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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-01

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, March 1, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PKK MEMBER'S PRESS CONFERENCE BRINGS ON FLURRY OF REACTIONS
  • [02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TRAVELS TO UZBEKISTAN TODAY
  • [03] GREEK ECONOMY REVIEWED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
  • [04] MIKIS THEODORAKIS CHAGRINED OVER PKK MEMBER'S INGRATITUDE
  • [05] PASOK DEPUTY BADOUVAS EXPELLED FROM PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
  • [06] FORMER FM'S TRIP TO KENYA WAS A PLANNED AND OFFICIAL VISIT
  • [07] BULGARIAN BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI THROUGH OPE
  • [08] HIGH TURNOUT RATE AT ELECTIONS FOR PASOK'S CONGRESS
  • [09] CONCERT TO BE HELD IN SUPPORT OF KURDS TONIGHT IN ATHENS
  • [10] GREEKS EARN IMPRESSIVE RANKS IN SWIM SHORT COURSE WORLD CUP
  • [11] REPPAS: KURDISH COLLABORATION WITH ANTI-GOVERNMENT ELEMENTS AIMED AT THE GOVERNMENT'S RESIGNATION
  • [12] THE FORMER GREEK AMBASSADOR TO KENYA TESTIFIES BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [13] GREEK PM AT EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY CONGRESS IN MILAN
  • [14] CHRISTOPHER HILL IN PRISHTINA TODAY
  • [15] ALBANIA TO SIGN PEACE ACCORD FOR KOSOVO, ACCORDING TO PRESS
  • [16] US STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ACCUSES TURKEY OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
  • [17] HAND GRENADE BLAST INJURED 17 PEOPLE IN AN ISTANBUL COFFEE SHOP
  • [18] RESOLUTION AGAINST TURKEY WAS ADOPTED BY THE EUROPEAN "GREEN" PARTIES CONFERENCE IN NICOSIA
  • [19] ALEXANDROS MALLIAS IS GREECE'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO ALBANIA
  • [20] DRAFT RESOLUTION ON THE KURDISH ISSUE WAS SUBMITTED BY GREECE AND ITALY
  • [21] THE US ENVOY WILL BE IN PRISTINA

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] PKK MEMBER'S PRESS CONFERENCE BRINGS ON FLURRY OF REACTIONS

    After an aide of PKK leader Abdulah Ocalan hurled an array of espionage and betrayal allegations against the Greek Prime Minister and a number of government officials, a flurry of reactions came forth throughout Greece, led by the Premier Kostas Simitis who said that "some people are attempting to blacken the image of Greece. Our country over the years has helped at its cost those who are persecuted and suffering. Look around you at the thousands of Kurds, the hundreds of thousands of Albanians and compare Greece to the other countries of the European Union," Mr. Simitis said.

    Famous composer Mikis Theodorakis also expressed his chagrin over the sense of ingratitude displayed by the PKK secretary Semsi Kilic who leveled the undocumented accusations , a mere few hours after her successful evacuation from the Greek embassy in Nairobi by the Greek government. Obviously distraught, Mr. Theodorakis stated that Ms. Kilic's words were an insult to all of Greece.

    Meanwhile, the PM expelled deputy Kostas Badouvas from the ruling party's Parliamentary Group since he espoused the accusations made by Ms. Kilic.

    Main opposition party leader Kostas Karamanlis accused the Premier of subjecting the country to risks and international isolation, calling on him to resign.

    [02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TRAVELS TO UZBEKISTAN TODAY

    President Kostis Stephanopoulos embarks on a three-day official visit to Uzbekistan today, at the invitation of his counterpart Islam Karimof.

    Greece and Uzbekistan signed a friendship and cooperation pact and a series of cooperation agreements in commerce, technology, training and tourism when Mr. Karimof visited Greece on April 1, 1997.

    Newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis is accompanying the Greek president on his visit.

    [03] GREEK ECONOMY REVIEWED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION

    The governor of the Bank of Greece Lukas Papademos is to meet on Wednesday with the governor of the European Union's Central Bank, with whom he will discuss the Greek economy's overall situation and the flexibility of one out of the five conditions set forth by the Maastricht Treaty, that is inflation.

