Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-10-06
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 6, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TEACHERS EMBARK ON MOBILIZATIONS TODAY
[02] REGISTRATION OF EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS TO BEGIN
ON FRIDAY
[03] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER INAUGURATES NATO SUB-
HQ IN LARISA
[04] GREEK, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS IN
THESSALONIKI FOR SEMINAR
[05] GERMAN NATIONAL MISSING SINCE YESTERDAY AT
MT. ATHOS
[06] PM ADDRESSES PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, DISCUSSES
G/T RELATIONS
[07] JAPANESE DELEGATION OF ECONOMY OFFICIALS
VISITS THRACE
[08] YUGOSLAVIA'S PRINCESS CATHERINE TO VISIT
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[09] DRAMA CHAMBER OFFICIALS TO MEET WITH EC'S
PRESIDENT PRODI
[10] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH PAPANDREOU
AND TSOCHATZOPOULOS
[11] VEDRINE AND PAPANDREOU ARE IN THESSALONIKI
[12] REPPAS: NO ONE CAN UNDERMINE CYPRUS' BID
FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
[13] NEW PRESIDENT IN THE AMERICAN FARM SCHOOL
[14] ACROPOLIS IS AT THE CENTER OF THE NEW
MILLENNIUM EVENTS
[15] GREECE OCCUPIES THE SECOND PLACE IN ALBANIA
IN EXPORTS AND INVESTMENTS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 26 FROM LONDON TRAIN
CRASH
[17] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO UNITED STATES
[18] SALOMON SMITH BARNEY UPGRADES ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
[19] NIOTIS MET WITH AMBASSADOR AL MOSES IN
WASHINGTON
[20] IMPORTANT CONTACTS OF THE MINISTER OF
PUBLIC ORDER IN WASHINGTON
[21] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON ON CNN
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NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] TEACHERS EMBARK ON MOBILIZATIONS TODAY
School teachers, professors and other
employees in the academic sector are embarking
on a series of mobilizations today, demanding
the abolishment of the educational reform law,
examinations in the junior year of high school
and brand new school buildings in Attica.
According to official estimates, 18% of the
country's high school juniors are flunking the
grade.
On the protest front, employees from all
sectors of Greece's labor force will join the
teachers in a rally to be held in downtown
Athens on October 12.
[02] REGISTRATION OF EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS TO BEGIN
ON FRIDAY
The National Statistical Service will begin
registering all those Attica residents whose
homes were destroyed or damaged during the
September 7 devastating earthquake.
The inner cabinet has conducted a thorough
review of damage and quake relief efforts.
According to the findings, 33% of the 185,000
buildings inspected throughout Attica needed
repair work and seven percent needed to be
pulled down.
School buildings had been particularly
adversely affected. Of the 2,465 buildings
inspected, 427 needed repair and two were to be
demolished.
Of those buildings needing repair, 175 were
to be completed in November, 125 in a longer
period of time and 45 would not open this school
year.
[03] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER INAUGURATES NATO SUB-
HQ IN LARISA
Greece's Defense Minister Akis
Tsochatzopoulos inaugurated the NATO sub-
headquarters in Larisa yesterday, in an official
ceremony attended by other leaders and NATO
representatives.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that Greece's
upgraded role in the new structure of NATO has
vindicated the country's contribution to shaping
the Alliance's new face, while it also confirmed
the country's role as a force for stability,
peace and security in the region.
The ceremony was attended by NATO supreme
commander US Gen. Wesley Clark, who described
yesterday's activation of the sub-headquarters
as a historic occasion.
[04] GREEK, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS IN
THESSALONIKI FOR SEMINAR
The Foreign Ministers of Greece and France,
George Papandreou and Yber Vedrine respectively,
are to meet in Thessaloniki today, in order to
address a seminar titled "southeastern Europe,
democratization, development, process of
fulfilment", which got underway yesterday.
Mr. Papandreou will brief Mr. Vedrine on
Greece's positions regarding Turkey's candidacy
for EU membership.
The two ministers will give a joint press
conference this evening.
The seminar will focus on the actions to be
taken by the two countries within the framework
of the Stability Pact and the discussion will
focus on the developments in the Balkan region.
[05] GERMAN NATIONAL MISSING SINCE YESTERDAY AT
MT. ATHOS
Police continue to search for a German
tourist missing on Mount Athos, the all-male
monastic community in northern Greece.
The German, was last seen near the Great
Lavra Monastery. His last contact was a phone
call he made on his mobile phone yesterday
afternoon where he stated that he is in good
health.
[06] PM ADDRESSES PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, DISCUSSES
G/T RELATIONS
Prime Minster Costas Simitis will meet with
the leaders of the Foreign Affairs and Defense
ministries today, with whom he will discuss
Greek-Turkish relations and the stance to be
adopted by Greece during the EU summit at
Helsinki.
In his address before the ruling PASOK
party's parliamentary group yesterday, Mr.
