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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-09-02

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, September 2, 1999

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] PASOK EXECUTIVE BUREAU: YES TO FUNDS, BUT ONLY FOR AID
  • [02] INNER CABINET CONVENES TODAY TO REVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY
  • [03] STATE TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE SECTOR
  • [04] TURKISH SOCCER TEAM TO PLAY IN FRIENDLY MATCH WITH GREECE
  • [05] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER UNVEILS ECONOMIC POLICY AHEAD OF PM
  • [06] CIVILIAN TRAIN CARRYING MILITARY ARMS DERAILS IN N. GREECE
  • [07] TOURISM VOUCHERS GIVEN TO GREEKS FROM FORMER SOVIET UNION
  • [08] HOLY SYNOD OF GREEK CHURCH DISCUSSES POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE
  • [09] TRUNK DATING BACK 25 MILLION YEARS FOUND IN FOSSILIZED FOREST
  • [10] ASE BREAKS NEW RECORD, GENERAL INDEX ENDS AT 5,440.93 POINTS
  • [11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW
  • [12] PAPANDREOU-KARAMANLIS MEETING
  • [13] NEWS BULLETIN IN THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE BY MPA
  • [14] THE GALATASARAY PLAYERS VISITED THE HOUSE OF KEMAL ATATURK IN THESSALONIKI
  • [15] ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN DELEGATIONS MEET IN ATHENS
  • [16] NEW ECONOMIC MEASURES WERE ANNOUNCED BY THE PRIME MINISTER
  • [17] PAPANDREOU-PERES MEETING
  • [18] THE US BUSINESSES SHOW AN INCREASED INTEREST IN THE MARKET OF NORTHERN GREECE
  • [19] COALITION OF THE LEFT BACKS LEONIDAS KIRKOS FOR PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [20] PKK PLEDGES TO LAY DOWN ITS ARMS ONCE AND FOR ALL
  • [21] TURKEY WARNS EU: "WE MAY NOT ASK FOR OUR CANDIDACY AGAIN"
  • [22] CYPRUS WILL PROTEST TO THE UN THE KILLING OF ELDERLY MAN
  • [23] BIRAD:A SHIFT IN GREECE'S POLICY ON TURKEY WOULD SURPRISE ME
  • [24] SERB ORTHODOX CHURCH: 256 SERBS WERE KILLED AFTER THE WAR

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] PASOK EXECUTIVE BUREAU: YES TO FUNDS, BUT ONLY FOR AID

    During a session held yesterday evening and on the recommendation of Foreign Minister George Papandreou, the ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau approved the granting of EU funds to Turkey, on the provision that the said monies will be allocated solely for humanitarian reasons.

    However, the EB did clarify that the aid cannot be associated with Greece's objection to Turkey's funding from an EU protocol and other national issues.

    Today, Mr. Papandreou will meet with the leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, the secretary-general of the Communist Party of Greece Aleka Paparega and the leader of the Coalition of Left and Progress Nikos Konstantopoulos.

    [02] INNER CABINET CONVENES TODAY TO REVIEW ECONOMIC POLICY

    An inner cabinet meeting will be held today in order to review its economic policy for the upcoming fiscal year. Moreover, the participants will draw the final touches on the Prime Minister's new tax plan, which will be unveiled during this weekend's inauguration of the 64th International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki.

    The modifications that are to be announced in the tax system are said to include the abolishment of objective criteria for the self-employed, raising the tax-exempt limit for wage earners and to two million drachmas from the current 1.355 million drachmas, and formulating new tax scales.

    [03] STATE TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE SECTOR

    Á member of the Pan-Thessaly Farmers Committee, one of the largest farmers organizations in the country, dismissed the government's announcement of extensive support for the sector as mere campaign talk.

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis announced the government's plans to restructure rural Greece and provide extensive support to farmers.

    Speaking after chairing a cabinet meeting yesterday, The Premier said the government was earmarking 9.5 trillion drachmas for the 2000-2006 period to guarantee farmers' incomes and ensure agricultural development.

    [04] TURKISH SOCCER TEAM TO PLAY IN FRIENDLY MATCH WITH GREECE

    The Turkish soccer team of Galatasaray will play a friendly match this evening against the Thessaloniki team of PAOK where all game proceeds will be sent to the earthquake-stricken population in Turkey.

    The Galatasaray players praised the initiative undertaken by the Greek team and thanked the people of Greece for the assistance they are offering to the suffering people of Turkey.

    The Turkish team's players will visit the house of Kemal Ataturk in Thessaloniki this afternoon.

