Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-07-02
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 2, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS CONTINUE TODAY
[02] RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICERS EXPECTED IN THESSALONIKI
[03] MILITARY AMBULANCE COLLIDES WITH TRUCK, SEVEN SOLDIERS DEAD
[04] RUSSIA'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
[05] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING HELD IN THESSALONIKI
[06] THE CABINET MET IN ATHENS TODAY
[07] STATEMENTS BY MR. PAPANDREOU ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] PANMACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION, GREEK YOUTH ABROAD FORTIFY TIES
[09] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONCLUDES VISIT TO LITHUANIA
[10] GREEK PRESIDENT ADDRESSES BUSINESS FORUM IN LITHUANIA
[11] TURKEY: SIX KILLED, FIVE WOUNDED IN MACHINE-GUN ATTACK
[12] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION CONVENTION BEGINS WITH FANFARE
[13] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE PRESIDENTS OF GREECE AND
LITHUANIA
[14] MAPS OF GREATER ALBANIA ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED BY KLA
[15] BELGRADE: KFOR DOES NOT OFFER FULL PROTECTION TO THE NON
ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO
[16] CLINTON HAILS THE PAN MACEDONIAN CONVENTION
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS CONTINUE TODAY
High school graduates are bracing for perhaps their most
trying academic experience so far, as university and vocational
college entrance examinations are continuing today with essay
writing.
The students are asked to analyze and expound on the
usefulness of history awareness and knowledge, the reasons why
sometimes history can provoke division and intolerance and how the
new generations can properly utilize historical knowledge.
The graduates of vocational high schools were tested on math.
[02] RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICERS EXPECTED IN THESSALONIKI
Russian military officers are expected to arrive in
Thessaloniki today or tomorrow in order to inspect the premises
which will house the Russian troops and equipment destined for the
Kosovo peacekeeping force.
The troops are to begin arriving in Greece next week.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, four amphibious
craft are to sail for Thessaloniki tomorrow.
[03] MILITARY AMBULANCE COLLIDES WITH TRUCK, SEVEN SOLDIERS DEAD
Seven soldiers were killed this morning on the Kavala-
Thessaloniki national highway, when a trailer truck collided head-
on with their vehicle.
According to preliminary investigations, the military
vehicle, an ambulance, departed this morning from the ranger
battalion in Redina, approximately 70 kilometers outside
Thessaloniki, and was destined for the local 424 military hospital
where the troops were to undergo blood tests.
In an attempt to pass a slow-moving tractor ahead, the
ambulance collided head on and sideways with a Kavala-bound
trailer, killing seven of the passengers.
[04] RUSSIA'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
Russia's alternate Foreign Minister Mr. Adneyev is to arrive
in Athens at 6:30 this evening, where he will hold talks with his
Greek countepart Yiannos Kranidiotis concerning the developments
in the Balkan region and the Stability Pact.
Mr. Adneyev will be accompanied by Russia's special
representative for the Balkans.
The Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands and Germany will
also visit Greece, on July 11 and 12 respectively, in order to
discuss the Stability Pact.
[05] EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC UNION MEETING HELD IN THESSALONIKI
The president of Greece's main opposition party, New
Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, addressed the Thessaloniki-held
conference of the European Democratic Union, over which he
presides, in the presence of government officials from 20
countries.
Participants from United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Russia,
Austria, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria,
Albania, Slovakia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina and FYROM, are looking into the opportunities for
initiatives that could be taken by European conservative parties
for establishing democracy in western Balkan states,
The event is taking place in cooperation with the European Popular
party, where the N.D. leader serves as vice-president and Mr.
Karamanslis' initiative.
The discussions concern the present situation in the Balkans,
common European foreign and security policies, cooperation with
Russia on matters concerning foreign and security policies, the
prospects of cooperation between the European Democratic Union and
the European Popular Party and the common action plan.
Referring to the present situation in the Balkans and the
opportunities that lie therein, Mr. Karamanlis urged the delegates
to take action quickly, in productive unison.
[06] THE CABINET MET IN ATHENS TODAY
Prime minister Kostas Simitis speaking in the cabinet meeting
in Athens, the first after the Euro-elections, stated that the
message of the elections was that harder and more effective work
should be done.