    According to reports, the EU could propose that Greece, instead of achieving the median inflation rate of those three countries with the highest index, it could alternatively, if it achieves a two-percent inflation rate at the end of the year, apply for EMU accession in March of the year 2000.

    [04] MIKIS THEODORAKIS CHAGRINED OVER PKK MEMBER'S INGRATITUDE

    Greece's famous composer Mikis Theodorakis has expressed his chagrin over the sense of ingratitude displayed by PKK member Semsi Kilic who, a mere few hours after her successful evacuation from the Greek embassy in Nairobi, accused the Greek government of espionage and betrayal.

    Obviously distraught during his televised statement, Mr. Theodorakis (who is a known liberal) stated that Ms. Kilic's words were an insult to all of Greece, a country that has always stood by oppressed, not the oppressors, as history attests. He said that her accusations are unfathomable and announced that, as much as he feels for the Kurdish people and their plight, he is canceling his participation in tonight's concert held in support of the Kurds.

    [05] PASOK DEPUTY BADOUVAS EXPELLED FROM PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis has expelled parliamentarian Kostas Badouvas from the ruling PASOK party's parliamentary group over the latter's involvement in the Ocalan affair and the fact that he fully adopted the accusations made against the government by the PKK leader's secretary.

    Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated that given the deputy's position in the matter, he no longer belongs ion the party's parliamentary group.

    [06] FORMER FM'S TRIP TO KENYA WAS A PLANNED AND OFFICIAL VISIT

    The Greek foreign ministry has categorically denied the allegations made by a PKK member who said that former FM Theodoros Pangalos had traveled to Kenya in late 1998 in order to prepare the grounds for the arrest of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.

    Mr. Pangalos made an official visit to Africa in November of 1998, which visit was organized at the beginning of the year and announced to the press in May 1998, a foreign ministry announcement read.

    "The official visit of the former foreign minister, Theodoros Pangalos, to Africa was used in an unacceptable manner during the press conference on Saturday. "It stretches the boundaries of imagination that an official visit organized at the beginning of the previous year and announced to reporters in May could have any relationship to the events which followed much later," according to the Foreign Ministry.

    [07] BULGARIAN BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI THROUGH OPE

    A delegation of 21 Bulgarian businessmen is to attend a seminar organized by the Exports Promotion Organization (OPE) where contacts will be made with Greek entrepreneurs.

    The Bulgarian investors are representing the food sector, while there are also delegates from the Center of Light Industry, Plovdiv's Chamber of Trade and Industry, and Bulgaria's Export's Promotion Center.

    The OPE seminar falls in the auspices of Greece's technical assistance to Bulgaria, which is provided through funds from the Ministry of National Economy.

    The organizers aim to provide the visitors with significant information on export businesses, as well as product promotion and distribution abroad.

    [08] HIGH TURNOUT RATE AT ELECTIONS FOR PASOK'S CONGRESS

    Approximately 80% of the ruling PASOK party's members voted in yesterday's elections of the delegates to the party's 5th congress.

    In Thessaloniki, which has 260 delegates, is it assessed that 60% are in favor of Akis Tsochatzopoulos, with the remaining 40% camping with "reformers" Evangelos Venizelos and Yiannis Magriotis.

    [09] CONCERT TO BE HELD IN SUPPORT OF KURDS TONIGHT IN ATHENS

    Featuring a pantheon of Greek artists, musicians and intellectuals, all participating on a volunteer basis, Athens will host a free concert this evening at Constitution Square, held in support to the Kurdish people.

    However, on the aftermath of the allegations made by Semis Kilic -the secretary of Kurdish Leader Abdullah Ocalan- against Greece, some of the previously-willing participants have canceled their appearance. Among them are Greece's famous composer Mikis Theodorakis, signer Maria Faradouri and actor Stavros Paravas.

    [10] GREEKS EARN IMPRESSIVE RANKS IN SWIM SHORT COURSE WORLD CUP

    Greek swimmers earned impressive ranks during the Arena Festival swim short course World Cup, held during the weekend in Gezelgirchen, Germany.

    PAOK's Katia Sakatsani broke Greek records in the 200 medley races with 2:18.87, topping her 1997 record 2:19.31, while in the 400 medley she finished fourth.

