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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-07-28
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 28, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CABINET CONVENES TODAY
[02] LATSIS GROUP TAKES CONTROL OF ERGOBANK
[03] MAGRIOTIS: THE NAME MACEDONIA IS NON NEGOTIABLE FOR
GREECE
[04] THE CABINET MET TODAY
[05] THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE CONTINUES TOMORROW
[06] ONE OUT OF THREE GREEKS LEAVES THE WORKERS' UNIONS
[07] PAPAZACHOS: THE MEDIUM-TERM PREDICTION OF EARTHQUAKES
WILL SOON BE FEASIBLE
[08] PROTOCOL OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN GREECE AND
RUSSIA
[09] FOUR RUSSIAN SHIPS ARRIVED AT THE PORT OF THESSALONIKI
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[10] CONFERENCE FOR KOSOVO
[11] GENERAL RALSTON WILL REPLACE WESLEY CLARK IN NATO
[12] 55 JOURNALISTS WERE JAILED IN TURKEY IN THE FIRST HALF
OF 1999
[13] THE EUROPEAN COURT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RULED AGAINST
FRANCE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] CABINET CONVENES TODAY
The cabinet, chaired by premier Kostas Simitis,
convenes today to discuss the new draft to be brought to the
parliament, regarding illegal immigration and fighting
crime. Interior Minister, Vaso Papandreou, stated that the
government examines a policy frame that will be based on
controlling the borders and incorporating economic
immigrants in the labor market, setting a time limit
according to the regional and seasonal needs.
[02] LATSIS GROUP TAKES CONTROL OF ERGOBANK
Latsis business group will take control of Ergobank
after the Bank of Pireus decided to back off from claiming
it. The reason for this decision is the announcement by
Ergobank's council of directors' board which suggests to its
shareholders to chose Eurobank's offer, and which caused
major discontent to Sallas business group. Ergobank's and
Eurobank's merger is expected to be completed in two years
time.
[03] MAGRIOTIS: THE NAME MACEDONIA IS NON NEGOTIABLE FOR
GREECE
Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis
reiterated today, in the meeting he had in his office with
the visiting presiding board of the Pan-Macedonian
Association of America, Greece's firm position that the name
Macedonia is non negotiable.
In the meeting were raised issues of national
importance that concern the Greek communities in the United
States and Canada, as well as a number of organizational
issues, while the minister of Macedonia-Thrace called on the
representatives of the Greeks abroad to continue their
struggle for the promotion of the issues of national
importance within the framework of the national policy set
by the Greek government.
Mr. Magriotis referred to the Alexander the Great
Institute characterizing it as a wonderful initiative of the
Pan-Macedonian Associations which constitutes the most
complete Greek initiative for the promotion of the work of
Alexander the Great and the promotion of the historical
truth over Macedonia.
Mr. Magriotis stated that the ministry of Macedonia-
Thrace will assist in every effort of the Greeks abroad and
announced that a number of books will be sent to the New
York based Center for Macedonian Studies.
[04] THE CABINET MET TODAY
The cabinet examined today the proposals submitted by
minister of interior Ms. Vaso Papandreou on the issue of
illegal immigration.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis briefed the members of
the cabinet on the contacts he had with the opposition party
leaders on the issue of the increased crime and the ways in
which it can be countered. They also discussed the issue of
citizenship.
Ms. Papandreou stated after the meeting that the
controls at the borders will intensify, immigration offices
will be established in neighboring countries for the better
control of illegal immigration, all illegal immigrants
living in Greece will be registered, while a residence
permit will be given only to those who managed to have a job
and a place to stay for a specific period of time.
[05] THE GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE CONTINUES TOMORROW
The Greek-Turkish dialogue will continue in Athens
tomorrow and the following day at specialists level. The
issues that will be discussed are terrorism, illegal
immigration and organized crime. The talks of the
specialists were held in a positive atmosphere in Ankara and
the two delegations had a meeting yesterday with Turkish
foreign minister Ismail Cem.
Acting Greek government spokesman Nikos Athanasakis and
foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou characterized the
climate in which the talks were held as constructive. Mr.
Papandreou stressed, however, from the island of Corfu that
it is too early to draw any conclusions.