Mr. Simitis called on the government ministers to intensify
their efforts for greater effectiveness in their work and
underlined the need to focus their attention on the everyday
problems of the people.
On the agenda were issues concerning the protection of
consumers, while the issue of Olympic Airways was also discussed.
[07] STATEMENTS BY MR. PAPANDREOU ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou referred to the
Greek-Turkish relations in statements he made at noon today.
Mr. Papandreou stressed that Greece wants calm and good
relations with Turkey, while he characterized the meeting with his
Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem as a first step toward this
direction. He added that "we should be cautious" adding that if
there is good intention it will be seen in practice.
On the dialogue held on issues concerning terrorism, Mr.
Papandreou stated that the issues examined were procedural ones
and announced that a new meeting with Mr. Cem will be held in
September.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] PANMACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION, GREEK YOUTH ABROAD FORTIFY TIES
Greater emphasis has to be given to the efforts towards
improving the organization of young Greeks living abroad, so that
second and third generation Greek-Americans can take an active
stand within the organized Macedonian groups overseas, according
to the delegates attending the 53rd national convention of the Pan-
Macedonian Association of USA-Canada which got underway yesterday
at Hartford, Connecticut.
"We've granted great importance to approaching the youth,
since the young Greek Macedonians constitute the future, the hope
and the sequel of the Macedonian Diaspora in the American
continent," stated the President of the Pan-Macedonian
Assoc. Evangelos Mihalopoulos during the opening ceremony.
Various Macedonian youth chapters have been founded in the
United States and Canada in the past year alone, while additional
groups are also in the works at Houston, Florida, Chicago,
Connecticut, Ontario and Vancouver.
In promoting its effort to access and communicate with the
young Macedonians living abroad, the Association's youth chapter
has its own web page at www.macedonia.com, while the Pan-
Macedonian Association's network link with the Macedonian Press
Agency is a significant reinforcement to this endeavor.
Mr. Mihalopoulos outlined the substantial task performed by
the Pan-Macedonian Association, which includes the Macedonian
Studies Center in New York, contacts and re-establishment of
cooperation with Macedonian organizations in South America,
various exhibitions and lectures on the Macedonian issue and the
region's history, the publication of the Pan-Macedonian's history
and the "Alexander the Great Institute", an inspiring project
whose facilities have been completed in Litochoro and its
inauguration will take place amidst grandeur on July 23, 1999.
Hartford Mayor Michael Peters and the State Secretary Susan
Bysiewicz, saluted the significant role carried out by the
Macedonians in the U.S. and especially in the state of
Connecticut, while Greek-descent state representative Dimitris
Giannaros referred to his three terms in office as an example of
how far Hellenism can go when united.
"When I first ran for office in 1995 as a state
representative in Connecticut, many tried to dissuade me by
telling me that Greeks don't number more than 30,000 in the state,
(that) I wouldn't have a chance at succeeding," he said.
"Not only was I elected, becoming the first Greek-born person
to have ever been elected in the state of Connecticut, but I also
managed to pass a bill in Senate, with 143 votes in favor and only
one against, establishing the Greek independence day of March 25
as a national holiday.
"We, the Greeks, can achieve anything we want as long as we
are united and walk a common line. We are active, smart, we have
the highest academic level in the United States and almost the
highest income; but, we have to work hard and be united form the
sake of our culture, for the preservation of our language, morals
and traditions," Mr. Giannaros stressed.
The noted archaeologist and chairman of the Hellenic
Parliament's Committee on Greeks Living Abroad Dimitrios
Pandermalis stressed the need for unity among the Macedonian
community abroad, referring to the exemplary sense of cooperation
enjoyed by the cross-party parliamentary committee in Greece.
"Beyond any given differences among the (political) parties,
beyond labels and tactics, the line adopted by the cross-party
parliamentary committee for the Greek community abroad is
unanimous," Mr. Pandermalis said, adding that this is, after all,
the country's national policy, regardless of partisanships.
The committee chairman also noted the importance of being
watchful towards the developments, the new eras ahead.
"We are the guardians of the past, as the history of our
Macedonia is a very heavy heritage," he said.
The vice-president of the cross-party parliamentary committee
on Greek Abroad, Chalkidiki parliamentarian Vasilis Pappas,
stressed that Hellenism is forging ahead united, beyond party
politics and minor differences.