    The Cup's last meet will be held tomorrow in Iberia, Italy, where eight more of Greece's top swimmers will race.

    [11] REPPAS: KURDISH COLLABORATION WITH ANTI-GOVERNMENT ELEMENTS AIMED AT THE GOVERNMENT'S RESIGNATION

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas spoke of a collaboration between Kurds and anti-government elements aimed at the resignation of prime minister Kostas Simitis.

    Mr. Reppas said that the government is not afraid of the truth, has nothing to hide and wants light to be shed on the Ocalan affair. He spoke of an unprecedented attack against the government and the prime minister launched by the secretary of Ocalan and pointed out that the reasons that led her to this attack will become clear through the judicial inquiry underway, adding however that Greece will continue to back the Kurdish people.

    Mr. Reppas accused the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy and the rest of the opposition parties in Greece of rushing to adopt the unfounded allegations made by Ocalan's secretary and called on them to distinguish between political party issues and issues of national importance.

    He said that the transformation of the Kurdish problem into a Greek-Turkish dispute will not help toward the solution of the problem itself and added that all those who maintain that the Kurdish problem can be solved through a Greek-Turkish war are Greece's enemies. He also wondered why Greece is the one that is being accused when Ocalan earlier had left from Syria, Italy and Russia. He said that Greece had not invited Ocalan, neither had negotiated with the government of Kenya, while no response has been given yet to the question why Ocalan had left Italy earlier.

    [12] THE FORMER GREEK AMBASSADOR TO KENYA TESTIFIES BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR

    Former Greek ambassador to Kenya Mr. Kostoulas testifies before the prosecutors, who have undertaken the preliminary investigation on the responsibilities private individuals may have in the Ocalan case. According to information, the inquiry is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

    Meanwhile, the reactions over the press conference of Ocalan's associate in Athens continue. Minister of environment, public works and land planning Kostas Laliotis characterized it as anti-Greek delirium and added that no one can, regardless of being a Greek or a Kurd, to judge the intentions and the positions of the Greek government.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [13] GREEK PM AT EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY CONGRESS IN MILAN

    Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to take part in the European Socialist Party's Congress, which begins in Milan today.

    The Greek Premier is said to be determined to set forth the Kurdish issue and the Ocalan affair by condemning Turkey's human rights violations and its abhorrent disregard for the European Union's principles and regulations.

    The Premier is accompanied by former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos, their first joint appearance since the latter was asked by the former to resign last week.

    Meanwhile, rumors that Mr. Pangalos is to be assigned as Greece's new EU Commissioner have yet to be confirmed.

    [14] CHRISTOPHER HILL IN PRISHTINA TODAY

    United States envoy Christopher Hill is to hold talks with the leaders of the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo today, while efforts are presently underway to establish the political terms achieved last week curing the in-principle peace agreement at Rambouillet, France.

    Meanwhile, armed conflict between the two sides in Kosovo continues.

    [15] ALBANIA TO SIGN PEACE ACCORD FOR KOSOVO, ACCORDING TO PRESS

    All the leaders of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians are ready to sign the peacekeeping accord in Kosovo, according to Belgrade's daily "Dnevni Telegraf" which quotes sources from Prishtina.

    According to the paper, rumors calling for fallings out among the Albanians regarding the accord's text, do not stand. Specifically, the only hitch is the stance adopted by the representative of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) Adem Demaci, who does not agree with the accord's political section.

    Nevertheless, the paper continues, Mr. Demaci's stance will not be a hurdle and the Albanian side will proceed to signing the accord.

    [16] US STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ACCUSES TURKEY OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

    The US State Department report on human rights accuses Turkey of violations pointing out that the country's armed forces exert effective but indirect influence on Turkey's political life as the Turkish military presents itself as the guarantor of the secular state.

    It is mentioned that the state of emergency adopted since 1987 is still in effect in six provinces where the Kurdish PKK rebels are active. Also, the special police forces are accused of serious human rights violations. It is mentioned that it is widely acknowledged, by the government as well, that the country's human rights record is inadequate and should be improved not only due to its international obligations and commitments but also as a result of the demands made by the Turkish people themselves.

