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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-08
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 8, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] DEFENSE MINISTER: GREECE REMAINS A FORCE OF STABILITY
[02] FINDINGS ON OCALAN INQUIRY TO BE GIVEN TO CHIEF PROSECUTOR
[03] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY: PM IS STRONG, SUPPORTED BY PASOK
[04] GREEKS DISSATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT, ACCORDING TO POLL
[05] REPPAS: SIMITIS REMAINS BEST GUARANTEE FOR COUNTRY'S COURSE
[06] CYPRIOT WOMEN GIVE PROTEST RESOLUTION TO TURKISH EMBASSY IN
ATHENS
[07] GREEK AND TURKISH LOBBIES TO HOLD JOINT CONVENTION
[08] US MARINES IN LITOCHORO, FOR "ALEXANDER THE GREAT" EXERCISE
[09] QUAKE OF 4.9 RICHTER ROCKS PELOPONNESE, NO DAMAGES
[10] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WARNS OF DECLINING BIRTH RATE
[11] GREECE TO HAVE WORLD'S THIRD OLDEST POPULATION BY 2020
[12] FM MEETS WITH POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS FOR BRIEFING SESSIONS
[13] REPPAS' COMMENTS ON THE RECENT OPINION POLL
[14] REPPAS: THIRD COUNTRIES WANT TO RAISE OBSTACLES TO GREECE'S
COURSE TOWARD THE EMU
[15] REPPAS: THE GREEK AMBASSADOR TO KENYA REPORT WAS NOT LEAKED
TO THE PRESS BY THE GOVERNMENT
[16] REPPAS: WE SHOULD NOT BE TRAPPED BY TURKEY'S AGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIOUR
[17] SIMITIS: THE POLITICAL CLIMATE WILL NOT AFFECT GREECE'S
COURSE TO THE EMU
[18] STEPHANOPOULOS-SIMITIS MEETING
[19] CROSS-PARTY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL ISSUES PROPOSED BY GIORGOS
PAPANDREOU
[20] EXHIBITION ON "THE GREEKS OF THE WORLD" IN THE EURO-
PARLIAMENT
[21] MILLIONS OF WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE THE VICTIMS OF
DISCRIMINATION
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[22] GREEK BANKS TO COOPERATE WITH BEOGRADCA BANK
[23] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER OFFICIALLY VISITS UNITED STATES
[24] GREECE MIGHT COMPLY WITH JAT FLIGHT EMBARGO AS OF MARCH 11
[25] GREEK FM DOES NOT FORESEE "WARM EPISODE" WITH TURKEY
[26] KENYANS HANDED OCALAN OVER TO TURKEY, SAYS HIS ATTORNEY
[27] THE KOSSOVO LIBERATION ARMY DECIDES IF IT WILL SIGN THE PEACE
PLAN
[28] THE HELSINKI WATCH CONDEMNS THE INCIDENTS IN SKOPJE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] DEFENSE MINISTER: GREECE REMAINS A FORCE OF STABILITY
Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos has warned Turkey to
"stop playing with fire", saying it would have no-one but itself
to blame if things got out of hand."
We have given the assurance as a force for peace and
stability in the region that we have no inclination and that we do
not follow the slippery road of threats," Mr. Tsochatzopoulos
stated, adding "but we make clear our decisiveness and readiness
to answer to any provocation, every threat in the necessary
effective manner which is demanded by the need to protect peace,
and the rights of the Greek people."
[02] FINDINGS ON OCALAN INQUIRY TO BE GIVEN TO CHIEF PROSECUTOR
The findings on the prosecutor's inquiry of civilian
involvement in the Ocalan Affair are to be turned over to the
chief prosecutor of Athens George Koliokostas either today or
tomorrow. According to early reports, at least five persons will
be held liable.
Meanwhile, criminal charges have been filed against all those
responsible for leaking the classified report of former Ambassador
to Kenya George Kostoulas to the press. The charges concern the
violation of state secrets through the press, being an accessory
prior to the fact, and the violation of legislative provisions
relating to the press. Any persons deemed to have acted illegally
may face charges of providing classified documents to the press,
which is a felony offense.
[03] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY: PM IS STRONG, SUPPORTED BY PASOK
Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Niotis has stated
that the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is strong and is enjoying
the support of all the members of the ruling PASOK party, a fact
which will be confirmed during the party's oncoming congress.