    [05] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER UNVEILS ECONOMIC POLICY AHEAD OF PM

    As the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou presented a document codifying the Greek stock market's rules and regulations, the leader of the main opposition party, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, held another press conference unveiling his party's economic policy and thus preempting the Premier's address to be given tomorrow evening.

    While conceding that the country's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union in the year 2001 is certain, Mr. Karamanlis asked "then what?"

    Outlining his party's economic policy, Mr. Karamanlis stated that the primary focuses are the tremendous fiscal problems, the heavy burden imposed on the taxpayers, the unyielding inflation rate, the public sector, the country's competitiveness, the explosion in the unemployment rate and the widening social and regional inequalities.

    Shortly afterwards, the leader of the minor opposition party Democratic and Social Movement Dimitris Tsovolas accused both Messrs. Simitis and Karamanlis of competing with one another by resorting to senseless promises and by underestimating the intelligence of the Greek people.

    [06] CIVILIAN TRAIN CARRYING MILITARY ARMS DERAILS IN N. GREECE

    A Greek civilian train transporting KFOR military vehicles and arms derailed this morning in Northern Greece, on the Thessaloniki-Eidomeni route, and, while no one was injured, the line remains closed.

    As the Greek Railway Organization (OSE) announced, three of the 16 coaches derailed, under as-of-yet unknown circumstances, outside the city of Edessa.

    Another train bound for Kossovo derailed yesterday north of Thessaloniki, leaving two of the 120 KFOR soldiers- passengers slightly injured.

    OSE officials said that today's accident is a coincidence.

    [07] TOURISM VOUCHERS GIVEN TO GREEKS FROM FORMER SOVIET UNION

    Five hundred repatriate Greeks from the former Soviet Union are to be given the opportunity to holiday in Greece, thanks to the social tourism vouchers given by the Macedonia- Thrace Ministry's General Secretariat of Repatriate Greeks in cooperation with the Greek Tourism Organization.

    Those eligible can holiday in Greece for seven days, from September 6-10, in hotels, rooms to let, or apartments in the Municipality of Pieria.

    Further information can be obtained at 239-786 or 285- 628.

    [08] HOLY SYNOD OF GREEK CHURCH DISCUSSES POPE'S VISIT TO GREECE

    The New Holy Synod of the Greek Church is convening today in order to discuss the visit of John Paul II to Greece.

    The Pope has expressed his desire to visit Greece in order to follow the footsteps of Apostle Paul's journey.

    According to reports, the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece is expected to recommend that the Pope be allowed to visit as long as he will do so a worshipper.

    [09] TRUNK DATING BACK 25 MILLION YEARS FOUND IN FOSSILIZED FOREST

    A tree trunk dating back 25 million years, the oldest such discovery in Greece, was discovered in the fossilized forest of Fylactos in the Prefecture of Evros.

    The finding, discovered by the Athens University professor of Historical Geology and Paleontology Evangelos Velitzelos and his research team, will constitute a record for the Ancient Botany science worldwide.

    The trunk is over 20 meters high, with a width of 1.5 meters and belongs to an ancestral form of an oak.

    The Prefecture of Evros has been funding a program that registers all findings in the region.

    [10] ASE BREAKS NEW RECORD, GENERAL INDEX ENDS AT 5,440.93 POINTS

    Another record was broken today at the Athens Stock Exchange, where the general price index closed at 5,440.93 points, marking an increase of 1.29% and with trade volume closing at GRD360 billion.

    In the banks sector, the National Bank of Greece ended at GRD24,500, Ionic at GRD17,200, Commercial at GRD32,170, Labor at GRD28,990 and Credit at GRD24,200.

    [11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis will arrive at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport tomorrow afternoon accompanied by government ministers.

    At the airport he will be welcomed by ministers, parliament deputies, PASOK leading party members and representatives of local authorities. Mr. Simitis will inaugurate the 64th International Trade Fair later in the evening at 8pm with a speech at the "I.Vellidis" Conference Center and at 10pm he will attend a formal reception at the Government House.

    On Saturday at 11am he will meet with representatives of Thessaloniki's local authorities and at 2pm he will have lunch with PASOK party officials at Macedonia Palace Hotel. Later, at 11:45am on Sunday morning, he will visit the International Trade Fair grounds, at 1pm he will give a press conference at "I. Vellidis" Conference Center and at 6pm he will visit the archeological site of Dion in Pieria.

    [12] PAPANDREOU-KARAMANLIS MEETING

    Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met with New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis. Mr. Papandreou, after his meeting with the leader of the main opposition party, stated that he sees a wide consensus regarding the EU economic aid to Turkey.

