Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-24
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 24, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] VISITING YOUNG SERBS EMBRACED BY EDITORS' ASSOCIATION
[02] FM BRIEFS POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
[03] UKRANIAN COMPANIES BATTLE OVER CRASH VICTIMS COMPENSATION
[04] O.A. STAFF OPPOSED TO MANAGEMENT CONTROL BY SPEEDWING
[05] PROSECUTOR ORDERS PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IN FRUIT JUICES
[06] CONCERN FOR THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA
[07] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL RESPOND TO MR. CEM'S LETTER MOST LIKELY
TOMORROW
[08] 450 SOLDIERS FROM THE US AND FRANCE LEFT FOR KOSOVO VIA
THESSALONIKI
[09] GREECE WANTS A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM
[10] PAPANDREOU MET WITH KONSTANTOPOULOS AND PAPARIGA
[11] THE FEDERATION OF CIVIL AVIATION UNIONS MEETS ON THE ISSUE OF
THE NEW OA MANAGEMENT
[12] LACK OF CONTROL ON THE PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM EU COUNTRIES
[13] THE 4TH BALKAN MEETING FOR THE SUPPORT OF TORTURE VICTIMS
WILL BE HELD IN ATHENS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] EX FM PANGALOS: INT/L LAW SHOULD BE APPLIED IN CYPRUS, TOO
[15] SELF-CALCULATION TAX SYSTEM CONSIDERED FOR GREECE
[16] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SOLANA TRAVELS TO KOSOVO TODAY
[17] THE YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT MEETS TO LIFT THE STATE OF WAR
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] VISITING YOUNG SERBS EMBRACED BY EDITORS' ASSOCIATION
A group of 35 young Serbs, presently on an organized visit
to Thessaloniki hosted by the Kalamaria Municipality and at the
initiative of the Macedonian Press Agency, were warmly greeted by
the Macedonia-Thrace Editors Association (ESIEM-TH) this morning.
Upon their arrival at the Association's premises, every one
of the children, whose ages range from 5-20, was given a gift by
the Association's chairman Dimitris Gousides.
"You should know that we sympathize with you and for all your
country is going through," Mr. Gousides told his young guests,
stressing that "this is your place, too, for anything you may need
in the future.
"I believe you are in good hands with the hospitality
provided by the Kalamaria Municipality and the Macedonian Press
Agency," he added.
In turn, the Association's secretary-general Moschos
Voitsides welcomed the youngsters by expressing his sorrow that
their visit is taking place on the aftermath of war.
"The Editors' Association is your home. Stay in touch with
us, and we will help you with anything you need, " he said.
The first to be given her present was five-year-old Vanya who
kept staring at her enormous doll, perplexed with the sudden
fortune.
Fourteen-year-old Anna Radovanovic was happy to be in
Greece, a wonderful gift of its own, she said.
Yelena Vukovic, 19, was more to the point. The hospitality
provided by Greece was a grant gesture of friendship, but no
surprise.
"I expected this gift because Greeks are true friends and
Greece is a friendly country that looks after us," she said.
After their visit to the Editors' Association, the Serbian
guests traveled to the archaeological museum at Dion, Pieria and
met with local authorities of the Litochoro Municipality.
[02] FM BRIEFS POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou will brief the
secretary general of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) Aleka
Papariga and the leader of the Coalition of the Left Wing and
Progress (Synaspismos) Nikos Konstantopoulos on the government's
foreign policy, in successive meetings.
After meeting with the leader of the Democratic and Social
Movement (DIKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas yesterday, Mr. Papandreou said
that the crisis continued in Yugoslavia despite the end of the
bombings and was now concerning the reconstruction of the region,
reconciliation and humanitarian aid
In turn, Mr. Tsovolas described the meeting as constructive
and reiterated his request for a political leaders meeting under
the chairmanship of Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
[03] UKRANIAN COMPANIES BATTLE OVER CRASH VICTIMS COMPENSATION
Ukrainian airline Aerosweet, whose Yakovlev-42 plane
conducting the Kiev-Thessaloniki route crashed in the mountains of
northern Greece in December of 1997 killing all 83 passengers and
crew members, has filed for interim measures against "Lvov
Airlines" which owned the ill-fated aircraft.
According to the petition, Aerosweet is seeking contribution
for compensation for damages from Lvov claiming it as the actual
carrier of the flight.
Moreover, Aerosweet is also seeking contribution from
Greece's Social Insurance Foundation (IKA), claiming that certain
of the crash victims were employed in Greece and their survivors
are now entitled to compensation.
[04] O.A. STAFF OPPOSED TO MANAGEMENT CONTROL BY SPEEDWING
Olympic Airways staff are opposed to the government's plans
to hand over the beleaguered airline's management to Speedwing, a
transport subsidiary of British
Airways.
The civil aviation unions federation is to conduct an
emergency meeting on this matter today, while mobilizations are
already in the works.
