general Javier Solana.
According to diplomatic sources, the said proposals are quite
balanced and addressed both sides involved in the conflict.
Meanwhile, NATO's warning of air raids has perturbed many EU
member-states, among them Greece, which are undertaking efforts to
modify or strike the proposal.
[19] VOLLEBAEK TO MPA: POLITICAL SOLUTION TO KOSOVO IS PRIORITY
OSCE Chairman and Norway's Foreign Minster Knut Vollebaek
grants priority status to discovering a political solution to the
Kosovo issue, by pointing out that the military lever needs to be
maintained , while at the same time increasing the political
pressure.
Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Vollebaek stated
that the flow of arms to the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) needs to
be stringently regulated and that efforts needs to be undertaken
in order to form negotiating teams that will held determine the
future status of Kosovo.
Furthermore, he recommended that intense diplomatic activity
be set into motion, where Greece's contribution could be
significant.
Within that framework, the Norwegian Minister recently met
with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos and Greece's
alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou since "we need all
the positive forces and their stance displays willingness for
cooperation and was both constructive and substantial," as he
stated.
He further stated that while military action should be
averted, the military pressure should be maintained.
He is expected to convene the Contact Group members this week
in order to prepare a new status for Kosovo.
Following the meeting held between the US Secretary of State
and Russia's Foreign Minister, where for the first time ever
criticism was exerted towards both sides of the Kosovo conflict,
Mr. Vollebaek said that the ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo need
to accept their responsibilities.
[20] MS. PAPANDREOU'S INTERVIEW WITH CNN
Greek minister of development Vaso Papandreou characterized
as successful her visit to the United States speaking in an
interview with the television network CNN.
The minister presented Greece's important role in the Balkans
and the favourable conditions offered by the country to the
American businessmen and investors for better access to the Balkan
region. Ms. Papandreou underlined the achievements of the Greek
economy and expressed the certainty that Greece will enter the
Economic and Monetary Union.
[21] THE POLITICAL SOLUTION IS A PRIORITY FOR KOSOVO
Norwegian foreign minister Knut Volembek, who currently holds
the OSCE presidency, stated that the political solution in Kosovo
is a priority for 1999 in an effort to change the climate that was
created after the reactions to the Racak massacre.
Speaking to MPA, he pointed out that military pressure must
be maintained whereas the political pressure must be increased.
[22] TWO GREEK TOURISTS ARE AMONG THE FIVE DEAD FROM A HELICOPTER
CRASH IN MALDIVES
Five people, among them two Greek tourists, were killed when
their Bulgarian MI-8 helicopter made an emergency touch down on
the sea near the resort of Rangali in the Maldives in the Indian
Ocean.
The above were announced in Sofia by owner company "Heli Air"
commerce director Sotislav Bozkov, who stated that 12 passengers
and the three-member crew have been rescued. The information has
not been confirmed yet by a formal source in Sofia.
The helicopter was carrying tourists and was conducting a
scheduled flight between the capital of Male and other regions in
the Maldives.
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