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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-17

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 17, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK PM: THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE JUDGED THE YEAR 2000
  • [02] JUSTICE MINISTER EVANGELOS YIANNOPOULOS HOSPITALIZED
  • [03] GERMAN CHANCELLOR G. SCHROEDER IN ATHENS TODAY
  • [04] LATVIAN PRESIDENT ULMANIS IN GREECE ON OFFICIAL VISIT
  • [05] TIPPER GORE, STRESSES VIRTUES OF VOLUNTEERISM IN THESSALONIKI
  • [06] PEACEFUL ANTI-NATO RALLY HELD IN THESSALONIKI, NO EPISODES
  • [07] ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY NETWORKS WITH VARNA MEDICAL SCHOOL
  • [08] SIMITIS-SCHRODER AGREEMENT ON THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT
  • [09] JAPAN'S PRINCE AND HIS WIFE WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI
  • [10] REPPAS ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN FAMAGUSTA
  • [11] SIMITIS-SCHRODER MEETING
  • [12] PASOK'S PARTY CONGRESS OPENS TOMORROW
  • [13] SNOWFALL IN NORTH-WESTERN GREECE
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [14] GREECE'S MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
  • [15] SANTER'S REPLACEMENT TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK
  • [16] TALKS CONTINUE FOR THIRD DAY IN PARIS OVER KOSOVO
  • [17] SWEDEN JOINS GERMANY, BRITAIN, WARNS OF TRAVEL TO TURKEY
  • [18] GREEK-AMERICAN EXECUTED IN ILLINOIS FOR 1982 MURDER
  • [19] FYROM PRESIDENT GLIGOROV RECEIVES GREEK LIAISON OFFICE HEAD
  • [20] IOC CONVENES IN LAUSANNE TODAY OVER BRIBERY SCANDALS
  • [21] "THE FETA CHEESE BATTLE" HAS BEEN LOST FOR GREECE

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK PM: THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE JUDGED THE YEAR 2000

    Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stressed that the government will be judged during the national elections of the year 2000 and noted that any who attempts to set forth an issue of national elections during the period of the European Parliament elections will have to face the Greek people.

    "The European elections are a political measure for European policy," Mr. Simitis told an Athens daily and added that "they are not national elections where the government is judged."

    When asked to comment on the view expressed by Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who had said that should the ruling PASOK party suffer a vast loss during the European elections, then a matter of leadership could arise, Mr. Simitis (who is also PASOK's president) responded: "It leaves me indifferent.

    "It is clear that the president of PASOK is elected for a three-year term. It is also very clear that the Greek people gave me a specific order in 1996, which I must fulfill."

    [02] JUSTICE MINISTER EVANGELOS YIANNOPOULOS HOSPITALIZED

    Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos was admitted to the Athens Medical Center yesterday evening where he is under medical observation.

    According to the clinic's medical announcement, the patient is showing symptoms of incomplete intestinal obstruction. Mr. Yiannopoulos is undergoing pharmaceutical therapy in order to avoid surgery, although his physicians are leaving this possibility open.

    [03] GERMAN CHANCELLOR G. SCHROEDER IN ATHENS TODAY

    The President of the European Union and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will be in Athens today where he will be received by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

    Mr. Schroeder's visit to Greece is part of his series of contacts held in light of the EU Summit Conference. The two leaders are expected to discuss the latest developments in light of the Commission's resignation, as well as the upcoming Berlin Summit.

    [04] LATVIAN PRESIDENT ULMANIS IN GREECE ON OFFICIAL VISIT

    Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis has embarked on a three-day official visit to Athens, at the invitation of the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos with whom he will meet today.

    Mr. Ulmanis will also be received by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and opposition party leaders.

    During his stay, the Latvian President will address an event organized in his honor by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will travel to Thessaloniki on Friday. He will depart for the all-male monastic community of Mt. Athos by helicopter on the same day.

    Later on Friday, he will meet with Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, while Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yiannis Magriotis will host a dinner in his honor later in the evening.

    [05] TIPPER GORE, STRESSES VIRTUES OF VOLUNTEERISM IN THESSALONIKI

    Tipper Gore, the wife of US Vice-President Al Gore, delivered a speech at the American College in Thessaloniki (Anatolia), focusing on the "Peace Corps" - the body of volunteers set up by John F. Kennedy in the early '60s and still active today around the world.

