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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-09-24

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 24, 1999

SECTIONS

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

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE
  • [02] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ARRIVES IN THESSALONIKI TODAY
  • [03] ASE GENERAL INDEX STILL ON A DECLINE TODAY
  • [04] EU COMMISSIONERS TO VISIT ATHENS FOR REVIEW OF QUAKE DAMAGE
  • [05] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CONTINUES ITS DECLINE
  • [06] THE CABINET HELD A MEETING TODAY
  • [07] PAPANDREOU: THE US IS DETERMINED TO HAVE PROGRESS IN THE CYPRUS ISSUE
  • [08] BSEC ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS: THE BALANCE OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT IS IN DANGER
  • [09] THE PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AKKUYU NUCLEAR PLANT COULD BE REVISED
  • [10] THE WIFE OF THE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER IS IN ATHENS
  • [11] VENIZELOS: SATISFACTION FOR THE FYROM PARLIAMENT DECISION ON THE OKTA OIL REFINERIES
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [12] HELLENIC PETROLEUM ACQUIRES CONTROL OF FYROM OIL REFINERY
  • [13] PRESIDENT OF UGANDA TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE
  • [14] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ACCEPTS UN INVITATION FOR PEACE TALKS
  • [15] C OF E APPROVES 83 MILLION DOLLARS IN QUAKE AID FOR GREECE
  • [16] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH US COUNTERPART
  • [17] GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • [18] GREEK, ALBANIAN HOSPITALS ESTABLISH BILATERAL COOPERATION
  • [19] GREEK FM TO MEET TURKISH COUNTERPART IN NEW YORK TODAY
  • [20] U.S. PRAISE NATO'S SOLANA FOR HIS "MASTERPIECE OF DIPLOMACY"
  • [21] RUSSIAN PM: WE SHALL DESTROY TERRORISTS EVERYWHERE
  • [22] RUSSIAN PM DISMISSES RUMORS OF YELTSIN'S EARLY RETIREMENT
  • [23] "THE GUARDIAN" CALLS ON THE BRITISH MUSEUM TO GIVE ANSWERS ON THE ELGIN MARBLES
  • [24] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH US OFFICIALS

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE

    Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with the United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in New York yesterday, where the latter relayed the Clinton Administration's resolve to assist in the Cyprus issue.

    Addressing the UN Assembly, Mr. Papandreou announced the establishment of a joint stand-by disaster response unit (SDRU), comprising contingents drawn from governmental and non-governmental agencies of both countries to reinforce the UN capacity in this field.

    [02] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ARRIVES IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

    The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Costas Karamanlis, will arrive in Thessaloniki today for a three-day visit.

    Mr. Karamanlis will arrive at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport at 7 p.m. and his first stop will be at the Trade Unions' Center.

    Tomorrow morning, Mr. Karamanlis will visit the Technical and Trade Chamber offices and later at noon he will visit the Greek Sugar Industry plant at Plati in the prefecture of Imathia, while in the evening he will speak in a dinner that will be given in honor of the representatives of the production sector at the "Ioannis Vellidis" conference center.

    On Sunday morning, he will visit Thessaloniki's Port Organization and will give a press conference in the afternoon at the "I. Vellidis" conference center.

    [03] ASE GENERAL INDEX STILL ON A DECLINE TODAY

    The Athens Stock Exchange general index ended 4.66 percent lower today at 5,547 points, mostly a result of the mass liquidation in the banks sectors, with turnover having reached 115 billion drachmas.

    Sector indices ended as follows: Parallel Market - 7.41%, Construction -6.38%, Banking -3.71%.

    According to press reports, the climate is just as gloomy in other European markets.

    [04] EU COMMISSIONERS TO VISIT ATHENS FOR REVIEW OF QUAKE DAMAGE

    Greece's EU Commissioner responsible for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou and her French colleague Michel Barnier, responsible for Regional Policy, are to hold meetings with Greek government officials in order to review economic aid needed by Greece as a result of September 7's devastating earthquake.

    These meetings, expected to be held at the latest by mid-October, will be preceded by a visit to Athens conducted by EC experts who will meet with their Greek counterparts.

    Although Commission President Romano Prodi has already declared his intention to avail funds for Greece, diplomatic sources in Brussels state that there are legal hurdles to be overcome, i.e. a formula needs to be drawn that will allow for the transfer of funds from the EU coffers for the purposes of aid.

    However, according to BBC, the major objection posed by the Commission is that it does not wish to fund the building of new homes for the earthquake victims but, rather, would prefer that community funds be made available for restoring damages to the infrastructures of the earthquake-stricken regions of Attica.

