Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-08-31
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, August 31, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] FM TO HOLD SUCCESSIVE MEETINGS WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS
[02] PREMIER TO GREET GREEK TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONS TODAY
[03] GREEK PREMIER TO RECEIVE COUNTERPART FROM MONTENEGRO
[04] CONCERT HELD IN XANTHI FOR TURKEY'S EARTHQUAKE
SURVIVORS
[05] BALKAN STABILITY PACT COORDINATOR MEETS WITH GREEK PM
[06] ASE SLUMPS AS LIQUIDATIONS DRIVE GENERAL INDEX DOWNWARD
[07] THE NEW MEDIATOR ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S NAME WILL BE
ANNOUNCED SOON
[08] REPPAS: THE GREEK FOREIGN POLICY WILL NOT CHANGE
[09] REPPAS: THE JOINT DEFENSE DOCTRINE IS THE CORNER-STONE
OF THE GREEK-CYPRIOT RELATIONS
[10] PAPANTONIOU: GREECE WILL HAVE HIGH ECONOMIC GROWTH
RATES
[11] MESSAGES OF THE STATE AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ON
THESSALONIKI'S 64TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR
[12] PAPANDREOU HAD CONTACTS WITH THE POLITICAL PARTY
LEADERS
[13] SAMARAS: "NO" TO THE LIFTING OF THE VETO ON TURKEY'S EU
FUNDING - "YES" TO ITS ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
[14] THE SIMITIS-JUGANOVIC MEETING HAS ENDED
[15] MESSAGE OF FRIENDSHIP BY THE FOOTBALL TEAMS OF PAOK AND
GALATASARAI
[16] THE NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD TEAM WAS FORMALLY RECEIVED
BY THE PRIME MINISTER
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[17] ANONYMOUS GREEK MAN DONATES HIS KIDNEY TO A TURK IN
NEED
[18] GREECE-UKRAINE SIGN MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT
[19] 60 MILLION RUSSIANS LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINE, PAPER
REPORTS
[20] IMF SAYS NO EVIDENCE ITS MONEY HAS BEEN MISUSED BY
RUSSIA
[21] IMF CHIEF CAMDESSUS SAYS RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK LIED
[22] BOSNIAN-SERB PM: STABILITY FEASIBLE ONCE MILOSEVIC
LEAVES
[23] MAMMOTH BONE FOUND IN BULGARIA
[24] ALTERNATE FM TO MEET WITH COOK, HANNAY IN LONDON TODAY
[25] US TO PAY $4.5 MILION IN DAMAGES FOR CHINESE EMBASSY
BOMBING
[26] NEW EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5.2 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN
TURKEY
[27] ZULFI LIVANELI: "YES" TO THEODORAKIS' CANDIDATURE FOR
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
[28] ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND 166 WERE INJURED BY THE
STRONG AFTERSHOCK IN TURKEY TODAY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] FM TO HOLD SUCCESSIVE MEETINGS WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS
Foreign Minister George Papandreou will hold successive
meetings with the leaders of opposition parties today in
order to brief them on the European Union's funding protocol
for Turkey.
Mr. Papandreou will meet with the leader of Political
Spring Antonis Samaras and the leader of the Democratic and
Social Movement Dimitris Tsovolas, as well as with the
honorary president of the main opposition party New
Democracy Kostantinos Mitsotakis.
The Foreign Minister will also meet with his
predecessor Theodoros Pangalos.
[02] PREMIER TO GREET GREEK TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONS TODAY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will meet today with the
Greek athletes who participated in the Seventh World
Athletics Championships, held in Seville, Spain and where
Greece earned the fourth rank.
Greece ranked fourth behind the United States, Russia
and Germany, with a total of 6 medals -two gold, two silver
and two bronze.
The sixth medal was won Sunday night when Kostas
Gatsioudis placed second in the men's javelin final with a
throw of 89.18 meters.
The next World Athletics Championship will be held the
year 2001 at Edmonton, Canada.
[03] GREEK PREMIER TO RECEIVE COUNTERPART FROM MONTENEGRO
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will meet with his
counterpart from Montenegro Milo Djuganovic in Athens today
in order to discuss issues of bilateral interest.
Mr. Djuganovic met with Foreign Minister George
Papandreou yesterday with whom he discussed matters
concerning the reconstruction of the Balkan region and
bilateral relations within the realm of Greece's aid for the
reconstruction of Montenegro.
