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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-04
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 4, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BANK OF GREECE GOVERNOR IS OPTIMISTIC OVER ECONOMY'S COURSE
[02] KALENTERIDES TO APPEAR BEFORE COURT MARTIAL PROSECUTOR
[03] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER TO TRAVEL TO US NEXT WEEK
[04] TIPPER GORE, US VICE-PRESIDENT'S WIFE, TO VISIT THESSALONIKI
[05] UNC PROFESSOR SPEAKS ON POLITICS OF ENDANGERED ATMOSPHERE
[06] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO RESIGN
[07] LITHUANIAN OFFICIALS VISIT THESSALONIKI
[08] SEMINAR ON GREEK VENTURES OPPORTUNITIES IN UKRAINE
[09] EGYPTIAN CENTER AT NEW FREE TRADE ZONE IN NORTHERN GREECE
[10] REPPAS IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT ON
KOSOVO
[11] GREECE WILL REACT WITH DIPLOMATIC ACTION TO THE VIOLATIONS OF
AIR TRAFFIC REGULATIONS BY TURKISH AIRCRAFT
[12] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS INAUGURATED THE HYGIENE AND SAFETY
INSTITUTE
[13] NEW DROP IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
[14] FOREIGN MINISTER PAPANDREOU BRIEFED THE LEADERS OF ND AND
POLITICAL SPRING ON THE OCALAN CASE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS ARE IN FAVOR OF RAMBOUILLET AGREEMENT
[16] BURNS TO ADDRESS US-GREEK COMMERCIAL COMMISSION MEETING
[17] EU TO ACT ON PROTECTION OF GREEK MONUMENTS IN FYROM
[18] PRESIDENT OF OLYMPIAKOS, FOUNDER OF INTRACOM, ON CNN
[19] GREEK STATE-OWNED RADIO OFFICIALS IN OHRID FOR TALKS
[20] THE THREE WOMEN ASSOCIATES OF OCALAN WERE NOT WELCOMED IN
CYPRUS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BANK OF GREECE GOVERNOR IS OPTIMISTIC OVER ECONOMY'S COURSE
The governor of the Bank of Greece Lukas Papademos has
expressed his optimism over the course of the country's economy,
during an interview with Reuters, although he stressed that the
state should not adjust its inflation target as this could delay
Greece's coveted accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.
Mr. Papademos, who met yesterday with the governor of the
European Union's Central Bank, said that the state will not need
to request an adjustment of the conditions set forth by the
Maastricht Treaty in order to achieve accession to the EMU.
Furthermore, Mr. Papademos forecast that the inflation rate
will plummet to below 2% by the end of the year, but only if the
government does not ease its measures of austerity.
[02] KALENTERIDES TO APPEAR BEFORE COURT MARTIAL PROSECUTOR
Greek Intelligence Service agent Maj. Savvas Kalenteridis is
to appear before the court martial prosecutor today, in order to
testify on the course of events that took place in Kenya and led
to the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan by Turkey.
Meanwhile, state prosecutors investigating the circumstances
surrounding Mr. Ocalan's arrival and brief stay in Greece are
continuing their preliminary probe. According to reports, the
prosecutors will present a joint report to the chief investigator
who, in turn, will decide on whether or not the report will be
forwarded to the President of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis.
[03] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER TO TRAVEL TO US NEXT WEEK
The leader of the country's main opposition party, New
Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, will conduct his first official
visit to the United States between March 6-16.
While in the US, Mr. Karamanlis will be received by US vice-
president Al Gore and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
During his four-day visit, Mr. Karamanlis will also meet with
various US Congressmen, while he is to deliver addresses at
several academic institutions and "think tanks".
His itinerary includes visits to other US cities, including
Boston, New York and Chicago.
[04] TIPPER GORE, US VICE-PRESIDENT'S WIFE, TO VISIT THESSALONIKI
Tipper Gore, the wife of United States Vice President and
presidential candidate Al Gore, is to visit Thessaloniki on March
16 where she will address a forum organized by the city's American
College Anatolia.
Ms. Gore will speak on The Role of Volunteerism in Covering
Social Needs."
The event will be held in honor of the 60th anniversary
since the founding of Anatolia's Alumni Association, which also
coincides with the school's administrative board resolution to
promote volunteerism through its social activities.
Ms. Gore, a known advocate of volunteerism, is the Clinton
Administration's mental health adviser.