    [05] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE CONTINUES ITS DECLINE

    Today's session of the Athens Stock Exchange was characterized by a strong downward trend. The main characteristic was the massive liquidation which led all the secondary indexes and the overwhelming majority of the shares to a downward course. It should be noted that the general index 45 minutes before the end of today's session showed losses of 7.30% and dropped below 5.400.

    Later, there was a slight correction and the losses were limited to 5.41%, while the general index closed at 5.503,47. The volume of transactions reached 354.5 billion drachmas.

    [06] THE CABINET HELD A MEETING TODAY

    The economic policy of the government, the developments in the Athens Stock Exchange and next year's budget were the main issues discussed in the cabinet meeting that was held in Athens today.

    Also, were presented figures on the cost of the reconstruction of the regions hit by the earthquake, while the course of privatization and the measures for the support of the small and medium sized businesses were also discussed.

    Prime minister Kostas Simitis appeared satisfied with the course of the economy, while he characterized as nonsense the rumours speaking about early elections and underlined that the present parliament can elect a president of the republic.

    Speaking in the cabinet meeting, minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou suggested that the issue of the stock market should not be discussed as it is not a political issue. He said that the upward trend characterizing the course of the Greek economy can not rule out any fluctuations and predicted that the Athens Stock Exchange will soon recover.

    Mr. Papantoniou pointed out that Greece will submit its application for its accession into the EMU in the first 10 days of March 2000 but the battle against inflation must continue to the last minute. He also stated that inflation will de-escalate further in the following months.

    [07] PAPANDREOU: THE US IS DETERMINED TO HAVE PROGRESS IN THE CYPRUS ISSUE

    The US government appears determined to make efforts for a new step in the Cyprus issue, stated Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou after the meeting he had with his US counterpart Madeleine Albright.

    The Greek foreign minister underlined that this was the impression he got from the meetings he had with Ms. Albright, US ambassador to the UN Richard Halbrooke and US assistant secretary of state Mark Grossman and also after the short discussion he had with the US president himself.

    Responding to questions by reporters on when the talks will start, he stressed that this is left to the discretion of UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and stated that the timetable will be set after Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to Washington.

    On the Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Papandreou stated that he discussed with his US counterpart the Euro-Turkish rapprochement, adding that it was also stressed that there is a need for the Greek-Turkish relations to be based on international law and the treaties signed by the two countries.

    [08] BSEC ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS: THE BALANCE OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT IS IN DANGER

    The balance of the world environment is in danger and this will affect directly the social prosperity and the economic progress stated Greek undersecretary of environment, land planning and public works Theodoros Koliopanos at the opening of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation countries environment ministers' meeting that is being held in Thessaloniki within the framework of BSEC's Greek presidency.

    In the meeting were discussed environmental issues of mutual interest as the management of natural resources, pollution control, coastal zones' management, the tourist regions and the protection of the Black Sea.

    In the meeting participated government ministers and representatives from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldavia Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Albania and Romania.

    In the text with the conclusions reached in the meeting that will be signed after its completion, it will be stressed that there is a need for the improvement of the Black Sea environment quality. Also, a special reference will be made to the importance of the coastal regions for the preservation of the natural environment and for the economic development, while they will stress that tourism tends to be of the most important economic activities worldwide and the necessary measures should be taken so that tourism will not hurt the environment.

    [09] THE PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AKKUYU NUCLEAR PLANT COULD BE REVISED

    The revision of the plan for the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant is expected to be discussed but this would not mean that the plant's construction will be canceled, stated to MPA Turkish minister of environment Fevzi Aitekin, who attends the BSEC environment ministers meeting that is being held in Thessaloniki.

    Mr. Aitekin pointed out that the Akkuyu nuclear plant is very important for Turkey because it will cover the country's energy needs and therefore, its construction can not be canceled. However, he pointed out that because of the earthquakes that recently hit Turkey the issue of the revision of its construction plan could be discussed in order to minimize the dangers in case of a natural disaster.

    [10] THE WIFE OF THE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER IS IN ATHENS

    The wife of Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Asnar is in Athens on a private visit and this morning she visited the Acropolis accompanied by the wife of the Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, Daphni.

    While touring the archaeological site, Ms. Daphni Simitis stressed to Ms. Anna Botegia Asnar that the most important of the Parthenon sculptures are kept in the Museum of London.

    [11] VENIZELOS: SATISFACTION FOR THE FYROM PARLIAMENT DECISION ON THE OKTA OIL REFINERIES

    Greek minister of development Evangelos Venizelos expressed satisfaction after yesterday's decision reached by the FYROM parliament to ratify the contract through which 45% of the OKTA oil refineries will be acquired by Hellenic Petroleum Ltd.

    Mr. Venizelos stated that with this decision is being ratified the contract through which the Hellenic Petroleum Ltd becomes the owner of the majority of the company to which belong both Skopje's OKTA oil refinery and the company that will build and manage the Thessaloniki-Skopje oil pipeline.