[04] CONCERT HELD IN XANTHI FOR TURKEY'S EARTHQUAKE
SURVIVORS
A concert in support of Turkey's earthquake survivors
was held in the city of Xanthi, Thrace, yesterday, the first
such event held since the catastrophe occurred two weeks
ago.
The bilingual event, with songs both in Greek and
Turkish, featured Greek musician Thanasis Gaifilias, whose
orchestra comprised both Christian and Muslim musicians,
while renowned signer George Dalaras also participated.
The proceeds of the concert will be will be handed over
to Izmit officials on September 17, along with the proceeds
from a similar concert to be held in Izmit.
The concert, which was organized by the prefecture of
Xanthi and the Greek Radio, was broadcast by Greek and
Turkish television channels and radio stations.
Greece's general-secretariat for equality is also
organizing a performance on Tuesday at the Herod Atticus
Theatre in Athens, where a theater group from Roumeli will
stage a play by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes.
[05] BALKAN STABILITY PACT COORDINATOR MEETS WITH GREEK PM
The Balkan Stability Pact coordinator met with the
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens, with whom he
discussed the developments in the region following the end
of war in Yugoslavia.
Mr. Hobah will travel to Thessaloniki tomorrow morning,
accompanied by Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou
and undersecretary of National Economy Rodoula Zisi, where
he will be received by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace
Yiannis Magriotis.
The discussion will center on the headquarters of the
Balkan Reconstruction organization.
[06] ASE SLUMPS AS LIQUIDATIONS DRIVE GENERAL INDEX DOWNWARD
After marking a slight reform, the Athens Stock
Exchange (ASE) slumped later in the day as pressure exerted
on some shares, coupled with the liquidation that followed,
drove the general index downward, leading it to close at
5,205.34 points, marking losses of approximately .29% with
the overall trade amounting GRD454,929 billion.
In the Banks sector, the National Bank of Greece ended
at GRD22,800, Macedonia-Thrace at GRD21,375, Commercial at
GRD 29,950, Labor at GRD28,000 and Credit at GRD23,000.
[07] THE NEW MEDIATOR ON THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S NAME WILL BE
ANNOUNCED SOON
The Greek government's new mediator in the New York
talks on the name of FYROM will be appointed in the next few
days, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
The new mediator will take the place of ambassador
Christos Zacharakis, who has been elected to the European
parliament for the party of New Democracy.
[08] REPPAS: THE GREEK FOREIGN POLICY WILL NOT CHANGE
The Greek government will present its complete proposal
for the economic assistance of Turkey in the informal EU
foreign ministers' meeting, stressed government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas, adding that for reasons of tactic no
revelations will be made on its contents.
Responding to questions concerning the issue of the
Greek veto on Turkey's EU funding, Mr. Reppas stated that
the foreign policy of the country will not change and
assistance to Turkey should be offered for humanitarian
reasons.
[09] REPPAS: THE JOINT DEFENSE DOCTRINE IS THE CORNER-STONE
OF THE GREEK-CYPRIOT RELATIONS
The Greece-Cyprus joint defense doctrine is the corner-
stone of the relations with Cyprus and can not be
undermined.
The above were stated by Greek government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas in response to a question by a reporter on
whether there has been any change concerning the joint
defense doctrine.
[10] PAPANTONIOU: GREECE WILL HAVE HIGH ECONOMIC GROWTH
RATES
The belief that in the next few years Greece will have
very high economic growth rates was expressed by minister of
national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou, speaking
in a press conference on the 3rd Community Framework of
Support. Mr. Papantoniou stated that the ministry of
national economy and finance and other responsible
ministries have reached decisions on the allocation of funds
in a way that will help the continuation of the government's
macro-economic policy.
From his side minister of development Evangelos
Venizelos stated that his ministry's operational programs
will be financed with 3.5 trillion drachmas that will be
used in the sectors of energy, tourism, research and
technology. Mr. Venizelos stated that special attention will
be given to the modernization of small-medium sized
businesses.
[11] MESSAGES OF THE STATE AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ON
THESSALONIKI'S 64TH INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR
President Kostis Stephanopoulos, prime minister Kostas
Simitis and the political party leaders with their messages
included in the album of Thessaloniki's 64th International
Trade Fair refer to its role. They all stress the role of
Thessaloniki and Greece in the new era that dawns in the
Balkans.