"There is a bridge among us which we must all cross; the
bridge of unity towards the goals, the aims and, most important,
our national rights. This is the unity our ancestors fought for,"
he said.
The General Director of the Macedonian Press Agency Spyros
Kouzinopoulos also saluted the convention delegates and referred
to the MPA's close cooperation with the Pan-Macedonian
associations for the sake of promoting the rights of the
Macedonian Hellenism throughout the world, as well as Greece's
rights and the principles of truth, freedom and democracy.
[09] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC REPUBLIC CONCLUDES VISIT TO LITHUANIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos,
is wrapping up an official, three-day visit to Lithuania today,
which culminated with the signing of a bilateral cooperation
accord with his Lithuanian counterpart Valdas Adamkus.
President Stephanopoulos, who was awarded with an Order of
Merit medal,
and his Lithuanian counterpart discussed bilateral relations,
particularly in the commercial, investment and cultural sectors,
as well as on Lithuania's desire to join Euro-Atlantic
organizations, a proposal Greece supports.
Following the meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, the
President addressed the Lithuanian parliament and met with leading
members of the Greek-Lithuanian community in Vilnius.
The President is accompanied by undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs Grigoris Niotis and a delegation of Greek businessmen who
explored the ample investment opportunities.
Thessaloniki's prefectural government also signed a
cooperation protocol with the district of Kaunas, the second
largest city in Lithuania.
[10] GREEK PRESIDENT ADDRESSES BUSINESS FORUM IN LITHUANIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos,
who is wrapping up a three-day, official visit to Lithuania,
addressed a forum of Greek and Lithuanian entrepreneurs in Vilnius
yesterday, where he stressed the need for expanded economic and
investment relations between the two countries.
The President expressed his confidence that Greece will be a
member of the Economic Monetary Union at the start of 200.
"Along with revenue increases, inflation and public debt
reductions and a drop in public deficit, we note a continuously
growing activity of Greek entrepreneurs in various countries,
within the region and beyond," the President stated.
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, who also addressed the
forum, called on the Greek businessmen to invest in his country,
pointing out that Lithuania's institutional framework is improving
continuously and underlining his country's desire to join
Euroatlantic structures, which prospect Greece supports.
During an earlier meeting, the two presidents also discussed
international issues, focusing on the present situation in the
Balkans and relations with its neighboring countries, especially
Russia and Belarus.
President Stephanopoulos stated that Athens and Vilnius
face no political problems in relations between them, adding that
the presence of a delegation of Greek businessmen (accompanying
him on his visit) in Vilnius will allow for the further
strengthening of bilateral relations in the economic sector.
[11] TURKEY: SIX KILLED, FIVE WOUNDED IN MACHINE-GUN ATTACK
Six people were killed and five wounded in a machine-gun
attack and during a clash with police in eastern Turkey, hours
after a bomb in an Istanbul coffeehouse lightly injured three
people, the French news agency AFP reported today.
The attacks came as Istanbul police, in a city-wide swoop,
detained 10
people suspected of plotting bomb attacks to retaliate for the
death sentence
passed on PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.
Two people, one of them a woman, attacked the cafe in Elazig
around 10:30
p.m. yesterday, killing four people who were inside, provincial
governor Lutfullah Bilgin told the NTV news channel.
The assailants then fled, firing their guns and hurling two
hand-grenades
in a nearby street before being killed in a shoot-out with police.
Five people were wounded, including a policeman, who was in
critical
condition, Mr. Bilgin said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but police
suspect the PKK of being behind the attack.
[12] PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION CONVENTION BEGINS WITH FANFARE
A pantheon of leading figures from within the Omogeneia,
joined by a score of philhellenes and various officials, saluted
the inauguration ceremony of the Pan-Macedonian Association of USA-
Canada convention in Hartford Connecticut yesterday.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, Archbishop of America
Spyridon, United States senators and representatives (such as
Edward Kennedy, Paul Sarbanis, Michael Bilirakis), US Ambassador
to Athens Nicholas Burns, the President of the Hellenic Parliament
Apostolos Kaklamanis, Macedonia-Thrace Minster Yiannis Magriotis,
Thessaloniki Mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, Council of Greeks
Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens, all warmly saluted the delegates,
praising them for their effort to promote the region of Macedonia
and its history abroad.