Mr. Niotis was commenting on the opposition parties' call
for the Premier's resignation and added that the opposition's
tactics are to be judged by those to whom it aims, "and I think it
aims towards the Greek people."
[04] GREEKS DISSATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT, ACCORDING TO POLL
The Greek public is dissatisfied with the ruling PASOK's
government's policy in a number of areas, with the exception of
the state's target of entering the Economic and Monetary Union
(EMU), according to a recent poll published today in an Athens
daily.
The poll's questionnaire concerned seven sectors of the
state's policy (economy, foreign policy, health, education,
unemployment, public order, EMU). An astounding 77.1% of those
asked responded that they have little or no trust in the
government's policy in six of the aforementioned sectors, while
trusting the policy in only one of the sectors.
A mere 5.2% of those polled have a great degree of trust for
more than three and up to all seven sectors of the state's policy.
Moreover, 39.5% of those questioned responded that they are
not at all satisfied with the way the Premier exercises his
duties, with 36.7% responding that they are somewhat satisfied,
18.2% quite satisfied and 3.9% very satisfied.
Regarding the popularity of government officials, Foreign
Misnter George Papandreou is ahead with 50%, followed by Defense
Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos with 44.2%, Evangelos Venizelos
39.2%, Vaso Papandreou 36.2%, Kostas Laliotis 32.8%, Giannos
Papantoniou 31.1% and Kostas Simitis with 29.2%.
[05] REPPAS: SIMITIS REMAINS BEST GUARANTEE FOR COUNTRY'S COURSE
Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas disagrees with the
Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who called for an expanded
reshuffle in the cabinet and a shift in policy after the ruling
PASOK party's congress, while he stresses that an issue of
leadership should not be set forth in case PASOK is defeated in
the European parliament elections.
"Talk of changing leadership is made without a reason, unless
there is a reason that deals exclusively with the control of
power," Mr. Reppas told an Athens daily.
Referring to the proposed reshuffle, Mr. Reppas reminded that
there were two reshuffles in the past six months and many of the
ministers arrived in office just recently.
"Talk of a new cabinet maintains uncertainty and recreates
scenarios and suspicions of exercised personal policies which aim,
again, at controlling power," Mr. Reppas said, advising the
Defense Minister to maintain his political stance that has
rendered him credible and popular.
Referring to the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Mr. Reppas
stated that he remains the best guarantee for the country's
outlook and expressed the conviction that when the time of
judgment comes, the Greek people will once again illustrate their
trust.
[06] CYPRIOT WOMEN GIVE PROTEST RESOLUTION TO TURKISH EMBASSY IN
ATHENS
A group of displaced Cypriot women are to hand a protest
resolution to the Turkish Embassy in Athens today, on the occasion
of the International Day of Women.
This evening, the same group will stage an event this evening
at the Unknown Soldier Monument in Athens, protesting Turkey's
continued violation of the Cypriot people's human rights and
especially of the women.
[07] GREEK AND TURKISH LOBBIES TO HOLD JOINT CONVENTION
The Greek-American community has undertaken the initiative to
hold a joint conference between the Greek and Turkish lobbies in
the United States, according to the President of the World Council
of Greeks Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens, who also said that the
conference, the first of its kind, will be held during the month
of May in Washington.
Speaking to a Thessaloniki daily, Mr. Athens stated that "we
must now speak of peace and that is why we have enforced the
‘Initiative for Peace' ."
He added that "the Turks are our neighbors, whether we like
it or not. We do not want Greece or Turkey to suffer a war. But
Greece, since Turkey continues with its armaments (pile up )
cannot be left behind in this sector."
Referring to the Ocalan case, Mr. Athens stated that Greece
will overcome the crisis and will enjoy the support of SAE, while
he also stated that Turkey will try to benefit politically by
continuing to accuse Greece of harboring terrorism.
[08] US MARINES IN LITOCHORO, FOR "ALEXANDER THE GREAT" EXERCISE
United States armored tanks have arrived at the port of
Litochoro, central Greece, within the framework of the Greek-US
joint military exercise "Alexander the Great", currently underway
in the Aegean.
According to military sources, the four tanks and their
personnel are in the region for training and their presence is not
related with the NATO forces presently in Thessaloniki which are
destined for FYROM.