The prime minister underlines that Thessaloniki's 64th
International Trade Fair is an example of the steps made by
the Greek economy and a big proof of the competitiveness and
quality of the Greek products. He said that it lays the
foundations of a new era characterized by more effective
services, the strengthening of its competitiveness and the
reinforcement of its role in the economic life of the city.
[12] PAPANDREOU HAD CONTACTS WITH THE POLITICAL PARTY
LEADERS
Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met with Political
Spring party leader Antonis Samaras. Later in the afternoon,
he will meet with Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris
Tsovolas and New Democracy honorary president Konstantinos
Mitsotakis.
The contacts of Mr. Papandreou with the political party
leaders and the former foreign ministers will focus on the
proposal that will be submitted by the Greek government to
the informal EU foreign ministers' meeting that will be held
in the weekend concerning Turkey's EU funding.
[13] SAMARAS: "NO" TO THE LIFTING OF THE VETO ON TURKEY'S EU
FUNDING - "YES" TO ITS ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou briefed Political
Spring party leader Antonis Samaras on the proposal the
Greek government will submit to the European Union
concerning the economic support of Turkey.
Mr. Samaras stated to reporters that it will be
unacceptable to turn the issue of the earthquake into an
alibi for a concession in the Greek policy. He said that he
supports the humanitarian aid to Turkey but he is against
the lifting of the Greek veto on Turkey's EU funding for as
long as Ankara violates International Law and continues to
provoke with its stance and its intransigence on the issue
of Cyprus.
[14] THE SIMITIS-JUGANOVIC MEETING HAS ENDED
Prime minister Kostas Simitis met with president of
Montenegro Milo Juganovic and the two leaders made no
statements after the meeting but according to information,
their discussion focused on the relations of Montenegro with
Serbia and Kosovo, bilateral issues and the reconstruction
of the Balkans.
Mr. Juganovic reiterated the proposals for Montenegro
to have its own currency and an autonomous foreign policy
within a framework of co-habitation with Serbia.
Mr. Simitis emphasized issues of economic interest and
confirmed that Greece will continue to back the efforts
aimed at Montenegro's reconstruction, democratization and
European orientation.
[15] MESSAGE OF FRIENDSHIP BY THE FOOTBALL TEAMS OF PAOK AND
GALATASARAI
A message of solidarity and support will be sent to the
earthquake stricken population of Turkey by Thessaloniki's
football team of PAOK. In an effort to show that sports
unite the peoples, PAOK organized a football match to be
held in Thessaloniki on Thursday evening with the Turkish
team of Galatasarai.
The money from the tickets sold will be offered for the
relief of the tens of thousands of people who were left
homeless in Turkey as a result of the devastating earthquake
that hit the north-western part of the country on August 17.
[16] THE NATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD TEAM WAS FORMALLY RECEIVED
BY THE PRIME MINISTER
Prime minister Kostas Simitis received the members of
the national track and field team who participated in the
7th World Championships in Seville, Spain in a formal
reception that was given in their honor in Athens today. The
prime minister congratulated the athletes and in a symbolic
gesture offered a silver plate to each one of them.
Mr. Simitis stated that the athletes are a living
example that Greece can win a distinguished place not only
in sports but in many other sectors as well. He also said
that the state will continue to back the sports sector.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[17] ANONYMOUS GREEK MAN DONATES HIS KIDNEY TO A TURK IN
NEED
In an unprecedented act of magnanimity, a 40-year-old
Greek man, who reportedly has a family, has offered to
donate his kidney to one of the survivors of the earthquake
that devastated Turkey two weeks ago.
The compassionate man, who wishes to remain anonymous,
sent a letter to Greece's renowned composer Mikis
Theodorakis where he said that in order to achieve
friendship between the two peoples, their hearts have to
first be softened.
"There is a historic truth: In order to gain on this
matter, we must make sacrifices. That is why I, as an
anonymous Greek, want to offer my kidney to an ordinary,
Turkish person," he wrote.
Mr. Theodorakis, in turn, sent a letter to Turkish
composer Zulfi Livaneli, who also writes a column in the
Ankara daily "Sabah" and wrote that the Greek philanthropist
would like the kidney transplant operation to be performed
in Greece, by Greek surgeons and that, while he does not
object to the matter being publicized, he insists on staying
anonymous since he believes that the contrary would not
serve the friendship between the Greek and Turkish people.