    Mysterious murders, deaths while in police custody due to excessive force and disappearances of civilians continued in Turkey during the past year. Significant cases remain unsolved for many years such as, the case of the 48 police officers who are accused of the murder of journalist Metin Goktepe in 1996. The report mentions that 25 journalists were in Turkish jails until the end of 1998, while the 1991 anti-terrorist law is still in effect. The campaign against the Islamists and the Kurdish separatists continued during the past year.

    The broadcast of radio and television programs in the Kurdish language is not allowed, while the printed material into the Kurdish language, even though it is not characterized as illegal, it is very limited. According to the report, the Turkish government has closed radio and television stations that have broadcast programs of Kurdish interest or used the Kurdish language.

    A special reference was made in the report on the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is stressed that the Turkish government continues to impose restrictions on religious minorities and that the Turkish authorities closely monitor the activities of the Christian Orthodox Church. It is mentioned that the Theology School of Halki remains closed since 1971 and due to the existing legislation concerning the Turkish nationality, the religious communities in Turkey are unable to train new clerics.

    Extremist groups attack minorities as in the case of St. Therapontas chapel where the guard was killed and certain objects were stolen. The investigation into this case, as well as the bomb attack against the Patriarchate in December 1997 did not lead to arrests and members of religious minorities fear that there will be an increase of radical Islamism.

    The ministry of education has a tight control over the material taught in schools and due to this fact many Greek origin students find it difficult to continue their studies in Turkey and as a result they are forced to go to Greece from where in most of the cases never return.

    [17] HAND GRENADE BLAST INJURED 17 PEOPLE IN AN ISTANBUL COFFEE SHOP

    Seventeen people were injured by a bomb blast in a coffee- shop at the suburb of Esenler in Istanbul when a woman, member of the PKK, threw a had grenade, according the French news agency AFP. Two of the injured are in a critical condition.

    Also, three molotov cocktail bombs were thrown in a garage in Istanbul's Umranije suburb and five buses were destroyed by the fire that was caused by the blasts.

    The Turkish authorities blame for the violence the PKK fighters who are protesting against the arrest of their leader Abdullah Ocalan.

    [18] RESOLUTION AGAINST TURKEY WAS ADOPTED BY THE EUROPEAN "GREEN" PARTIES CONFERENCE IN NICOSIA

    A resolution condemning Ankara's policy in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus characterizing it as unacceptable was adopted in the 2nd conference of the European Greens held in Nicosia.

    In a statement issued by the Ecologists Environmentalists Movement, which participated in the conference proceedings, it was mentioned that a strong resolution on the Kurdish problem and the abduction of Abdullah Ocalan was adopted, while Turkey is accused of unprecedented cruelty.

    In the conference, according to the statement issued, a special meeting of the Green parties of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey was held in which were examined the serious political and environmental problems of the region such as the Cyprus issue, the Kurdish issue and the construction of the nuclear plant in Turkey.

    In the conference participated over 1.500 delegates, journalists and politicians from the 30 political parties making up the European Green Federation as well as observers from Australia, the United States, Africa and Asia.

    [19] ALEXANDROS MALLIAS IS GREECE'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO ALBANIA

    Greece's new ambassador to Albania Alexandros Mallias presented his credentials to Albanian president Redjep Meidani.

    The Albanian mass media gave extensive publicity to the ceremony and referred to Mr. Mallias' diplomatic career.

    [20] DRAFT RESOLUTION ON THE KURDISH ISSUE WAS SUBMITTED BY GREECE AND ITALY

    A joint draft resolution calling for the fair trial of Abdullah Ocalan, the enactment of the right for objective representation in court, the abolition of the death penalty and the final solution of the Kurdish problem, was submitted today by the delegations of Greece and Italy in the European Socialist Party conference that is being held in Milan.

    In the text it is pointed out that Ankara's behavior on the Kurdish issue will determine its relations with the European Union, while it is announced that the European Socialist Party will undertake initiatives on the issue.

    [21] THE US ENVOY WILL BE IN PRISTINA

    US envoy Christopher Hill is expected to have talks with the leaders of the ethnic Albanians in Pristina today.

    At the same time, the international efforts continue aimed at having the political terms included in the interim peace agreement reached in Rambouillet, France last week, accepted. Meanwhile, the clashes between the two sides continue in Kosovo.


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