[09] QUAKE OF 4.9 RICHTER ROCKS PELOPONNESE, NO DAMAGES
A strong earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale shook
the region of
Elia this morning at 7:10, with its epicenter located in the
vicinity of Zacharo.
The tremor reverberated throughout the Peloponnese peninsula,
although no damages were reported.
[10] ARCHBISHOP CHRISTODOULOS WARNS OF DECLINING BIRTH RATE
The Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos warned
of the dangers of Greece's declining, which he considers to be
the country's dominant problem.
Addressing the Panhellenic Association of Large Families, Mr.
Christodoulos
announced that the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece
plans to pay families having a third child a monthly benefit of
40,000 drachmas.
The program will begin with the northeastern region of Thrace
and may be extended to other areas.
[11] GREECE TO HAVE WORLD'S THIRD OLDEST POPULATION BY 2020
Greece will have the world's third oldest population by the
year 2020 due to its declining birth rate and increasing life
expectancy, according to the World Health
Organization (WHO).
The WHO has reported that there will be over one
billion people over the age of sixty in the world 20 years from
now, nearly double the current number.
The "oldest" countries that year will be Japan and
Italy, each with 31 percent of their populations being at least
60 years old, according to the report.
They will be followed by Greece, Switzerland and
Finland, each at 28 percent.
[12] FM MEETS WITH POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS FOR BRIEFING SESSIONS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to complete his round
of contacts with the country's political party leaders today,
wherein he personally conveys to them the position and the
actions taken by his ministry on the Ocalan issue.
Today, Mr. Papandreou will meet with the secretary-general of
the Communist Party Of Greece Aleka Paparega.
Moreover, Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to meet
today with Miltiades Evert, the former president of the main
opposition party New Democracy whom he will brief on the latest
developments and Ankara's provocations against Greece.
[13] REPPAS' COMMENTS ON THE RECENT OPINION POLL
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, commenting on the
results of an opinion poll according to which, the voters appear
very displeased with the government, while the right-wing main
opposition party of New Democracy leads the socialist governing
party of PASOK with 7 percentage points, stated that it is not
wise to ignore the results of opinion polls, adding however that
the final opinion poll will be the election results.
To a question on the view expressed by minister of defense
Akis Tsochatzopoulos that the issue of leadership should be raised
in PASOK in case the party is defeated in the European Parliament
elections, Mr. Reppas responded that the prime minister and the
government will be judged by the people in the national elections
of the year 2000.
[14] REPPAS: THIRD COUNTRIES WANT TO RAISE OBSTACLES TO GREECE'S
COURSE TOWARD THE EMU
The government has dealt with relative success with the
successive crises that broke out as a result of the Ocalan affair
and guarantees the safe and steady course of the country and the
fulfillment of the goals it has set, stressed Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
He accused certain "third countries", without naming them, of
trying to raise obstacles to the course of the country toward the
EMU by causing disorganization and destabilization problems.
On the stance of prime minister Kostas Simitis in the Ocalan
affair, he stated that no government minister got any orders by
cabinet council secretary Mr. Sokratis Kosmidis. He said that Mr.
Simitis was being briefed and that this does not mean that he did
not have talks with the then foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos
when it was necessary. He said that Mr. Simitis had been briefed
on the general framework of the policy followed and not on its
practical application.
[15] REPPAS: THE GREEK AMBASSADOR TO KENYA REPORT WAS NOT LEAKED
TO THE PRESS BY THE GOVERNMENT
The government did not leak to the press former Greek
ambassador to Kenya Mr. Kostoulas report, stated Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas and characterized as unacceptable the
allegations made by right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy spokesman according to which, it was the government that
leaked the report to the press, saying that those statements show
spitefulness toward the prime minister and the government.
Regarding the report itself, Mr. Reppas said that the
government has no reason whatsoever to dispute its authenticity,
adding that it describes the events as they were experienced and
perceived by the ambassador and that his account of the events
must be evaluated in combination with the testimonies of other
officials. He also underlined that there is no second report
submitted by Mr. Kostoulas.
[16] REPPAS: WE SHOULD NOT BE TRAPPED BY TURKEY'S AGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIOUR
The aggressive and provocative stance of Turkey is a bad sign
and we should not be trapped by it, stated Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
He said that Turkey wants to maintain the tension and has
made Greece an enemy target in order to lead the Turkish people
away from its true problems, while on the statements made by prime
minister Bulent Ecevit, he commented that he must have a lot of
nerve to make such false references.