    Mr. Venizelos stated that this way is being completed a move of strategic importance which has an evident energy, economic and political significance.

    In his statement, Mr. Venizelos also underlined that this move is one of the many taking place in the energy diplomacy sector, within the framework of the inter-Balkan cooperation in the sector of energy.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [12] HELLENIC PETROLEUM ACQUIRES CONTROL OF FYROM OIL REFINERY

    Greece's Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) has acquired control of Skopje's OKTA oil refinery and, within its plans to tap into energy sector investment opportunities in SE Europe, will now proceed with the construction of a Thessaloniki- Skopje oil pipeline.

    FYROM's 120-seat Parliament approved the acquisition with 71 votes in favor, thus overcoming the relevant veto imposed by the country's President Kiro Gligorov.

    The agreement calls for ELPE becoming the strategic investor of FYROM's OKTA refinery, with the investment being the largest ever in the neighboring country. ELPE, which is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, will upgrade OKTA's facilities and will construct the 90-million-dollar pipeline, which will have an annual capacity of 2.5 million tons and a length of 220 kilometers. The pipeline is due for completion in three years.

    [13] PRESIDENT OF UGANDA TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE

    The president of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Keguta Museveni, will conduct an official visit to Greece upon the invitation of the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos.

    President Museveni will be in Greece between September 29 - October 1.

    [14] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ACCEPTS UN INVITATION FOR PEACE TALKS

    The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides stated yesterday that he would "certainly" attend UN-backed peace talks on the fate of the divided island of Cyprus, even if the Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash refused to do so.

    If Mr. Denktash fails to show "that is his business. It is not my business," President Clerides stated during a press conference at the United Nations, saying that for his part, he "certainly will accept" an invitation.

    UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to extend the invitation for peace talks over the course of the next several days.

    "Let the international community decide what to do with Mr. Denktash to bring him to the negotiating table, because I will be sitting there waiting," President Clerides said.

    [15] C OF E APPROVES 83 MILLION DOLLARS IN QUAKE AID FOR GREECE

    The Council of Europe's Social Development Fund (SDF) has approved loans of 312 million dollars for Turkey and 83 million dollars for Greece for the victims of recent devastating earthquakes in the two countries.

    During a meeting yesterday, the governing body of the SDF agreed on the aid after reviewing the countries' most urgent reconstruction needs.

    In Turkey, part of the aid will be spent on re-building around 10,000 homes in the Marmara region, where 15,000 people were killed in the earthquake of August 17, while Greece is still reviewing the reconstruction projects it intends to proceed to.

    The SDF is the Council of Europe's development bank. One of its major roles has been to make loans to member states hit by natural disasters.

    [16] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH US COUNTERPART

    Greece's National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos held talks with his United States counterpart William Cohen, en route to Boston from Toronto yesterday.

    Commenting on the talks, which centered on bilateral relations and Balkan issues, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that the discussions were useful for both sides.

    "We discussed new ways of cooperation for stability in the Balkans and the Middle East...We also discussed bilateral issues, issues of military cooperation, but also the process of modernization of NATO forces in all member-states," he stated.

    Mr. Tsochatzopoulos added that he and Mr. Cohen also discussed the situation in the region after the Kosovo crisis.

    " I drew attention to the weaknesses existing at present, both in terms of the formation of a police force by the United Nations that will guard the borders and ensure internal security, and as regards the further strengthening of KFOR, for it to be able to implement the UN mandate and safeguard human rights for all ethnic groups," he stated.

    [17] GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

    In his address before the 54th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Greece's Foreign Minster George Papandreou called for a coherent and consistent approach by the international community to tackle Balkan problems, in line with a universal application of principles where the protection of peace and human rights, and the closing of the gap between rich and poor figure prominently.

    "We must strive to develop three pillars of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe: Democracy, Security and Reconstruction, Mr. Papandoreu stressed.

    "Globalization in the field of information, ideas, the economy, democracy, and human rights, has been the dominant feature of the last years of our century. Some people fear it, some try to ignore it, a few try to fight it, others to avoid it. Many welcome it as a creative challenge.

    "We Greeks are amongst the latter category. We thrive on openness, freedom of exchange, freedom of thought, of expression and of inquiry. We speak the language of dialogue, the language of Ideas. This is our tradition.

    "We are proud of this tradition that sparked off the Renaissance and supported the Enlightenment, whose essence was captured by Immanuel Kant's motto: 'sapere aude' -dare to think. Globalization challenges us to dare think the unthinkable in terms of sovereignty, international relations and human rights. But this is not enough. We know we must go beyond. We must dare to state a vision for our world," he stated.

