Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-28
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 28, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT LITHUANIA
[02] SERIES OF TREMORS ARE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM, EXPERTS SAY
[03] CUTBACKS IN OVERSEAS FLIGHTS AND STAFF ADVISED FOR OLYMPIC
[04] FORMER GREEK DICTATOR PAPADOPOULOS BURIED TODAY IN ATHENS
[05] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH THE UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO
THE BALKANS
[06] THE EU WILL COMPENSATE THE ITALIAN FISHERMEN HIT BY THE WAR
IN YUGOSLAVIA
[07] NIKOLAOU: THERE ARE NO PRESSURES NEITHER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
TO GREECE ON THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM
[08] CHRISOCHOIDIS: THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO DO NOT MEET THE
PRECONDITIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRIES
[09] THE IMF SUGGESTS A STRICT FISCAL POLICY TO THE GOVERNMENT
[10] KARAMANLIS-BILT MEETING
[11] DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ANTHOPOULOS AND TEACHERS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREEK PREMIER IN RIO DE JANEIRO FOR EU-LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT
[13] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN TODAY
[14] HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS RETURN TO PRISHTINA
[15] UN CHIEF: KOSOVO ADMINISTRATOR TO BE APPOINTED THIS WEEK
[16] SAE ORGANIZES HUMAN CHAIN AROUND CAPITOL OVER CYPRUS ISSUE
[17] GREECE RETURNS WITH 31 MEDALS FROM BALKAN GAMES
[18] COLOMBIAN NOBELIST MARQUEZ HOSPITALIZED FOR EXHAUSTION
[19] US AMBASSADOR TO TIRANA: DEVELOP TIES WITH GREECE, ITALY
[20] THE MAYOR OF ATHENS WILL VISIT SKOPJE TOMORROW
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC TO VISIT LITHUANIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is to conduct an official, three-day visit to Lithuania from June
30-July 2.
During his stay in the capital city of Vilnius, President
Stephanopoulos will meet with his Lithuanian counterpart -with
whom he will sign a bilateral cooperation accord-, the Lithuanian
Premier, the Speaker of the House and members of the Greek
community. He will also address a business forum.
[02] SERIES OF TREMORS ARE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM, EXPERTS SAY
The repeated seismic activity felt in Thessaloniki
yesterday, where five tremors succeeded one another in a period of
15 hours and measured from 3.1 to 3.6 on the Richter scale, is
not a cause for concern, according to the local earthquake
experts.
Seismologists at the Aristotle University's geo-physics
laboratory stated that no aftershocks followed the last tremor to
occur yesterday at 3 p.m.
Eight weak tremors occurred between last Monday and
yesterday evening, varying between 3.1-3.6 on the Richter scale,
The epicenter was located in the regions of Asvestochori and
Panorama. No damages have been reported.
[03] CUTBACKS IN OVERSEAS FLIGHTS AND STAFF ADVISED FOR OLYMPIC
A study conducted by independent consultants Avmark SA,
advises cutbacks in overseas flights, cancellation of new aircraft
purchases and trimming staff sizes, all for the sake of saving the
national airline Olympic Airways.
As a result, the airline's powerful employees union, OSPA, is
preparing a series of mobilizations, while its representatives
are expected to meet with the Ministers of National Economy and
Transportation, Yiannos Papantoniou and Tasos Mantelis,
respectively, tomorrow. They will also conduct a 24-hour strike on
Thursday.
[04] FORMER GREEK DICTATOR PAPADOPOULOS BURIED TODAY IN ATHENS
Greece's former dictator George Papadopoulos, who led a
military junta
from 1967 to 1973, is to be buried in Athens today. He died
yesterday at the age of 80 after a long bout with cancer.
Mr. Papadopoulos was an army colonel when he seized power in
an April 1967 coup. After the restoration of democracy in 1974, he
was tried under the new civilian administration and sentenced to
death for high treason, but the government commuted the sentence
to life imprisonment.
He was jailed in a special wing of Athens's maximum security
prison but spent most of the last three years of his life
hospitalized.
[05] THE GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH THE UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO
THE BALKANS
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou stated after the
meeting he had in Athens with UN special envoy to the Balkans and
former prime minister of Sweden, Karl Bilt that the priority of
the Greek government is to counter terrorism.
Mr. Papandreou characterized as a positive step on behalf of
Ankara the fact that the invitation he has issued for a meeting
with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem in New York on Wednesday
has been accepted. In the meeting will be discussed cultural and
economic issues as well as issues concerning ways to deal with
terrorism stressing, however, that he does not want to pre-judge
the outcome.