Simitis stated that the present and "un-
precedented" positive climate in Greek-Turkish
relations, must be turned into "deeds and
decisions" by Ankara, which clearly showed that
bilateral ties had entered a new period.
Mr. Simitis clarified that he was speaking
of deeds and decisions by Ankara which would
"create a solid foundation for the improvement
of bilateral relations".
The prime minister said such deeds and
decisions had "yet to appear", but expressed the
hope that Turkey would "take a substantial step"
to advance its European vocation and support
efforts being made for closer cooperation.
[07] JAPANESE DELEGATION OF ECONOMY OFFICIALS
VISITS THRACE
A delegation of Japanese businessmen
conducted a visit to Thrace yesterday, in order
to look into the opportunities for economic and
trade liaisons with local ventures.
The delegation included the general
director of JETRO, the Japanese foreign trade
board, and the head of economy and trade at
Japan's embassy in Athens.
Among the items discussed were
opportunities for local investment and expanded
alliances between Greek and Japanese firms.
Deputy National Economy Minister Rhodoula
Zissi, outlined Greece's role in aiding growth
in neighboring Balkan countries and the economy
ministry's Hermes plan designed to help widen
business ties between Greece and Japan.
[08] YUGOSLAVIA'S PRINCESS CATHERINE TO VISIT
EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
Princess Catherine of Yugoslavia will
conduct a visit to the earthquake victims of
Attica tomorrow, accompanied by a representative
of the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece
Christodoulos, Greek singer Demis Roussos and
other celebrities.
The princess is expected to distribute
medicines and food which she collected in London
for the earthquake's victims.
[09] DRAMA CHAMBER OFFICIALS TO MEET WITH EC'S
PRESIDENT PRODI
Representatives from the network
of 28 chambers from the European Union's border
regions are to meet with the president of the
European Commission Romano Prodi this month.
The Chamber of the northeastern Greek city
of Drama, which is the network's sole Greek and
Mediterranean member, will also participate in
the meeting.
The chamber officials are to request that
all affairs concerning the EU initiatives
PHARE/CBC and INTERREG by transferred into the
Commission's authority in order to optimize
coordination.
[10] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH PAPANDREOU
AND TSOCHATZOPOULOS
Prime minister Kostas Simitis met at noon
today with the foreign ministry leadership. The
talks focused on the developments in the Greek-
Turkish relations, Turkey's bid for EU
membership and the Cyprus issue in view of
December's EU summit meeting in Helsinki and the
OSCE summit meeting that will take place in
Istanbul.
The prime minister also met with minister
of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos. At noon today,
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
stated that Cyprus' bid for EU membership is a
decision of the European Union and is not
subject to a cancellation.
[11] VEDRINE AND PAPANDREOU ARE IN THESSALONIKI
Foreign ministers of Greece and France
Giorgos Papandreou and Yber Vedrine will give a
joint press conference in Thessaloniki at 6pm
today after the end of the Greek-French seminar
on south-eastern Europe which is being held in
the city since yesterday.
The two ministers will arrive in
Thessaloniki early this afternoon and according
to information, they will refer to a joint
initiative on south-eastern Europe that will be
undertaken by Greece and France within the
framework of the Stability Pact.
[12] REPPAS: NO ONE CAN UNDERMINE CYPRUS' BID
FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
Cyprus EU candidature is a European Union
decision and is not subject to any cancellation,
stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas when reporters asked him to comment on
the fact that German chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder did not refer to Cyprus' candidature
during his visit to Athens.
He said that all the EU countries agree
with the candidature of Cyprus and only certain
EU officials raise an issue that has to do with
the state of occupation on the island. Cyprus
meets all the pre-conditions for accession into
the EU and no one can undermine this procedure,
stated Mr. Reppas..
[13] NEW PRESIDENT IN THE AMERICAN FARM SCHOOL
Academician David Back was appointed to
replace George Dreiper, who was president of the
American Farm School for the past 10 years.
The new school president and his wife Patty
Back has a long experience in directing
educational institutions as in the past 22 years
he has been teaching in different schools all
over the world.
During the last 5 years, he was the
director of the International School of Prague,
while earlier he had similar duties in Curacao
in the Dutch Antilles, in Vienna and in
Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur.
[14] ACROPOLIS IS AT THE CENTER OF THE NEW
MILLENNIUM EVENTS
Acropolis will be at the center of the new
millennium celebrations, according to a decision
reached in yesterday's meeting of the Greek
prime minister with minister of culture
Eleisavet Papazoi.
The celebrations will start in December and
will last until the end of the year 2000, while
the major event will involve the Parthenon.
Greece's historic and cultural wealth and
the contemporary achievements will be displayed
through the celebrations that will be open to
the public.
[15] GREECE OCCUPIES THE SECOND PLACE IN ALBANIA
IN EXPORTS AND INVESTMENTS
The Greek businesses occupy the second
place in Albania regarding their investment and
export activity in the country.