[05] UNC PROFESSOR SPEAKS ON POLITICS OF ENDANGERED ATMOSPHERE
A noted professor from the University of North Carolina is to
give an address this evening on the "Politics of Endangered
Atmosphere" at the Thessaloniki's Aristotle University's natural
sciences department.
Prof. Marvin Sorrows, a political science instructor and a
specialist on international environmental law and policy, will
analyze international and regional efforts to tackle the problem
of endangerment.
The event is jointly organized by the university's
atmospheric physics laboratory, the Greek Society for the
Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage and the United
States consulate in Thessaloniki.
[06] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO RESIGN
Greece's main opposition leader, New Democracy's Kostas
Karamanlis, has once again called on the government to resign over
the Ocalan affair.
However, his party's honorary president Konstantinos
Mitsotakis had earlier differentiated himself from Mr. Karamanlis'
position, not advocating the government's its resignation, albeit
he characterized it as being completely weakened and politically
handicapped.
Mr. Mitsotakis stated that Greek-Turkish relations are
presently at the most sensitive and dangerous state of the recent
years and that there is no need to "throw fuel into the fire".
[07] LITHUANIAN OFFICIALS VISIT THESSALONIKI
A delegation of Lithuanian officials, among them the governor
and mayor of Kaouna, is presently on a formal visit to
Thessaloniki, upon the invitation of the city's prefectural
government administration.
During their stay, the Lithuanian officials are to meet with
the Prefect of Thessaloniki Kostas Papadopoulos and local
business leaders.
A series of cooperation accords are to be signed in the
presence of the Lithuanian Ambassador in Athens.
[08] SEMINAR ON GREEK VENTURES OPPORTUNITIES IN UKRAINE
Investment opportunities in the Ukraine are to be presented
during a seminar to be held on March 16 in Thessaloniki, where
local businessmen will be briefed on the bilateral economic
cooperation between Greece and Ukraine and the various support
programs.
The event, organized by the Hellenic Organization of Foreign
Trade, will outline the region's economic developments and the
opportunities for joint ventures.
A Ukrainian delegation will present the most profitable
sectors for economic cooperation.
[09] EGYPTIAN CENTER AT NEW FREE TRADE ZONE IN NORTHERN GREECE
Athens and Cairo are reviewing the establishment of an
Egyptian center at the new free trade zone that is to be founded
in Northern Greece, in order to facilitate the storage and process
of Egyptian products prior to their distribution.
According to Egypt's "Al Ahram" daily, such a center will
allow for the storing of both perishable and non-perishable goods.
According to the report, the two countries are to examine
the possibility of founding permanent trade and exhibition
centers in both countries, a matter which will be discussed when
a delegation of officials from the Hellenic Organization of
Foreign Trade visits Cairo on March 23.
[10] REPPAS IS OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT ON
KOSOVO
The belief that there will be a peace agreement on Kosovo and
that the crisis will be handled was expressed by Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Reppas said that there is progress on the issue and
expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached.
[11] GREECE WILL REACT WITH DIPLOMATIC ACTION TO THE VIOLATIONS OF
AIR TRAFFIC REGULATIONS BY TURKISH AIRCRAFT
The Greek government will deal with the issue of the
violations of air traffic regulations by Turkish aircraft through
the diplomatic route, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas, adding that there was no airspace violations but
violations of air traffic regulations.
Responding to the question on whether the Turkish aircraft
have photographed the island of Crete, he said that investigation
has showed that these aircraft were equipped to take aerial
pictures and reiterated that the whole issue will be dealt with
through the diplomatic route, adding that Athens is unlikely to
make a demarche to Ankara today.
[12] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS INAUGURATED THE HYGIENE AND SAFETY
INSTITUTE
Prime minister Kostas Simitis inaugurated the Hygiene and
Safety Institute in Athens. The Institute has been established
with the participation of every social institution in the country
and for this reason, said Mr. Simitis, there should be a social
dialogue to determine the interventions that will improve the
quality of life for the workers.
Mr. Simitis stressed that the institutional framework in
Greece is among the best in the EU and added that the social
intervention for the improvement of sanitary and safety conditions
in the workplace is a pre-condition for the economic development.
[13] NEW DROP IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE
The general price index showed a downward course in the
Athens Stock Exchange today. It closed at 3.232,02 with
significant losses of 3.24%. The volume of transactions reached
126.5 billion drachmas.
According to analysts, the drop observed is due to the heavy
climate that exists as a result of the tension in the Greek-
Turkish relations.