    He said that it is not linked with Turkey's EU funding which after all is not included in the agenda of the informal EU Council meeting that will be held in the weekend. New Democracy accused the government of conducting occasional foreign policy.

    [13] NEWS BULLETIN IN THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE BY MPA

    Macedonian Press Agency is broadcasting a news bulletin in the Russian language through its site on the Internet (www.mpa.gr). This special news bulletin starting on September 10 will be recorded and radio stations will be able to use it through the cyberspace.

    MPA general director Spiros Kouzinopoulos stated that MPA through its new service aims at bringing Greece's voice to the Russian-speaking countries of the former Soviet Union, to the Greeks living in those republics and to all those in the world who speak the Russian language.

    It should be noted that the English language news bulletin is broadcast since the opening of MPA and by the end of the year there will be news bulletins in Bulgarian, Albanian, Serb, Romanian and Turkish.

    Macedonian Press Agency is the first Greek mass media and among the first in Europe which is active on the Internet since 1993 and today is one of the most visited sites with over 1 million calls per week to its home-pages with news reports, archives, special presentations, audio and video taped news bulletins and photographic archives.

    [14] THE GALATASARAY PLAYERS VISITED THE HOUSE OF KEMAL ATATURK IN THESSALONIKI

    The players of the Turkish football team Galatasaray visited in Thessaloniki the house of Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, a few hours before the match against the local team of PAOK this evening.

    The players of the Turkish football team stated that they had many invitations for matches abroad but they selected Thessaloniki's PAOK because of the solidarity shown by the Greek people to the Turkish population hit by the recent devastating earthquake.

    The president of Galatasaray stated that the only thing dividing the two peoples is the fact that they speak a different language. Meanwhile, fans of the Greek football team donated blood for the Turkish people who were injured by the earthquake.

    [15] ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN DELEGATIONS MEET IN ATHENS

    The fourth dialogue meeting between Israeli and Palestinian delegations opened in Athens at noon today. The dialogue started at the initiative of Greece two years ago in a very difficult period for the peace efforts in the Middle East.

    Greek deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis stated that in spite of the difficulties there is renewed hope for a permanent settlement in the Middle East because Israel has a new government and because this is a decisive period for peace in the region.

    Mr. Kranidiotis stressed that both sides have displayed political will for the peace process to move ahead and for this reason he is more optimistic than ever. He also added that Greece's role in this initiative is significant and is recognized by all sides.

    Discussion in today's meeting will focus on the political situation in the Middle East and the talks will be coordinated by a representative of the Greek foreign ministry.

    [16] NEW ECONOMIC MEASURES WERE ANNOUNCED BY THE PRIME MINISTER

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis referred today to the positive achievements of the economic policy implemented so far by the government and underlined that the measures were decided to limit social injustices and safeguard the continuation of the governmental work. The prime minister will make an overall presentation of the government's economic policy and the future developments within the framework of Thessaloniki's International Trade fair he will inaugurate tomorrow.

    Mr. Simitis announced cuts in the prices of goods and services, tax reductions and special measures for the financially weaker groups of the population such as the pensioners, the farmers and the unemployed. The total cost of the measures announced is 470 billion drachmas.

    Specifically, the special sales tax on heating oil is being cut from 20.000 drachmas to 6.100 drachmas per ton, while the special sales tax on private cars will also be cut resulting to a price reduction of 10% on the average. This measure will be in effect immediately.

    The tax allowance will be increased to 1.900.000 drachmas for the wage earners and pensioners and to 1.600.000 drachmas for the rest of the tax payers. Also, the tax relief for those who have children is increased and the objective taxation criteria are being abolished. Among the rest of the measures announced are included the increase of the farmers' pension by 10.000 drachmas a month, the increase of the unemployment benefit by 10% and the increase of the social solidarity benefit by 3.000 drachmas a month. The prime minister also announced that the stock exchange transactions tax will be doubled.

    [17] PAPANDREOU-PERES MEETING

    Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou met with former Israeli prime minister Simon Peres on the sidelines of the fourth dialogue meeting between Israeli and Palestinian delegations that is being held in Athens at the initiative of Greece.

    Mr. Papandreou praised the contribution of Mr. Peres to the peace process in the Middle East and characterized him as a man of peace. Both Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Peres stated that the Greek-Israeli relations are very good, while Mr. Peres stated that Greece's assistance to the earthquake stricken population in Turkey helps toward the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations.