[06] THE EU WILL COMPENSATE THE ITALIAN FISHERMEN HIT BY THE WAR
IN YUGOSLAVIA
The European Union is ready to approve compensations for the
Italian fishermen who were hit by the war in Yugoslavia, while
there is no indication of a similar Greek claim in spite of the
fact that serious damages were caused to the sector of tourism in
northern Greece and the Ionian islands.
The above are stated by Coalition of the Left Euro-deputy Mr.
Alekos Alavanos, who called on the government to mention the
requests it has made to the European Union asking for the
compensation of the Greek interests in Yugoslavia such as, the
Greek state Tele-communications Organization, OTE, which
participates in the Yugoslav tele-communication organization with
a 20% share.
According to evidence provided by Mr. Alavanos, the EU
compensation to the Italian fishermen will be 60 billion lire,
while no reference is being made regarding their Greek colleagues,
who are effectively fishing in the same areas and therefore, have
suffered similar damages.
[07] NIKOLAOU: THERE ARE NO PRESSURES NEITHER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
TO GREECE ON THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM
There are no recommendations made or pressures exerted on the
Greek government regarding the way it should counter terrorism,
stated acting Greek government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou. He
stated that Greece cooperates with European countries and the
United States for the best possible way to counter terrorism and
does not have to apologize for anything. Responding to the
question on whether demands have been made to the Greek government
by US officials asking for certain accommodations, he responded
that there was no such demand or request made and that there is
only cooperation between the two countries.
On the letter Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou has
sent to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, Mr. Nikolaou pointed
out that the Greek government makes efforts at an international
level and not at a bilateral level and that it expects Mr. Cem's
response to the positions expressed by Mr. Papandreou.
[08] CHRISOCHOIDIS: THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO DO NOT MEET THE
PRECONDITIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRIES
The illegal immigrants, who do not meet the legal pre-
conditions, will be sent back to their countries reiterated from
the city of Kastoria in north-western Greece today, minister of
public order Michalis Chrisochoidis.
He underlined that Greece wants good relations with the
neighboring countries but at the same time, the goal is to
safeguard the safety of the people in the country.
[09] THE IMF SUGGESTS A STRICT FISCAL POLICY TO THE GOVERNMENT
The International Monetary Fund suggests to the Greek
government to follow a tough fiscal and revenue policy for the
year 2000 in order to achieve the country's participation in the
EMU.
In a report issued by the international organization a
special emphasis is given to the size of inflation on which it is
stressed that the goal of 2-2.1% can be feasible in July but this
percentage should be maintained until the end of the year. In the
report it is pointed out that the government must move on to
speedy privatizations, while it should free the market in the
sectors of energy and tele-communications.
[10] KARAMANLIS-BILT MEETING
Kostas Karamanlis met in Athens with UN special envoy to
Kosovo and former prime minister of Sweden Karl Bilt.
The leader of the right-wing main opposition party of New
Democracy stated after the meeting that the ceasefire in Kosovo is
not enough and the big challenge is the stability and
reconstruction of the Balkans. The main opposition party leader
also added that Greece is being left out of the initiatives that
are underway, stressing they should have been based in
Thessaloniki.
[11] DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ANTHOPOULOS AND TEACHERS
According to the Teachers' Unions Federation president,
undersecretary of education Yiannis Anthopoulos appeared negative
to the demand expressed by the Teachers' Unions Federation to
adopt a special regulation bringing back the institution of the re-
examination of the students who have failed in their exams.
Mr. Tsoulias maintained after the meeting the teachers'
representatives had with the undersecretary of education that a
solution was not found neither to their demand to receive higher
compensation for the grading of the students' written exams.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] GREEK PREMIER IN RIO DE JANEIRO FOR EU-LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT
Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis is presently in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, which will host the two-day European Union-Latin
America summit conference beginning today.
According to reports, the Greek delegation is exerting
efforts on the Summit's sidelines to establish the headquarters of
the EU's Balkan reconstruction program in Thessaloniki.
During yesterday's special session held among the EU's
foreign ministers concerning the appointment of the European
coordinator, Greece and Austria rejected the candidacy of the
German chancellor's chief of staff.
The Premier is expected to request additional EU funds for
the reconstruction of the Balkan region.
Following the completion of the Socialist
International held in Buenos Aires, Mr. Simitis stressed that
Greece's development course will continue to coincide with social
justice, "with processes securing social cohesion and social
solidarity."
[13] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN TODAY
Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is embarking
on an official visit to Tehran today, the first to Iran by a
European Union defense minister since the Islamic Revolution in
1979, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos has been invited by his Iranian
counterpart, Vice-Admiral Ali Shamkhani. During his four-day
visit, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is expected to have talks with the
leadership of Iran's armed forces.