[14] FOREIGN MINISTER PAPANDREOU BRIEFED THE LEADERS OF ND AND
POLITICAL SPRING ON THE OCALAN CASE
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou had separate
meetings today with right-wing main opposition party leader Kostas
Karamanlis and right-wing Political Spring party leader Antonis
Samaras and briefed them on the developments in the Ocalan case.
Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Karamanlis discussed Greece's moves
within the framework of the European Union for the promotion of
the Kurdish issue, the cross-party cooperation for the promotion
of the issues of national importance, the developments in Kosovo
and the imminent visit of Mr. Karamanlis to the United States.
In statements he made after the meeting, Mr. Papandreou
stressed that the contacts he had prove that the national unity of
the Greeks will be the response to the threats coming from Turkey.
The leader of the main opposition party underlined that the
questions over the Ocalan case remain unanswered and added that
the government has an obligation to deliver ambassador Kostoulas
report to the political party leaders. He also reiterated that
there is a need to form a Foreign Policy National Council.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] KOSOVO'S ALBANIANS ARE IN FAVOR OF RAMBOUILLET AGREEMENT
Kosovo's ethnic Albanians are ready to sign the Rambouillet
peacekeeping accord in Kosovo, as seven of Kosovo's political
parties have expressed their support for the proposed agreement.
Meanwhile, temporary cease-fire is presently enforced in
Kosovo, in order to allow the arrival of humanitarian aid from the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Fearful of clashes between the Kosovo Liberation Army and the
security forces, thousands of evacuees were staying out in the
open in the freezing Balkan winter or taking refuge in packed
houses under appalling conditions, according to UNHCR reports.
[16] BURNS TO ADDRESS US-GREEK COMMERCIAL COMMISSION MEETING
United States Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns, presently
in the U.S., is to participate in the semi-annual US-Greek
Economic and Commercial Commission meeting, which will be held
tomorrow in Washington.
In addition to official consultations, Mr. Burns is also
participating in a meeting of the US-Greek Business Council in New
York and is addressing the American Foundation for Greek Language
and Culture in Tampa and speaking at New York University.
[17] EU TO ACT ON PROTECTION OF GREEK MONUMENTS IN FYROM
The European Union intents to contribute to plans of
safeguarding Greek monuments in FYROM, according to European
Commissioner Hans van den Broek.
The Commissioner, in response to a question tabled by Greek
euro-deputy Nikitas Kaklamanis, stated that the Commission is
aware of the destruction of a Greek monument in FYROM, referring
to the demolition of a famous 19th century school and the
destruction of Greek plates from the St. George church in the
city of Resen.
While Mr. van den Broek said that the matter concerns a
bilateral issue between Greece and FYROM, the EC's envoy did meet
with the then-leader of Greece's diplomatic mission to FYROM
Alexandros Mallias.
[18] PRESIDENT OF OLYMPIAKOS, FOUNDER OF INTRACOM, ON CNN
The Cable News Network (CNN) will present a half-hour program
on Socrates Kokkalis, the founder of the Intracom group and
president of the Olympiakos sports club, during its economic
program "Pinnacle Europe", on Sunday, March 7, at 10:30 p.m.
local time.
The program, featuring well-known business leaders from
around the world, will be repeated on Monday on Saturday, March
13.
[19] GREEK STATE-OWNED RADIO OFFICIALS IN OHRID FOR TALKS
Representatives from the Greek Radio met with their
counterparts from FYROM in Ohrid yesterday, with whom they
discussed ways to further develop their bilateral cooperation and
European Union programs of mutual interest.
According to FYROM press reports, the two sides
agreed that further cooperation is feasible, especially in the
sector of technical facilities and the development of joint
programming related to cultural events business meetings and
fairs.
The cooperation between the two radio organizations
was signed last June during the Balkan meeting organized in Greece
by the Greek Radio and Television Organization.
[20] THE THREE WOMEN ASSOCIATES OF OCALAN WERE NOT WELCOMED IN
CYPRUS
The Cypriot government spokesman stated that the three women
associates of Ocalan were not welcomed in Cyprus. The responsible
agencies had been informed over certain thoughts made by friends
of the three women who had remained in the Greek embassy in Kenya
after the abduction of the Kurdish leader.
Meanwhile, Ankara has brought up again the issue of the
Athens FIR and according to information, had sent a relevant
document to the Greek Air Force on February 16.
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