    Also, the former prime minister of Israel expressed the belief that positive steps will be made soon in the Middle East peace process.

    [18] THE US BUSINESSES SHOW AN INCREASED INTEREST IN THE MARKET OF NORTHERN GREECE

    The US businesses show an renewed interest in the market of northern Greece, as the developments in the Balkans have created the preconditions for the transformation of Thessaloniki into a Balkan center.

    US embassy to Athens commercial adviser Patrick Santilo stated in a press conference on the occasion of Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair that during the year and in the year 2000 there will be a notable increase in the US investment presence in Greece.

    The US official stated that the sectors that are more appealing to the US businessmen are defense and medical equipment, constructions, franchising and tourist infrastructures, while he reminded that the trade transactions between Greece and the United States were 1.5 billion dollars last year, increased by 3-5%.

    [19] COALITION OF THE LEFT BACKS LEONIDAS KIRKOS FOR PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

    The political secretariat of opposition Coalition of the Left party decided to back former Communist Party general secretary Leonidas Kirkos for the Greek presidency.

    Coalition of the Left party president Nikos Konstantopoulos had expressed the position that his party will not back president Kostis Stephanopoulos to be re- elected to the post, speaking to the Athens radio station "Flash" yesterday. He had pointed out that the decision of his party to back its own candidate does not constitute a rejection of the current president but it is made in protest to the false dilemmas set by the government.

    Commenting on the foreign policy followed by the government, Coalition of the Left president stated that it is characterized by a lack of strategy, adding that it is the right time to raise the issue of armaments cuts.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [20] PKK PLEDGES TO LAY DOWN ITS ARMS ONCE AND FOR ALL

    The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has pledged to lay down its arms once and for all, according to a statement made by its commander Osman Ocalan, the brother of Abdullah Ocalan.

    "We are laying down our weapons, never to take them up again," PKK commander said in a statement broadcast live by the pro- Kurdish satellite channel Medya-TV.

    "The PKK will never fight again."

    The PKK last week announced it had begun withdrawing its forces from Turkey following a call by Abdullah Ocalan to end the armed struggle.

    Osman Ocalan said the pull-out had run into problems due to continuing Turkish army operations in the area, but would be completed by the end of the year.

    [21] TURKEY WARNS EU: "WE MAY NOT ASK FOR OUR CANDIDACY AGAIN"

    Turkey warned today that it might give up trying to join the European Union if its latest application is rejected at the EU summit to be held at Helsinki in December.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem told the London daily "Financial Times" in an interview that Ankara was "tired" of the rejections that have rebuffed Turkey's attempts at membership.

    "It has damaged Turkey's image and become humiliating," he said. "If it turns wrong at Helsinki, we may not ask for our candidacy again."

    [22] CYPRUS WILL PROTEST TO THE UN THE KILLING OF ELDERLY MAN

    Cyprus will protest to the United Nations the killing of an elderly Greek-Cypriot in the Turkish-occupied north of the island, according to the island's Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kassoulides.

    Stelios Harpas, 68, one of the few elderly Greek- Cypriots remaining in the occupied north, was found dead on Tuesday near his village of Rizokarpaso.

    "We have been deeply shocked by this murder and we want the international community to know that we consider the occupying power responsible," Mr. Kassoulides told reporters, adding that he will also demand a full investigation of the killing by the United Nations Peace Force on the Mediterranean island.

    [23] BIRAD:A SHIFT IN GREECE'S POLICY ON TURKEY WOULD SURPRISE ME

    One of Turkey's most well-known political analysts, Ali Birad, believes that Greece will not shift its strategy and withdraw its objections over the European Union's funding protocol for Turkey, while, as he stated in a recent interview, any such change would literally surprise him.

    Speaking to the BBC's Turkish broadcast, Mr. Birad said that "I don't think that lifting the Greek veto is possible.

    "Greece has associated the veto with the principle of (seeking) recourse (concerning the Imia islets) with the International Court of Justice at The Hague. That was a significant strategic move," he added.

    According to the Turkish analyst, Greece will not lift the veto, but will allow for financial assistance, especially for the earthquake victims.

    [24] SERB ORTHODOX CHURCH: 256 SERBS WERE KILLED AFTER THE WAR

    The Serb Orthodox Church in Kosovo has publicized a list containing the names of 256 Serbs killed between June 2- August 22.

    According to the report issued by the Church's information service, most of the victims were will in Pec, where the strife between Albanians and Serbs is especially felt given that the Orthodox Patriarchate is also located in that city.

    Forty-five Serb residents of Prishtina were killed after the end of NATO's bombings.


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