To the question if Turkey wants to block Greece's course
toward the EMU, Mr. Reppas responded that Ankara is not happy with
the course of Greece because Turkey itself is a very long way from
becoming a member of the European Union.
[17] SIMITIS: THE POLITICAL CLIMATE WILL NOT AFFECT GREECE'S
COURSE TO THE EMU
Prime minister Kostas Simitis, after the meeting he had with
president Kostis Stephanopoulos in order to brief him on the
current economic and political developments, expressed the view
that the political climate in the country will not affect Greece's
course toward the EMU. Mr. Simitis said that the economic indexes
show a steady improvement and it can be seen by anyone that
inflation is on the decline, while there is progress in all
general economic indexes.
The prime minister characterized his cooperation with
president Stephanopoulos as very good. Mr. Simitis expressed the
hope that there will be positive developments in the negotiations
with the EU on issues concerning resources and programs, he also
characterized as positive the fact that the German EU presidency
does not persist anymore on the co-funding of the agriculture
policy that would have cost about 1 trillion drachmas to Greece
for 6 years.
[18] STEPHANOPOULOS-SIMITIS MEETING
Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos, welcoming prime
minister Kostas Simitis to the presidential building, stated that
"it is very important to strengthen the trust of the people in the
country's forces".
From his side, the prime minister stated that "we will meet
all our goals, not just the EMU, in spite of the difficulties". He
also said that the government can do a lot and will prove it.
[19] CROSS-PARTY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL ISSUES PROPOSED BY GIORGOS
PAPANDREOU
Minister of foreign affairs Giorgos Papandreou, who will
convey the views of the opposition to the prime minister, will
submit a written proposal requesting that each political party of
the opposition appoint a representative to participate in the
cross-party committee on national issues that will be established.
Mr. Papandreou completed his contacts today with the leaders of
the opposition parties with the meeting he had with Greek
Communist Party general secretary Aleka Papariga.
Referring to the likelihood of a "hot incident" with Turkey
he reiterated that Greece does not make a distinction between a
small or a large scale incident. Ms. Papariga, even though she
stated that she does not believe in the likelihood of a "hot
incident", she added that is not impossible for the Turkish
leadership to do that.
[20] EXHIBITION ON "THE GREEKS OF THE WORLD" IN THE EURO-
PARLIAMENT
The exhibition on "The Greeks of the world" based on a book
under the same title that was published by the Literary and Arts
Center "Apopsi" will be presented in the Euro-Parliament on March
15-26.
The goal of the exhibition is to promote the significant
achievements of the modern Greek culture at an international
level. The European deputies and all the visitors of the
exhibition will have the opportunity to learn that Greece is not
just the sun, the sea and the ancient Greek civilization. They
will learn about the cultural achievements of contemporary Greeks
and be more aware of the thought and intellect of modern Greece.
Among the Greeks who have promoted Greece's name around the
world are Nikos Poulantzas, Nikos Kazantzakis, Mitropoulos, Maria
Kallas, Nelly, Fotopoulos and many others.
[21] MILLIONS OF WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE THE VICTIMS OF
DISCRIMINATION
Millions of women all over the world are suffering from
ignorance and discrimination. At the dawn of the new millennium
practices like the removal of genitals are still in effect, while
thousands of women are the victims of rape during wars and for the
sake of national purposes. Millions of girls do not receive basic
education, while they are more malnourished compared to the boys
in the same family.
On the occasion of the World Woman's Day celebrated today,
UNICEF published facts on the condition of women around the world.
According to them, 14.3 million teenage women become mothers, 2
million girls aged between 4-12 years old suffer mutilation of
their genital organs within the framework of a practice widely
followed in Africa aimed at confirming the total subjugation of
women to men.
The practice of systematic rapes as a weapon of war and in
cases of ethnic cleansing from Liberia to Bosnia-Herzegovina and
from Rwanda to Cambodia has become widely spread in the past two
decades. It is estimated that at least 20.000 rapes were committed
by soldiers of all sides since 1992 when the Bosnian war started.
On education, 81 million children of the 130 million, who do
not receive basic education, are girls and the result is for them
to be less trained for work and have less economic independence
compared to boys.