"Sabah" reported that "there is now intense mobility on
both sides of the Aegean," adding that following a series of
diagnostic tests, a patient from Turkey will be immediately
transported to Athens.
Mr. Livaneli stated that this Greek man and his
greatness, which is comparable to the greatness of saints,
should be saluted.
"Very few persons throughout history has displayed the
degree of self-sacrifice this heroic Greek man has
expressed, for the brotherhood of the peoples.
"What this man is offering, who has a wife and
children, is a part of his life. We can understand acts such
as the donation of millions of dollars... but it is the
ultimate (act) of humanity to lie down on an operating
table and offer his kidney to a Turk whom he doesn't even
know," Mr. Livaneli said.
[18] GREECE-UKRAINE SIGN MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Greece's Defense Minister Apostolos Tsochatzopoulos,
presently on an official visit to Ukraine, signed an
agreement on military and technical cooperation in Kiev
yesterday with the Ukrainian Industry Minister Vasily
Gureyev.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that Greece will purchase
two Ukrainian amphibious vessels, adding that consultations
are underway for the purchase of Ukrainian tanks T-34 and
Antonov planes.
Prior to the signing ceremony, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos
held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Alexander Kuzmuk
with whom he discussed a wide spectrum of issues concerning
bilateral cooperation between the the two countries and
European and regional security, including the situation in
Kosovo.
In turn, Mr. Kuzmuk thanked Mr. Tsochatzopoulos and
Greece's leadership for their support when the Ukrainian
peacekeeping contingent left for Kosovo through the Greek
territory.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will travel to Sofia on September
11-12 and his next stop will be Israel where he will have
talks on the peace process in his capacity as vice-president
of the European Socialist Party (ESP).
On September 20 he will travel to the United States
where he will meet with his US counterpart William Cohen and
leaders of the Greek-American community.
Accompanied by the Austrian vice-president of ESP, Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos will also visit other Balkan countries.
[19] 60 MILLION RUSSIANS LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINE, PAPER
REPORTS
About 60 million Russians, or 40 percent of the overall
population, live below the poverty line, while average life
expectancy in the country is 66 years for women and 60 for
men, the Moscow daily "Segodnia" reported yesterday.
The paper, which quoted statistics from the science
academy's institute for
socio-economic research, noted that the poverty figures were
noticeably worse
than those published in November 1998 by state statistical
committee.
The state committee had said 28.6 percent of the
population, or about 42
million Russians, were living below the poverty line.
According to the research institute, 15 percent of the
population have income less than half the necessary minimum.
It also said the average monthly salary was 60 dollars, and
that 14 percent
of the population was unemployed.
[20] IMF SAYS NO EVIDENCE ITS MONEY HAS BEEN MISUSED BY
RUSSIA
The International Monetary Fund announced yesterday
that it has found no evidence its financial aid to Russia
had been misused, but added that corruption allegations
would be considered in its review of an upcoming loan
installment.
As the French news agency AFP reported, the IMF
director of external relations Thomas Dawson stated that "we
continue to have absolutely no indication of IMF money
having been diverted in association with the Bank of New
York (scandal) or whatever other investigations that may be
under way. "
He was responding to press reports that as much as 15
billion dollars --
including some IMF loans -- had been diverted through New
York bank accounts
by Russian organized crime figures and members of Russia's
political and business elite.
The Russian government has strongly denied any links to
the alleged money
laundering scheme.
[21] IMF CHIEF CAMDESSUS SAYS RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK LIED
Innternational Monetary Fund (IMF) director Michel
Camdessus accused Russia's central bank today of having
"lied to us" over the state of its reserves in 1996.
According to the French news agency AFP. Mr. Camdessus
told the French daily "Liberation" that the matter "of most
concern is that the Russian central bank lied to us over the
state of its reserves in 1996 and its transactions, legal
but hidden, with Fimaco" (one of its affiliates in
Guernsey).
The paper had asked Mr. Camdessus about the allegations
that as much as 15
billion dollars -- including some IMF loans -- had been
diverted through New York bank accounts by Russian organized
crime figures and members of Russia's political and business
elite.
The IMF chief said he did "not appreciate seeing the
IMF cited alongside
the Russian mafia or oligarchs.