    The event, organized by Anatolia's Alumni Association, was attended by several ministers and the US ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns

    Ms. Gore will visit Athens today where she will deliver an address at the American College in Athens, while later in the day she will be received by the President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

    Ms. Gore, a known advocate of volunteerism, is the Clinton Administration's mental health adviser.

    [06] PEACEFUL ANTI-NATO RALLY HELD IN THESSALONIKI, NO EPISODES

    A rally protesting the passage of NATO's FYROM-bound peacekeeping forces through Thessaloniki was held in Thessaloniki last night, although no episodes occurred.

    The participants gathered in downtown Thessaloniki and marched towards the United States Consulate, chanting anti- American slogans.

    [07] ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY NETWORKS WITH VARNA MEDICAL SCHOOL

    Aristotle University's Medical School has created a network of academic cooperation with Varna's Medical School in Bulgaria, through the support of the National Economy Ministry's program of Greek development and cooperation .

    The network will allow for the exchange of updated know-how and an overall expanded sense of cooperation in the sector of health, especially through technological means.

    [08] SIMITIS-SCHRODER AGREEMENT ON THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis discussed with German chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who made a short visit to Athens, the developments within the European Union after the resignation of the European Commission as well as, issues concerning the EU summit meeting in Berlin.

    Mr. Simitis stated that the discussion he had with Mr. Schroder concerned the crisis in the European Union and the Agenda 2000. On the issue of the European Commission, the Greek prime minister underlined the need for a quick solution and the establishment of a Commission able to make decisions, give directions and determine the course of the European Union.

    Mr. Schroder agreed that there is a need to find a solution immediately to the issue that has been created as a result of the crisis in the European Commission and stated that he holds discussions with the prime ministers of all the European Union member-states on who will be the new Commission president. The German chancellor revealed that he agreed with Mr. Simitis on the individual he backs for the position but he refused to give further details.

    On the Agenda 2000, they discussed the resources that will be allocated for development programs in the next 7 years. Mr. Simitis pointed out that the negotiations on the farm products have ended in a satisfactory way for Greece, while negotiations continue concerning the structural funds.

    The German chancellor congratulated Mr. Simitis on the course of Greece's national economy and stated that he is amazed with its fiscal discipline. Earlier today, Mr. Schroder had a meeting in Rome with Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema.

    [09] JAPAN'S PRINCE AND HIS WIFE WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI

    Japan's prince and his wife will be in Thessaloniki on Sunday and Monday within the framework of their visit to Greece on the occasion of the 100 years of friendship between Greece and Japan.

    They will arrive on Sunday afternoon and they will attend a formal dinner given in their honor by minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis, while they will visit archeological sites, before departing for Frankfurt on Monday afternoon.

    [10] REPPAS ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN FAMAGUSTA

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas was asked by reporters to comment on the movements of the Turkish Cypriots in Famagusta in the Turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

    Mr. Reppas stated that the Cypriot government follows the developments closely and there is cooperation with the UN to avert settlement attempts.

    [11] SIMITIS-SCHRODER MEETING

    Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in the afternoon with German chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who will be on a short visit to Athens.

    The two leaders will discuss the surprise resignation of the EU Commission as well as issues, such as the "Agenda 2000" that will be examined in the Berlin EU summit meeting that will be held on March 24-25.

    Mr. Schroder in statements he made today ruled out the likelihood for Mr. Jacques Santer to be appointed again to the post of the European Commission president.

    [12] PASOK'S PARTY CONGRESS OPENS TOMORROW

    The 5th party congress of PASOK opens in the Olympic Stadium facilities in Athens at noon tomorrow. The congress will be attended by 5.802 delegates. Prime minister Kostas Simitis will deliver his speech after the opening speech by central committee secretary Kostas Skandalidis and the election of the presiding committee. The delegates will speak on Thursday afternoon, throughout Friday and on Saturday morning.

    The party congress proceedings will be completed on Sunday with the voting procedure to elect the members of the party bodies. PASOK's executive bureau in its last meeting decided to put forth a proposal to the party delegates based on which, the central committee will have 180 regular members without substitutes and the executive bureau will be made up of 11 members plus a president and a secretary.

    [13] SNOWFALL IN NORTH-WESTERN GREECE

    Bad weather conditions with snowfall, heavy rain and bitter cold hit northern Greece since the early morning hours today.