"You, the offspring of Macedonia, through the unceasing
promotion of your motherland, are contributing to the information
and awareness of your compatriots in your host countries over the
vast national heritage that Macedonia and its history has bestowed
on Hellenism," Mr. Kaklamanis said, urging them to press on with
their struggle towards truth and justice with the same, undying
fervency.
Mr. Magriotis emphasized that Thessaloniki's role as a
metropolis and as an international center for the Greek
communities abroad needs to be fortified.
"We can't speak of a network of Diaspora without Thessaloniki
being the center of coordination," he stated, adding that the
upcoming international Hellenism convention will render the city
as a point of convergence, a capital city for all Greeks living
abroad," the Minister stated.
[13] JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE PRESIDENTS OF GREECE AND
LITHUANIA
Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos and his Lithuanian
counterpart Mr. Adamkus in a joint press conference they gave in
Vilnius today characterized the formal visit of the Greek
president as very successful and very important for the relations
of the two countries.
Responding to a question by MPA, on whether the Cyprus
problem and Turkey's behaviour in the Balkans were also discussed,
the president of Lithuania stated that there was no detailed
discussion, adding that they referred to the International Court
of Justice in The Hague and stressed that the international issues
have a moral aspect which can not be ignored in the inter-state
relations.
The Lithuanian president expressed the immediate need and
wish of his country to become a member of the European Union and
NATO. He also said that Russia is not an enemy to Lithuania's wish
to become a member of NATO.
Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that his visit offers a chance for
the further development of the trade, economic and cultural
transactions between the two countries.
On the issue of Kosovo, Mr. Adamkus said that the crisis in
the Balkans has not discouraged him and still wants his country to
become a member of NATO. He said that the north Atlantic alliance
had no other option of action and the massacres could not be
ignored by the allies. He said that NATO had to do what it did in
Kosovo adding that, nevertheless, this was clearly a tragedy for
all. Mr. Adamkus also stressed that NATO today is an integral part
of the EU security mechanism.
On the Turkish occupation of Cyprus which continues for 25
years, Mr. Adamkus expressed the hope that justice will prevail
and the foreign forces will be withdrawn from Cyprus.
[14] MAPS OF GREATER ALBANIA ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED BY KLA
Maps depicting the so-called Greater Albania are being
distributed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, to
foreign journalists crossing the Yugoslav-FYROM borders.
According to information by the Belgrade newspaper Blic,
based on these maps parts of Serbia, Montenegro and FYROM are
inside the Albanian borders.
[15] BELGRADE: KFOR DOES NOT OFFER FULL PROTECTION TO THE NON
ETHNIC ALBANIAN POPULATION IN KOSOVO
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has pointed out that the
UN peacekeeping force deployed in Kosovo does not offer full
protection to the non ethnic Albanian population in the Serb
province.
In the last meeting of the Yugoslav cabinet an appeal was
made to KFOR, calling for the implementation of the UN resolution
on Kosovo and demanding the end of the violent incidents against
the Serbs.
[16] CLINTON HAILS THE PAN MACEDONIAN CONVENTION
The 53rd national convention of the Pan Macedonian
Association entered it second day in Hartford Connecticut with
fruitful and meaningful dialogue during which it was underlined
that more concentration should be given to the problems of young
people and on the new technology.
In the conference, 136 representatives from all the states of
America and Canada participated as well as many observers who
expressed their opinions on the matters that concern all the
Macedonian emigrants and their strong affection towards Greece and
its national rights.
During the convention American president Bill Clinton and
Greek minister of Development Evagelos Venizelos conveyed their
greetings and messages.
Furthermore, Mr.Clinton praised the Pan Macedonian
Association for working to ensure that America continued to live
up to the ideals of liberty and equality on which it was founded.
"The United States and Greece have always maintained close
and cordial ties founded on a common reverence for democratic
values and respect for human rights. Greek influence on American
culture extends from the ideas of the great Hellenic Thinkers to
the many important contributions of Greek Americans today. The
abundant gifts of Greek Americans have enriched our social
cultural and political life helping to make America a nation of
great diversity and infinite promise", US president Bill Clinton
noted.
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