The girls are discriminated against even in the food they
receive compared to the boys in the same family, which means that
40% of women in the developing countries are malnourished.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[22] GREEK BANKS TO COOPERATE WITH BEOGRADCA BANK
Yugoslavia's Beogradca Bank is developing
cooperation with three Greek banks, National Bank, Piraeus Bank
and Commercial Bank, as well as financial institutions from four
other countries.
Greece, China, Russia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have
approved a limit of medium-term loans up to $500 million,
according to Beogradca's director.
A.F.
[23] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER OFFICIALLY VISITS UNITED STATES
The leader of the country's main opposition party, New
Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, has embarked on his first official
visit to the United States.
According to his itinerary, Mr. Karamanlis will give an
interview to Cable News Network (CNN) today, and hold talks with
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright tomorrow, vice-president Al
Gore on Thursday, and UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and
Archbishop Spyridon on Friday.
The ND leader will also visit the universities of Tufts and
Harvard, the Wall Street Journal and the Center for Strategic and
International Studies in addition to giving a speech to the
Greater New York Federation of Greek Societies.
Mr. Karamanlis is accompanied by New Democracy MPs Petros
Molyviatis, Vassilis Magginas and Fani Palli-Petralia.
[24] GREECE MIGHT COMPLY WITH JAT FLIGHT EMBARGO AS OF MARCH 11
Greece might comply with a European Union embargo imposed on
the
Yugoslav national air carrier JAT six months ago, according to
JAT'S general director Zika Petrovic.
Mr. Petrovic stated that as a result of the Sept. 7, 1998
embargo on JAT, 70 per cent of the Yugoslav market is controlled
by foreign companies.
Greece did not enforce the embargo on Yugoslavia regarding
air transport at the time, because a bilateral Greek-Yugoslav
agreement was already in place, and set to expire six months
later.
As the agreement has expired, Greece is now compelled to
enforce the embargo in order to avoid legal action in the
European Court for failing to comply.
Greece could begin enforcing the embargo on March 11.
[25] GREEK FM DOES NOT FORESEE "WARM EPISODE" WITH TURKEY
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou has dismissed
reports of Ankara preparing a "minor episode" in Cyprus, adding
that Turkey would not proceed to creating any "warm episode" with
Greece.
Speaking to the Cypriot daily "Fileleftheros", part of which
was broadcast by BBC's radio, Mr. Papandreou stressed that a
military incident between Greece and Turkey would certainly be
major and could lead to a confrontation between the two countries,
even leading to war.
Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides agreed that
Ankara would not even proceed to the "senseless thought of an
episode", albeit he added that Hellenism should be in a state of
readiness.
[26] KENYANS HANDED OCALAN OVER TO TURKEY, SAYS HIS ATTORNEY
It was the Kenyans who handed Abdullah Ocalan over to Turkey,
according to one of the PKK leader's attorneys.
Ahmet Zeni Okcuoglou, conveying testimony given by his
client, told the German periodical "Der Spiegel" that Mr. Ocalan
said he was not arrested by Turkish agents, but, rather, Kenyan
agents turned him over to them.
[27] THE KOSSOVO LIBERATION ARMY DECIDES IF IT WILL SIGN THE PEACE
PLAN
The leadership of the ethnic Albanian separatists decides
today if it will sign the international peace plan on Kossovo
which provides for the disarmament of the Kossovo Liberation Army
and does not include their demand for a referendum on
independence.
It should be noted that the second round of talks between the
Serbs and the ethnic Albanians is scheduled to take place in
Rambouillet, France on March 15.
[28] THE HELSINKI WATCH CONDEMNS THE INCIDENTS IN SKOPJE
The office of the human rights committee Helsinki Watch in
Skopje condemned the incidents that take place in the capital of
FYROM between Slav and Albanian students in the past 20 days.
In a statement published in the local press, the Helsinki
Watch points out that the recent incidents in Skopje hurt the
picture created internationally concerning the improvement of
relations between the different ethnic entities in FYROM and can
affect negatively the efforts of the country to become a member of
NATO and the European Union.
The Helsinki Watch office in Skopje also mentions that the
violent incidents taking place can spread and can have a big
effect on the country.
The latest incident between Albanian and Slav students
occurred last Friday evening at a Skopje suburb when tens of
Albanians attacked two young Slavs with iron bars and wooden
clubs. On Saturday night, similar clashes erupted in Tetovo
without serious injuries.
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