Transportation Minister Tasos Mantelis said that that the
management take over represents O.A.'s last chance. He further
assured the staff that the agreement with Speedwing safeguards
labor and pension rights.
Speedwing would manage Olympic with a team of 12 people
headed by Rod
Lintz. Within five weeks, the team is to have drawn up a list of
the national airline's problems and then implement a stabilization
program announced by the government.
[05] PROSECUTOR ORDERS PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IN FRUIT JUICES
The Athens prosecutor has ordered a preliminary investigation
in the country's fruit juice market, in order to ascertain
whether or not the juices labeled as Greece-made are in reality
imported from abroad.
Specifically, the prosecutor will look into press reports
which claim that these juices are imported frozen and in turn are
liquefied and sold as fresh.
[06] CONCERN FOR THE GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA
The Greek government is concerned over the situation in
Albania. According to Greek foreign ministry sources, there is an
atmosphere of insecurity among the members of the ethnic Greek
minority in south Albania because of the wave of abductions and
blackmails committed recently by Albanian gangs.
The Greek foreign ministry has already sent a memorandum to
the Albanian government requesting the adoption of measures to
counter the phenomenon and protect the Greek minority. Also, it
has asked for the assistance of the EU member states and called
for the increase of the economic aid to Albania that will be used
for the development of infrastructure projects in regions
populated by the Greek minority.
[07] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL RESPOND TO MR. CEM'S LETTER MOST LIKELY
TOMORROW
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will send a reply
letter to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem most likely tomorrow
with which he will respond to Mr. Cem's request for cooperation
between the two countries in countering terrorism.
According to reliable information, Mr. Papandreou will give a
negative response to such a bilateral cooperation, pointing out
that Greece is open for discussions on all issues that have to do
with countering terrorism both within the framework of the Inter-
Balkan cooperation and at a tripartite level involving Greece,
Bulgaria and Turkey.
The Greek foreign minister will also point out that there are
other sectors as well where there could be cooperation such as,
the trade and economic sectors, while he will reiterate the firm
Greek position that relations between the two countries can be
developed based on the respect of the principles of international
resolutions and organizations.
Meanwhile, on the issue of the summer moratorium in the
Aegean (June 15 to August 15) adopted within the framework of the
confidence-building-measures, Turkey has not approved this time
the issuing of such a statement by NATO secretary-general.
However, it pledged that it will respect the agreement existing
between the two countries concerning this two-month period.
[08] 450 SOLDIERS FROM THE US AND FRANCE LEFT FOR KOSOVO VIA
THESSALONIKI
About 450 soldiers from the United States and France left
this afternoon for Kosovo via Thessaloniki to undertake the repair
of roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructures.
About 50 US soldiers, who arrived last night on board three
military aircraft which also carried a small number of military
vehicles, are currently at the military camp in Sindos, near
Thessaloniki.
Meanwhile, two NATO ships, a US and a French, sailed into the
port of Thessaloniki at noon today and unloaded about 150 military
vehicles and tens of containers with supplies. On board the French
ship were also 400 soldiers.
They will undertake to build military installations in Kosovo
where the French military force has been deployed and will take
part in the repair works at the airport of Pristina. They will
also assist in the construction of roads, public buildings and
other infrastructures that were destroyed by the NATO bombings and
the hostilities.
[09] GREECE WANTS A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM
The Greek government backs a political solution to the
Kurdish problem, stated Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
after the meeting he had in Athens with Coalition of the Left
president Nikos Konstantopoulos.
Mr. Papandreou stated that the Greek position is the same
with that of the European Union namely, that there has to be a
political solution and added that Turkey is offered a chance to
solve the Kurdish problem in a democratic way. He also stated that
he does not know what will be the reactions outside Turkey in case
Ocalan is sentenced to death.
On the meeting with Mr. Konstantopoulos, he pointed out that
there has to be a close cooperation with the political parties and
that he briefed the Coalition of the Left leader on the
developments in Kosovo and the Balkans in general, the Greek-
Turkish relations and the reply letter he will send to his Turkish
counterpart Ismail Cem.
[10] PAPANDREOU MET WITH KONSTANTOPOULOS AND PAPARIGA
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met with Coalition
of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos and Communist Party
general secretary Ms. Aleka Papariga within the framework of the
briefing of the political party leaders on foreign policy issues.
Their discussion focused on the situation in the Balkans, the
Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem.
Regarding the American interest expressed on the solution of
the Cyprus problem, Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece has not
received yet an official US plan and therefore, no comments can be
made on the issue.
Mr. Konstantopoulos suggested the establishment of a foreign
policy council and added that the political party leaders should
hold regular informal meetings.
[11] THE FEDERATION OF CIVIL AVIATION UNIONS MEETS ON THE ISSUE OF
THE NEW OA MANAGEMENT
The Federation of Civil Aviation Unions is holding an urgent
meeting today to decide on its future reaction to the government
decision to give the management of Olympic Airways to the British
Airways subsidiary, Speedwing. Already, federation president
Thanasis Savidis has announced that there will be mobilizations.