[06] ONE OUT OF THREE GREEKS LEAVES THE WORKERS' UNIONS
One out of three Greeks leaves the workers' unions,
according to data provided by the International Employment
Office concerning the activities of the workers' unions.
The new facts are that the activities of the unions are
shrinking, the influence of the unions on the work force is
on the decline and the participation in the workers' unions
and the mobilizations in general is limited.
The phenomenon is observed across Europe but mostly in
southern Europe and Greece, which occupies the third place
in the relevant list.
[07] PAPAZACHOS: THE MEDIUM-TERM PREDICTION OF EARTHQUAKES
WILL SOON BE FEASIBLE
Seismology very soon will be in the position to make
medium-term earthquake predictions that will concern a
period of time from one up to three years. The statement was
made by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki seismology
professor Vasilis Papazachos, who was citing the findings of
a research conducted in Iceland.
Professor Papazachos stated that the prognosis of
earthquakes is now a realistic target and the study of the
pre-earthquake activity can lead to safe conclusions in
spite of the fact that in the case of earthquakes is mainly
in effect the so-called theory of chaos.
[08] PROTOCOL OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN GREECE AND
RUSSIA
A protocol of economic cooperation was signed between
Greece and Russia covering the sectors of tele-
communications, postal service, agriculture and food
industry. The protocol of cooperation was signed during the
meeting of Greek and Russian delegations held at ministers'
level.
Greek minister of national economy and finance Yiannos
Papantoniou expressed the satisfaction of the Greek
government for the cooperation, while Russian government
vice-president Ms. Valentina Matvienko pointed out that a
lot of work is needed in order to achieve the goals set by
the agreement.
[09] FOUR RUSSIAN SHIPS ARRIVED AT THE PORT OF THESSALONIKI
Four Russian ships arrived at the port of Thessaloniki
at noon today within the framework of the international
peacekeeping force that is being deployed in Kosovo. The
ships were carrying 220 soldiers, military equipment and
vehicles. Already, the Russian force has departed for the
Serb province by road.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[10] CONFERENCE FOR KOSOVO
A donors' conference begins today in Brussels in order
to collect funds for Kosovo's reconstruction. More that 100
governments and organisations will take part in the
conference who will be called to offer financial aid that
will reach 300 million dollars and will be disposed for
humanitarian needs.
[11] GENERAL RALSTON WILL REPLACE WESLEY CLARK IN NATO
The supreme commander of the NATO forces in Europe
general Wesley Clark will be replaced in April by general
Joseph Ralston, deputy commander of the US general army
staff, three months before the end of his term in the
alliance.
The US mass media link this decision with the tension
that has been created in the Pentagon because of the way the
operation in Yugoslavia was handled.
[12] 55 JOURNALISTS WERE JAILED IN TURKEY IN THE FIRST HALF
OF 1999
Fifty five journalists were jailed or sentenced in
Turkey in the first six months of 1999. President of the
Press Council in Turkey, Mr. Oktai Ekci pointed out that so
many journalists had not been jailed in the country neither
in the era of Sultan Abdul Hamid nor in the one-political-
party era.
In a press conference on the contacts made for the
release of the jailed journalists, Mr. Ekci underlined that
there are obstacles in the freedom of expression in Turkey,
adding that on July 23 the Press Council had submitted a
plan for the granting of an amnesty to the jailed
journalists that was delivered to the minister of justice
and the minister responsible for human rights issues. Mr.
Ekci also underlined that the draft law against organized
crime which is promoted by the ministry of interior includes
certain articles which could permit the censorship of the
press.
[13] THE EUROPEAN COURT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RULED AGAINST
FRANCE
The European Court for Human Rights ruled against
France today in the case concerning the torture of a drug-
trafficker by French police officers 8 years ago.
The court ruled that the treatment of Ahmet Selmouni by
the French police was in violation of the European Treaty
for Human Rights and decided that he should receive a
compensation of 75.000 US dollars.
Selmouni, who is currently in a French jail serving a
prison term of 13 years, appealed to the European Court for
Human Rights accusing the French police of savage treatment
when he was arrested in November 1991 for heroin
trafficking.
He maintained that during interrogation was badly
beaten and kicked, the finger-bones of his feet were broken,
while he was tied with chains from a ladder for a whole day.
According to his testimony, one police officer pissed on him
and another one sexually molested him with a baton.
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