[14] HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS RETURN TO PRISHTINA
Four hundred thousand Albanians have returned to Kosovo so
far, while just about so many are still being housed in the
refugee camps. Meanwhile, the international peacekeeping force has
began enforcing the program for the Kosovar Serbs relocation to
the villages.
A phalanx of KFOR armored vehicles accompanied ten Serb cars
during their return to a village south of Prishtina. Russian
aircraft and troops are expected to arrive in Prishtina today.
[15] UN CHIEF: KOSOVO ADMINISTRATOR TO BE APPOINTED THIS WEEK
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan stated today that
the civilian administrator for Kosovo will be named by the end of
this week.
According to an article published in the United Kingdom's
Financial Times , Mr. Annan stated that the post should go to a
renowned politician from one of the European states. The final
choice has not been made yet, and candidacies from ten
European countries are under consideration.
According to the UN chief, he wanted someone with "a
political sense, a leader and manager who is also a good
negotiator."
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass has reported that the most
likely candidacies will be the outgoing head of Britain's Liberal
Democratic party, Paddy Ashdown, European Commission member Emma
Bonino from Italy and French Health Minister Bernard Kouchner.
[16] SAE ORGANIZES HUMAN CHAIN AROUND CAPITOL OVER CYPRUS ISSUE
The Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) is to organize a human
chain around the Capitol on July 20, marking the anniversary of
Cyprus's invasion by Turkey.
According to Chris Tomaras President of SAE of the Americas,
the event is part of SAE's struggle to achieve freedom and justice
for Cyprus, "an event that is bound to heighten awareness of our
cause in the U.S. Congress and the (Clinton) administration."
About 2,000 people will lock hands and surround the U.S.
Capitol and participants include women's groups, human rights
organizations, church groups and just plain folk.
[17] GREECE RETURNS WITH 31 MEDALS FROM BALKAN GAMES
The Greek national athletics team has returned with 31 medals
from the men's and women's events at the Istanbul-held Balkans
Games, which ended yesterday.
Both men's and women's teams won nine gold, 10 silver and 12
bronze medals during the tournament.
Gold medals were won for the Greek side by Panayiotis Sarris
in the
200-meter race, a personal best, Panayiotis Stroumbakos in the 800-
meter race, Alexis Papadimitriou in the hammer throw, Costas
Papadopoulos in the decathlon and Christina Tambaki in the 100-
meter hurdles.
[18] COLOMBIAN NOBELIST MARQUEZ HOSPITALIZED FOR EXHAUSTION
Colombia's Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez
is presently hospitalized in Bogota where he is undergoing
medical tests, according to a clinic spokesperson.
Garcia Marquez, 71, won the Nobel Prize for literature in
1982 and ten years later he underwent surgery to remove a lung
tumor.
His master work. "One Hundred Years of Solitude", which has
been called one of the greatest novels in history, was written in
1967.
Born on March 6, 1928, Garcia Marquez started his writing
career as a newspaper reporter before concentrating on literature.
His dark and sad short stories and novels were heavily
influenced by Franz Kafka.
Many of Garcia Marquez's stories take place in the fictional
town of Macondo, located in Colombia. The author was inspired by
his own village of Anacataca and by William Faulkner's
Yoknaputawpha County.
The stories of Garcia Marquez, each touched with deep
melancholy, raise questions about reality: what it is, what it
can become, and whether it is the same for all people.
[19] US AMBASSADOR TO TIRANA: DEVELOP TIES WITH GREECE, ITALY
The United States Ambassador assigned to Tirana has relayed
to the Albanian government the Clinton Administration's will to
provide its support, while he also advised that the country should
grant special emphasis to ties with its neighbors, namely Greece
and Italy.
According to local press reports, the US diplomat advised the
Majko-led government to develop bilateral relations with other
western states as well, while emphasizing that ties with Greece
and Italy should be given priority status.
[20] THE MAYOR OF ATHENS WILL VISIT SKOPJE TOMORROW
Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos will visit FYROM
tomorrow to deliver humanitarian aid for the ethnic Albanian
refugees from Kosovo that will be received by mayor of Skopje
Risto Penov.
The office of the mayor of Skopje has issued a statement
according to which, Mr. Avramopoulos after meeting with Mr. Penov
will be received by prime minister Ljubco Georgievski and deputy
foreign minister Boris Trajkovski.
The mayor of Athens will also visit the refugee camp of
Stenkovic, north-west of Skopje.
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