Minister of transportation Tasos Mandelis defended the
government decision characterizing it as the best way out for
Olympic Airways. He also stated that this is a challenge to which
the airline must respond positively and take advantage of its
capabilities. Referring to the procedure followed in order to give
the management to the British Speedwing, Mr. Mandelis stated that
it was totally transparent.
[12] LACK OF CONTROL ON THE PRODUCTS IMPORTED FROM EU COUNTRIES
President of the customs officers federation Mr. Dimitris
Spanomarkidis stated that for the moment no dioxin contaminated
foods have been found in the 20 containers from Belgium that had
been confiscated recently in Athens.
In the meantime, the Greek authorities have returned 3
containers with food products to Belgium as their importers did
not allow them to be inspected.
Mr. Spanomarkidis stated that the goods imported from EU
countries can not be fully inspected as the customs authorities in
Greece have a jurisdiction to make inspections in the free zones
of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki but they have no
authority in the ports of Patras, Igumenitsa and elsewhere.
[13] THE 4TH BALKAN MEETING FOR THE SUPPORT OF TORTURE VICTIMS
WILL BE HELD IN ATHENS
Organizations from 6 Balkan countries will take part in the
4th meeting of the Balkan Network that will be held in Athens on
June 25 and 26. The representatives of 10 non governmental
organizations from Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Albania, Croatia
and Bosnia will discuss ways in which psychological and social
support can be offered to the victims of torture.
The United Nations recognize June 26 as the World Day in
memory of all those who died in horrible torture sacrificing their
lives for their beliefs.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] EX FM PANGALOS: INT/L LAW SHOULD BE APPLIED IN CYPRUS, TOO
Greece's former Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos hopes
that the G8's communique on Cyprus, coupled with US President Bill
Clinton's opposition to ethnic cleansing, will form the framework
for negotiations that can promote a mutually-acceptable solution
to the Cyprus issue.
Speaking upon his arrival to Cyprus, Mr. Pangalos said that
the same standards in regards to human rights protection need to
be applied all over the world.
He stated that he hopes, after Kosovo, Europe will "get back
on track and move towards progressive enlargement to encompass an
area which is politically and culturally European ", adding that
Cyprus undoubtedly belongs to this area.
Regarding the Kosovo issue, Mr. Pangalos said that Greeks are
sensitive to the protection of human rights and have known all
along that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic committed scores
of crimes.
"However, we demand and have said it many times that there
should be no double standards," Mr. Pangalos said.
Invited to comment on Mr. Clinton's statement that NATO will
intervene in trouble spots around the globe, he said "the issue of
human rights is no longer an internal matter for each country and
no powerful tyrant can impose his own law and order."
The international community, he said, will come "to impose
its own code of conduct, widely accepted by everybody and surely
this must apply to Cyprus and elsewhere."
When asked if he thought Mr. Milosevic will soon be replaced,
Mr. Pangalos said this was a matter for the people of Yugoslavia
to decide.
"He has done a great deal of damage to his country. If I were
a Yugoslav, I would not vote for him," he stated.
[15] SELF-CALCULATION TAX SYSTEM CONSIDERED FOR GREECE
Greeks may soon be called on to calculate their own income
taxes, according to Deputy Finance Minister George Drys, who is
presently on a four-day visit to Britain where he is reviewing
the country's tax system.
According to reports, Mr. Drys wants to be informed on the
operation of the British tax settlement system which enables
taxpayers to calculate their taxes by
themselves and pay the first installment simultaneously with the
submission of tax statements.
The incorporation and adjustment of the said system to Greece
will contribute to the simplification of the tax system, while
also bearing other significant advantages, Mr. Drys stated.
Mr. Drys also ruled out the possibility of new taxes being
imposed next year.
"There will not be one single new tax measure which would
burned citizens or firms," he stated categorically.
[16] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL SOLANA TRAVELS TO KOSOVO TODAY
NATO's Secretary-General Javier Solana and Gen. Wesley Clark,
the supreme NATO commander in Europe, are to travel to Kosovo
today in order to assess the size of the peacekeeping force
assigned to the region.
The two officials will meet with the force's commander,
British Lt. Gen. Mike Jackson as well as will Albanian and Serb
leaders.
Mr. Solana is expected to stress that the force's mission is
to protect all of Kosovo's residents, while he will also appeal to
the Serbs that they remain in the region.
[17] THE YUGOSLAV PARLIAMENT MEETS TO LIFT THE STATE OF WAR
The Yugoslav parliament meets today to decide on the lifting
of the state of war that was imposed after the NATO air strikes.
This would mean the restoration of the biggest part of the freedom
of the press. However, most of the restrictive measures concerning
the activities of opposition political parties will continue to be
in effect.
Meanwhile, French soldiers of the peacekeeping force arrested
three Serb civilians after an exchange of gunfire in the town of
Mitrovica in Kosovo.
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