    The bad weather is more intense in north-western Greece especially in the mountainous regions of the prefectures of Florina, Kozani, Kastoria and Grevena. The cars in the road network of north-western Greece move only with non-skid chains.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [14] GREECE'S MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

    The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, met with the United States Secretary of Defense William Cohen in Washington yesterday evening, with whom he discussed matters ranging from the Kosovo crisis to Greek-Turkish relations.

    Mr. Karamanlis stated that Greece is a country which has a stabilizing role in the region.

    "We do not desire changes in borders. We want wider cooperation both at bilateral and multilateral level," he said.

    Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Karamanlis stated that Athens desires Turkey's European orientation, although Ankara must first respect international law and abandon threats to use force.

    On his part, Mr. Cohen raised the issue of the "November 17" terrorist group's activities and conveyed Washington's concern.

    He said the elusive terrorist group has been active for many years in Greece, with repercussions on inter-state relations.

    [15] SANTER'S REPLACEMENT TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK

    The name of the person who will fill the void left after the abrupt resignation of European Commission President Jacques Santer, along with the full 20-member body of Commissioners, will be announced next week during the Berlin Summit.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Santer has rejected the findings of the report drawn by the "wisemen" committee claiming that it gives a distorted view of the European institutions. The investigation found no evidence of any commissioner having personally engaged in fraudulent activities per se, but said they failed to crack down on wrongdoing committed by their subordinates.

    At the same time, the en masse resignation of the commissioners has ignited intense concern over the future of the common currency, the euro.

    [16] TALKS CONTINUE FOR THIRD DAY IN PARIS OVER KOSOVO

    As the peacekeeping talks concerning Kosovo are continuing for the third consecutive day in Paris, United States officials have said that the Yugoslav authorities are preparing for armed conflict with NATO.

    A Pentagon official stated that Belgrade will continue to fortify its troops at the country's borders with FYROM where NATO forces are deployed, a move characterized by Western diplomats as an open challenge.

    [17] SWEDEN JOINS GERMANY, BRITAIN, WARNS OF TRAVEL TO TURKEY

    Following the PKK's threats that tourist resorts are now within their "field of war", Sweden has joined Germany and Britain by warning its nationals about traveling to Turkey.

    The Swedish Foreign Ministry has not issued a travel advisory, although it advises tourists to avoid excursions to southeast and eastern Turkey.

    [18] GREEK-AMERICAN EXECUTED IN ILLINOIS FOR 1982 MURDER

    A Greek-American man accused of taking part in the kidnappings, rapes and mutilation murders of 18 women was executed by lethal injection in Illinois State penitentiary today.

    Andrew Kokoraleis, 35, was sentenced to death for one of the killings - the 1982 murder of a 21-year-old woman.

    His defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued that he was coerced into confessing, while also arguing that new information emerged casting doubt on the credibility of confessions by two co- defendants who accused Kokoraleis.

    The Archbishop of America Spyridon was one among other church leaders who requested a stay of the execution.

    [19] FYROM PRESIDENT GLIGOROV RECEIVES GREEK LIAISON OFFICE HEAD

    There has been a significant degree of progress in the FYROM- Greece relations, according to FYROM's President Kiro Gligorov, who yesterday received the new had of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje George Kaklikis

    During their talks, the Greek diplomat assured the President of FYROM that Athens will support Skopje's target of joining the European Union and NATO, while also expressed the hope that the bilateral cooperation will expand to additional sectors.

    [20] IOC CONVENES IN LAUSANNE TODAY OVER BRIBERY SCANDALS

    The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board is to hold a session in Lausanne today in order to conduct a vote on the series of reforms and expulsions that are to result from the recent revelations of bribery.

    IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch is already facing a confidence vote, although he has disavowed any personal responsibility in the scandal and stresses that he wanted to finish his term, which expires in the year 2001.

    [21] "THE FETA CHEESE BATTLE" HAS BEEN LOST FOR GREECE

    The battle of the feta cheese has been lost for Greece as the European Court of Justice annulled the European community provision that reserved the name feta exclusively for the Greek white cheese ruling in favor of the appeals made by France, Denmark and Germany which also produce cheeses of similar variety with the Greek feta cheese.

    The name feta had been registered in 1996 as protected name of a product coming from a specific area and was reserved for the white cheese produced in Greece. France, Germany and Denmark appealed against the European Commission position that was in favor of Greece with the argument that they produce similar cheeses also named feta.

    The court ruled that if a name of a product becomes widely used and therefore, a common name, it can not be protected. This decision opens the door for every EU member-state to put in the European Union markets cheeses similar to the Greek feta cheese, under the name feta.


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