    "We need to globalize peace. We watch in awe as Israelis and Palestinians shake hands once again. The peace might be local but our pride is international. Equally, when watching India and Pakistan we dare to hope for non- proliferation; we cringe as pictures of war come out of Africa. We cannot hope for peace and yet shut our eye to war.

    "We need to globalize human rights, Do we apply the same standards everywhere, from Kosovo to Timor to Cyprus to Rwanda?"

    Furthermore, Mr. Papandreou referred to Greek and Turkish relations, by stating that "from the outset, Greece shared with Turkey the vision that one day Turkey will become a worthy member of a United Europe. But we recognize today that our role needs to load the process.

    "The terrible earthquakes that shook both our countries have accelerated the process. Spontaneous and dramatic acts of fraternity and solidarity between our citizens short- circuited elaborate diplomatic strategies, and exerted powerful pressure on our governments to move ahead boldly.

    "I, for one, shall never forget the sweat, tears and the genuine expressions of solidarity and friendship shared by so many non-governmental organizations and particularly by members of the Greek and Turkish rescue workers (EMAK and AKUT), sifting over the rubble of buildings destroyed by the earthquakes. These people did not wait for us to act. Their actions globalize democracy," he said.

    [18] GREEK, ALBANIAN HOSPITALS ESTABLISH BILATERAL COOPERATION

    Albania's regional hospital Petro Nako of Saranda has established relations with Northern Greece's hospital of Ioannina, according to the Albanian news agency ATA.

    The field of bilateral cooperation between the two hospitals will cover regular ties, joint operations performed by Albanian and Greek surgeons, as well as one and two-month courses of specialization.

    During Albania's unrest of 1997, scores of wounded from the districts of Saranda and Delvine were treated at the Ioannina hospital.

    [19] GREEK FM TO MEET TURKISH COUNTERPART IN NEW YORK TODAY

    Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou will meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem in New York today, on the sidelines of the 54th General Assembly of the United Nations.

    The United States Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke relayed to the President of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides the Clinton Administration's interest in restarting talks between the island's two sides.

    [20] U.S. PRAISE NATO'S SOLANA FOR HIS "MASTERPIECE OF DIPLOMACY"

    The United States Pentagon awarded NATO Secretary- General Javier Solana a medal for distinguished service yesterday, for his "lasting contribution to peace and security" as leader of the Alliance in a period of expansion and conflict in Balkans.

    US Defense Secretary William Cohen praised Mr. Solana's "masterpiece of diplomacy" in keeping the Alliance united during its air war against Yugoslavia, the first war in NATO's 50-year history.

    "I would say only a man of calm determination could have persuaded the reluctant and restless to stay the course," Mr. Cohen said bestowing the Defense Department's Medal for Distinguished Service upon Mr. Solana.

    Mr. Solana, will step down from his post as secretary general on October 6. He will be succeeded by Lord George Robertson, the former British defense minister.

    [21] RUSSIAN PM: WE SHALL DESTROY TERRORISTS EVERYWHERE

    "Russian planes are dealing and shall go on dealing blows only at the bases of terrorists in Chechnya," Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told a press conference in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, today.

    "We shall pursue the terrorists everywhere. If we catch them even in a WC, we shall finish them off there, too," he stated.

    [22] RUSSIAN PM DISMISSES RUMORS OF YELTSIN'S EARLY RETIREMENT

    Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin dismissed rumors that President Boris Yeltsin would step down early, saying that such talk is an attempt to destabilize the political situation in Russia.

    Rumors of "the resignation of the president and government are connected with the undeclared war of international terrorism against Russia," Premier Putin told journalists today, adding that "I am sure that these are rumors deliberately started by those who are attacking Russia in order to destabilize the internal political situation."

    Repeated rumors that Yeltsin will step down next month have been splashed across the front pages of Moscow's newspapers and have kept the Russian capital abuzz for more than a week.

    [23] "THE GUARDIAN" CALLS ON THE BRITISH MUSEUM TO GIVE ANSWERS ON THE ELGIN MARBLES

    The British newspaper "The Guardian", within the framework of its freedom of information campaign, calls on the British Museum to make public all the documents concerning the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece. The newspaper mentions that those in charge of the museum maintain a total secrecy on the issue in spite of the fact that the discussions on the fate of the Parthenon Marbles have started about two centuries ago.

    At the same time, the newspaper requests that all the documents concerning the maintenance of the Parthenon Marbles be made public and in its relevant article points out that the British Museum has refused to give to publicity confidential documents since 1968 without justifying this decision.

    [24] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE MET WITH US OFFICIALS

    Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos met yesterday with the US National Security Council adviser Mr. Berger.

    They discussed issues concerning the Balkans, the situation in Kosovo and the refugees.


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