"We have better things to do than publish denials or
correct false reports.
But there is something positive in all this. Finally the
mafias of all kinds are realizing that they are no longer
safe in the western banks. I hope this will give us the
chance to step up surveillance of the suspect operations."
Yesterday, the IMF had said it had found no evidence
its financial aid to Russia had been misused, but added that
corruption allegations would be considered in its review of
an upcoming loan installment.
[22] BOSNIAN-SERB PM: STABILITY FEASIBLE ONCE MILOSEVIC
LEAVES
Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said future
Balkans stability depended on the political exit of Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic and other nationalist leaders.
Mr. Dodik, in an interview with a Bosnian Serb daily,
said that President Milosevic, Croatian President Franjo
Tudjman and Alija Izetbegovic, of Bosnia's
collective presidency, must leave politics for the conflict-
torn region to heal.
"Stabilization of Serbia and the whole region will be
possible when Milosevic, Tudjman, Izetbegovic and Republika
Srpska's leaders from the beginning of (Bosnia's) conflict
leave" the political scene, Dodik said in the weekend
interview with Glas Srpski.
He stressed that Mr. Milosevic was not the only factor
of destabilization in the region, referring to Tudjman;
Izetbegovic, the Moslem member of Bosnia's tripartite-
presidency; and Bosnian Serb 1992-95 wartime leaders.
But he emphasized that Milosevic was the biggest
"failure in the past 10 years".
[23] MAMMOTH BONE FOUND IN BULGARIA
A prehistoric bone probably from a mammoth which lived
one million years ago has been found in northern Bulgaria,
the BTA news agency reported yesterday.
The 150 cm (5 ft) long foot bone was found 15 meters
(50 feet) underground
beneath a sand quarry near the town of Biala Slatina in
central Bulgaria, according to BTA.
The animal was believed to be 5.5 meters (17 ft) tall
and weigh 25-30 tons, according to museum chief Ivan
Raichev. Further excavations are planned to search for more
bones, he said.
[24] ALTERNATE FM TO MEET WITH COOK, HANNAY IN LONDON TODAY
Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis
is scheduled to meet with British Foreign Secretary Robin
Cook during his visit to London today, with whom he will
discuss bilateral relations, European Union issues, the
Cyprus issue, Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's relations
with the Union.
Mr. Kranidiotis is also expected to meet with Britain's
special envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay.
[25] US TO PAY $4.5 MILION IN DAMAGES FOR CHINESE EMBASSY
BOMBING
The United States are to pay $4.5 million in
compensation damages to the families of those who were
killed or injured during NATO's bombing of the Chinese
embassy in Belgrade last May.
According to a US embassy official in Beijing, the
State Department's legal adviser David Andrews held talks
with officials from the Chinese Foreign Ministry in an
effort to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Three persons were killed and 27 were injured when NATO
missiles attacked the embassy building.
[26] NEW EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5.2 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IN
TURKEY
The residents of north-western Turkey panicked this
morning when an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter
scale shook the region of Marmara at 11:10am, 14 days after
the devastating earthquake of 7.4 that hit the country.
The tremor had the same epicenter with the August 17
earthquake and was felt in Istanbul. Many people panicked
fearing the collapse of more buildings which had suffered
extensive damages by the first earthquake.
[27] ZULFI LIVANELI: "YES" TO THEODORAKIS' CANDIDATURE FOR
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
Turkish music composer Zulfi Livaneli characterized as
excellent action the initiative undertaken by 200 Greek
politicians and intellectuals, who back the candidature of
Greek music composer Mikis Theodorakis for the Nobel Peace
Prize.
Mr. Livaneli said to MPA that he backs this initiative
as a simple citizen, adding that he does not know what the
politicians will do but he will support it and will launch
an effort to win the backing of the Turkish intellectuals as
well.
[28] ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND 166 WERE INJURED BY THE
STRONG AFTERSHOCK IN TURKEY TODAY
A man was killed and at least 166 people were injured
by the strong aftershock measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale
that hit the region of north-western Turkey this morning.
According to information, several buildings collapsed
because they already had suffered serious damages from the
devastating earthquake of 7.4 on the Richter scale that hit
Turkey on August 17.
A 30yearold man died in hospital from a head injury,
while another man broke both his legs when he panicked and
jumped out of a third-floor window.
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