According to the Economic and Trade Affairs
Office of the Greek embassy to Tirana, the Greek
exports to the neighboring country showed an
impressive increase from 1993 until 1996 when
they reached 322.9 million dollars. Greece after
Italy is Albania's second biggest economic
partner and according to recent data, a total of
about 200 Greek businesses are active in the
country.
The Greek investments have reached about
100 million dollars and make up 27% of the
foreign investments in Albania.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 26 FROM LONDON TRAIN
CRASH
Twenty-six people were killed and another
160 were injured in London yesterday, when two
commuter trains collided during the height of
the morning rush hour.
The search for other victims continued into
the night, Scotland Yard said.
The cause of the collision was not
immediately known, but health and safety
officials began an urgent investigation, picking
through the wreckage near the residential
Ladbroke Grove area of west London.
[17] PUBLIC ORDER MINISTER CONDUCTS OFFICIAL
VISIT TO UNITED STATES
Public Order Minister Michalis
Chrysochoides has embarked on an official visit
to the United States, where he will have talks
on issues related to combatting terrorism and
organised crime.
Mr. Chrysohoidis is leading a delegation of
officials, comprising the head of the Greek
police, Lt.-Gen. Ioannis Georgakopoulos and
Public Prosecutor Ioannis Diotis.
During their stay in Washington, the
members of the Greek delegation will meet with
FBI director Louis Freeh, CIA director George
Tenet and US Sen. Paul Sarbanes.
[18] SALOMON SMITH BARNEY UPGRADES ATHENS STOCK
EXCHANGE
Salomon Smith Barney has upgraded the
Athens Stock Exchange, granting the Greek market
a place on the rank of European developed
bourses.
Salomon had foretold since last July its
plans to upgrade the ASE from an emerging to a
mature market, as of June 2000.
Similarly, another confident report
Societe Generale assesses that the Greek blue
chips will prove to be profitable with the next
three-year span.
[19] NIOTIS MET WITH AMBASSADOR AL MOSES IN
WASHINGTON
Greek undersecretary of foreign affairs
Grigoris Niotis met in Washington with US
president special envoy to Cyprus, ambassador Al
Moses and deputy national security adviser James
Steinberg. They discussed the progress of the US
mediation on Cyprus and the imminent visit of US
president Clinton to Athens.
On the Cyprus issue, Mr. Niotis stated that
he requested from the US president's close
associates to exert more pressure in order to
bend the intransigence of Turkish Cypriot leader
Rauf Denktash, adding that the effort to solve
the Cyprus issue is met with obstacles both
because of Denktask's intransigence and the lack
of positive political will by Ankara.
On the trip of the US president to Athens,
he stressed that attention focuses on bilateral
issues, the development of economic cooperation
and Greece's role as the gate of Europe and NATO
for the stability, peace and reconstruction of
the Balkans.
[20] IMPORTANT CONTACTS OF THE MINISTER OF
PUBLIC ORDER IN WASHINGTON
Greek minister of public order Michalis
Chrisochoidis will have important contacts in
Washington starting today and he is expected to
discuss issues which are falling under his
authority with leading US officials about 45
days before US president Bill Clinton's visit to
Greece.
Mr. Chrisochoidis will meet this afternoon
with the director of the FBI and with Greek
American senator Paul Sarbanis, while tomorrow
he will have a meeting with the CIA director and
with the US Attorney General. He will also meet
with the assistant secretary of state
responsible for political affairs and with the
coordinator on issues concerning measures
against terrorism.
[21] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON ON CNN
Greek ambassador to Washington Alexandros
Filon presented the Greek positions on issues of
Greek-Turkish rapprochement and the Cyprus issue
in an interview on the US news television
network CNN.
On Turkey's European Union prospect, Mr.
Filon stated that the Greek side believes that a
unanimous decision should be reached on whether
Turkey has met the political and economic
criteria that are in effect for all the
candidate states for EU membership.
Mr. Filon stated that Turkey must make
specific steps and gestures in the sectors of
human rights, freedom of the press and
democratization and mainly in the relations with
Greece and the Cyprus issue. Among the issues
underlined by the Greek ambassador was the
abolition of the death penalty in Turkey as
together with Albania, they are the only
European countries where the death penalty is
still in effect.
On the improvement of bilateral relations,
Mr. Filon stated that the mutual sympathy for
the earthquake victims displayed by both
peoples gave a new boost to diplomacy and the
effort already underway by the two governments.
The Greek ambassador called on Turkey to
implement what Turkish prime minister Bulent
Ecevit had said recently namely, that there are
no territorial claims against Greece, while
regarding the Cyprus issue, he reiterated that
Greece agrees with the proposal submitted by the
G8 and the international community providing for
the interested sides to meet under the auspices
of the UN secretary-general in New York for
essential negotiations on all issues,
negotiations that will last until a solution is
found.
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